The Mirage appears set to be the next casino in Las Vegas to reopen following its closure in March to aid in curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Since Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak gave them permission to reopen on June 4, casinos have been resuming operations in stages.
The re-employment of more workers is significant. Some Nevada casino operators are retaining closed premises, or letting go or furloughing their personnel. Therefore, this move is a step towards a positive direction.
What to expect at The Mirage Reopening
MGM Resorts has declared the reopening of The Mirage on Aug. 27, employing the same Seven-Point Safety Plan used by the company’s other Las Vegas properties. This iconic property is set to resume operations under the safety measures outlined by MGM Resorts.
MGM Resorts CEO and President, Bill Hornbuckle, stated:
We have cautiously and considerately recommenced operations across our properties nationwide, always making the health and safety of our guests and staff our top priority. The reopening of The Mirage enables us to reemploy a larger number of our staff, an essential step in our community’s recovery.
The Mirage belongs to a vast casino group, with the same experience anticipated across all its properties. Before reopening its initial casinos in June, MGM Resorts unveiled its safety plan. This plan will be reemployed for The Mirage’s reopening.
The comprehensive safety plan is extensive. It mandates all staff and visitors at The Mirage to wear masks. Before resuming work, MGM Resorts will screen all their employees for COVID-19. Regular temperature checks will also be conducted on the employees.
Proper social distancing will be maintained for table games and slot machines. Secondary safety measures will be employed for games such as blackjack and craps, using plexiglass barriers between players and dealers.
Safe distancing will be implemented for video poker and slot machines. If this cannot be achieved, plexiglass separators will be installed instead.
Guests on the casino floor will have access to handwashing stations. Additionally, sanitizer stations and face coverings will be provided for those who do not bring their own.
Park MGM and NoMad remain closed
The only MGM Resorts properties that will continue to stay shut are the Park MGM and NoMad hotel. During the second-quarter earnings call of the company, Hornbuckle expressed that they anticipate all properties in Las Vegas to be operational before the end of the year.
Beyond customer demand, Hornbuckle had two other reasons for reopening properties.
He gave an example illustrating how the company aims to maintain the presence of specific brand names in Las Vegas-related discussions. Mandalay Bay, the only MGM Resorts property in Las Vegas that experienced a negative cash flow during the second quarter, serves as a case in point. By keeping the property operational, it provides a topic of conversation for potential visitors.
Secondly, he aims to ensure that all properties are profitable from the moment they reopen. Park MGM is situated between New York-New York, a budget-friendly property, and Aria, a high-end property. Therefore, there is no necessity for MGM Resorts to open an additional property in this vicinity.
Furthermore, both the Park Theater and T-Mobile Arena are currently closed, and these venues, which rely on events, attract visitors to the casino.
T-Mobile Arena selling tickets for live events
Park MGM might be operational again by November. Currently, T-Mobile Arena is selling tickets for the PBR World Final bull riding event and the MGM Resorts Main Event college basketball game, both scheduled for November.
The venue states that not all seats will be sold for PBR and that social distancing will be implemented for the basketball event.
In order for these events to occur, Gov. Sisolak will need to alter the allowed capacity for public gatherings. Currently, at the time of this article, the limit is set at 50 people for public gatherings. Despite T-Mobile Arena implementing social distancing measures, the venue is interested in selling tickets exceeding the 50-person limit.
Should there be advancements in the gathering limit, live events could be hosted at T-Mobile Arena in November.
Once live events begin at T-Mobile Arena and/or the Park Theater, MGM Resorts may contemplate reopening Park MGM.
