Riviera Las Vegas May Be Demolished

[CPT]

So much for my comp'd Jacuzzi Suite!

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Will Buy and Demolish Riviera Las Vegas

It’s hard to keep a secret in Vegas, and this one’s juicy. The official announcement is still a few days off, but the story behind our earlier report of the Riviera being sold appears to be coalescing. The classic Riviera Hotel & Casino is being purchased by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and will be demolished.
Our friends at Las Vegas Advisor spilled the beans about the still-unconfirmed specifics of the sale, bolstering earlier rumors about the impending sale and non-gaming use of the land after the hotel’s demise.
Details aren’t expected until the official announcement of the sale on Feb. 17, 2015, but word has it the LVCVA will demolish The Riv and expand the footprint of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Sadness at losing an iconic casino aside, this scenario makes sense given the LVCVA’s Las Vegas Global Business District project.
A news release for the $2.3 billion project states, “Including public areas and service areas, the expansion and renovation expand the facility from its current total footprint of 3.2 million square feet to nearly 5.7 million square feet. Once construction begins, the entire project is expected to take 5-8 years to complete.” See details.
So, assuming that’s how this is going to play out, it’s time to swing by the Riviera for a keepsake chip and one last rub of those Crazy Girls cheeks.

[zeus]

Wow, there are so few casinos on that part of the strip to begin with. And my goodness, 5.7 million sq ft! The building I work in is 2.1 million sq ft and it seems huge!

[dvandentop]

this place is insanely huge i heard i cant recall last time i was in there. Damn i gotta get off pc and go pack!!

[CPT]

Wow, there are so few casinos on that part of the strip to begin with. And my goodness, 5.7 million sq ft! The building I work in is 2.1 million sq ft and it seems huge!

I'd say! You would think they would hang around until/if Resorts World opens up. Poor Riv!

this place is insanely huge i heard i cant recall last time i was in there. Damn i gotta get off pc and go pack!!

Yeah, get your shit together!

[Curlyd]

I stayed there in the 60's as a young girl with my parents. It was a classy place back then. We were staying there when Circus Circus opened up. I remember we walked across the street to see what the new casino was like. They had a barker out front giving out $5 chips just to draw gamblers into the family friendly casino.

I love the Riviera's pool. It was something special being a young girl and having a young stud get you a chair and towel. I thought I was living it up!

[phillycub]

would love to go there just because the past couple Vegas trips I took never ventured really off-strip.

[CPT]

would love to go there just because the past couple Vegas trips I took never ventured really off-strip.

It's actually not that bad of a walk from Wynn if you are at that end of the strip. I did a "oh it doesn't look that far" in 110 July heat. That day, it was too far. If the weather is nice, it's not a bad walk. Stop at the Peppermill and get a beverage from the Fireside Lounge on return. You need to go and touch the asses one last time!

[goldengreeke]

I hate to see this icon close. It was the very first hotel that Sharon and I ever stayed at in Las Vegas when we visited the first time back in 1976.
Elvis was still playing down the street.
Back then it was the largest casino resort in the whole world!

[nhmajik]

I too hate to see it go. I will visit it one last time in April. Great picture of you Ken!!