This evening, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and MGM Resorts International officially open their 650,000-sf T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a concert featuring The Killers, Wayne Newton, and Shamir.
The $375 million arena is seen as part of that city’s larger strategy to finally lure a professional sports team. At the least, the arena is the latest large-scale entertainment venue for a city where gambling is no longer the main event in town.
T-Mobile Arena is located on 16 acres along Las Vegas Boulevard. Its design, by the Kansas City-based firm Populous, takes visual cues from both the Las Vegas Strip and the desert that surrounds this city. A glass façade faces the street, and gold-and-terracotta toned stone is the main element of the building’s bunker suite wall.
Desert and mountain influences are evident in the south and west facades of the arena via a solid skin that protects against intense desert heat. This “of the desert” skin wraps the arena’s elliptical form with undulating bands of metal that evoke the color and layering of desert mountains.
A black-and-white video on Populous’ website claims this arena features several “firsts,” including two 96-ft-high club towers and the Hyde Lounge, as well as two event-level VIP drop-off areas and lounges.
Two sponsored club towers, each 96 feet above the performance floor, are among the amenities offered at the 650,000-sf T-Mobile Arena. Image: Populous
The building provides 44 luxury suites, eight bunker suites, 1,800 club seats, and 124 loge box seats. However, the owners insist they are targeting “multiple social demographics,” and will offer a “broad range of seating and event options.”
The arena will have a 17,750 seating capacity for end-stage events, 19,200 for center-stage events, and 18,500 for sporting events. The arena makes use of a new arrangement of the seating bowl, to allow for maximum seating capacity when set up for concerts.
A 9,000-sf LED video mesh, which Populous purports is largest of its kind, overlays the glass façade above the main entrance, and is visible from Las Vegas Boulevard. This building will also have what Populous claims is the first-ever exterior concert stage. Mark Faber, AEG’s senior vice president of global partnerships, told Vegasinc.com that the two-acre Toshiba Plaza outside the arena could accommodate up to 5,000 people.
He anticipates booking about at least 100 ticketed events per year.
“In our world, it’s all about the guest experience,” said Faber. “We want to have guests feel comfortable and safe. We think this will transcend the marketplace.” He noted specifically that the facility has 30 doors in one entrance, which would minimize how long people stand in line.
However, there is still concern locally about the amount of traffic T-Mobile is going to create, especially given that it’s near three other arenas. Most out of towners will probably walk or cab to an event from their hotels. But for locals driving in from the suburbs, traffic and parking could be hassles.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that, in the weeks ahead, MGM will roll out a public education campaign focused on the urban arena experience. The strategy is to persuade locals to make a night of the sports or entertainment event: Arrive early. Eat out before the event. Walk to the arena. Stop for a drink after the event. Play a few slots and allow traffic to clear before going home.
MGM also announced in January a $90 million plan that would include construction of a new $54-million, 3,000-space parking garage near the northwest corner of its Excalibur Hotel property.
T-Mobile Arena opens just as Sheldon Adelson, who owns Las Vegas Sands, is pushing for public money to pay for a $1.3 billion, 65,000-seat stadium just off the Las Vegas Strip, in the hopes of attracting an NFL franchise. That stadium is still in concept phase.
The arena will seat 18,500 for sporting events, and Las Vegas hopes this new facility will help the city attract a professional sports team. Image: Populous
More likely are Las Vegas’ chances of securing a professional hockey team, for which T-Mobile would be its home ice. Bill Foley, chairman of Jacksonville, Fla.-based Fidelity National Financial, has stated he will ante up $500 million for an expansion NHL team.
The league is considering applications from Las Vegas and Quebec City. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said at GM meetings last month that owners would need to decide by June if the league is to expand for the 2017-18 season, according to Fox Sports. The Review-Journal has reported that Foley is finalizing plans for a practice facility on the outskirts of Las Vegas so it would be ready for the team’s first season in 2017.
Related Stories
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 23, 2015
Japan announces new plan for Olympic Stadium
The country moves on from Zaha Hadid Architects, creators of the original stadium design scrapped last week.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 17, 2015
Japan scraps Zaha Hadid's Tokyo Olympic Stadium project
The rising price tag was one of the downfalls of the 70-meter-tall, 290,000-sm stadium. In 2014, the cost of the project was 163 billion yen, but that rose to 252 billion yen this year.
Cultural Facilities | Jul 13, 2015
German architect proposes construction of mountain near Berlin
The architect wants to create the world’s largest man-made mountain, at 3,280 feet.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 14, 2015
Guy Holloway proposes multi-level urban sports park for skaters
The facility will include a rock climbing wall and boxing space.
Cultural Facilities | May 13, 2015
MVRDV selected to design High Line-inspired park in Seoul
The garden will be organized as a library of plants, which will make the park easier to navigate.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 5, 2015
Architect scouts investors for underwater tennis court
While off duty, the tennis complex could double as exhibition space.
Mixed-Use | May 5, 2015
Miami ‘innovation district’ will have 6.5 million sf of dense, walkable space
Designing a neighborhood from the ground-up, developers aim to create a dense, walkable district that fulfills what is lacking from Miami’s current auto-dependent layout.
Hotel Facilities | Apr 30, 2015
Atlanta Braves partner with Omni Hotels & Resorts to build hotel near new Suntrust Park
The Omni Atlanta Northwest Hotel will feature 16 floors with 260 guest rooms and suites, rooftop hospitality suites, 12,500 sf of meeting space, a signature restaurant, and an elevated pool deck and bar overlooking the plaza and ballpark.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 27, 2015
Qatar unveils Al Rayyan, fifth World Cup stadium
After the World Cup, part of the stadium’s seating will be donated to other countries.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 24, 2015
HOK unveils renderings and video of new St. Louis NFL stadium
Retractable seating in the corners will allow the stadium to be used for FIFA or Major League Soccer matches, as it expands the field to a FIFA-regulated 120 yards long and 75 yards wide.