Populous shapes MGM-AEG duo’s Las Vegas Arena

Las Vegas, which bills itself as the entertainment capital of the world, will soon have another hotspot – the Las Vegas Arena. The $350 million, 20,000 seat arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada will be built and operated by MGM Resorts International and AEG Live.

Designed by Populous, the arena is being planned on a 16 acre site as a centerpiece of a complete revitalization of the area. It is set to become a premier destination for concerts, sporting events, award shows and special events.

Construction on the new arena began on May 1, 2014 with demolition of existing buildings set for mid-month, with scheduled completion and opening in 2016. The arena will be accessed by a new redevelopment project known as ‘The Park’, adding retail, cafe, and restaurant space between New York-New York and the Monte Carlo casino hotels.

Construction is expected to take 22 months, with a projected spring 2016 opening. “A full-glass curtain wall will greet arena fans, with the bulk of the visitors accessing the sports and entertainment center via a five-acre park and plaza from the strip. Multiple balconies will adorn the arena, while the building’s main entrance will be on the east side, providing shade for visitors for early evening events,” according to a media reports.

Following the launch, the Las Vegas Arena is expected to host more than 100 events annually. The venue will also feature a variety of unique premium seating offerings as well as other hospitality areas for entertaining and private events. The arena will house 50 luxury suites, more than two dozen private loge boxes and is expected to meet US Green Building Council’s standards for LEED Gold Certification.

Construction is on full swing. According to a report in Review Journal, “While construction crews were pouring concrete, installing concrete pads and boring pile holes, AEG staffers are already talking with companies for the naming rights to the building, AEG spokesman Michael Roth said. He declined to identify the companies.”

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