Mandalay Bay Convention Center

Mandalay Bay Convention Center is attached to the Mandalay Bay resort, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The 2,100,000 sq ft (200,000 m2)[1] facility is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. It is among the largest convention centers in the U.S.

Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Mandalay Bay Convention Center in 2009
Address3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard
LocationParadise, Nevada
Coordinates36°5′19″N 115°10′39″W
OwnerMGM Resorts International
Built2001–03
OpenedJanuary 6, 2003
Renovated2016
Expanded2014–15
Construction cost
$236 million
Banquet/ballroom31,000–100,000 sq ft (2,900–9,300 m2)[1]
Enclosed space
 • Total space2,100,000 sq ft (200,000 m2)[1]
 • Breakout/meeting75 rooms
Website
Mandalay Bay Convention Center

It was developed by original owner Mandalay Resort Group, at a cost of $236 million. Construction began in 2001, but was temporarily halted due to the economic impact of the September 11 attacks. The Mandalay Bay Convention Center opened on January 6, 2003, with 1,500,000 sq ft (140,000 m2). MGM acquired the facility two years later. An expansion was finished in 2015, and renovations concluded the following year.

History

In April 2001, Mandalay Resort Group announced plans to build a convention center for its Mandalay Bay resort, located on the Las Vegas Strip. The facility would occupy 16.5 acres located southwest of Mandalay Bay.[2][3] The resort already had 190,000 sq ft (18,000 m2) of convention and meeting space,[4] and the new facility would add 1,800,000 sq ft (170,000 m2). The addition would beat out the nearby Venetian resort and its Sands Expo, which had a combined total of 1,600,000 sq ft (150,000 m2). In addition to Mandalay Bay, the convention center would attract business from the Luxor and Excalibur resorts, also built by Mandalay Resort Group and located directly north. The facility was originally expected to be finished in mid-2002.[2][5][6] Construction began in June 2001,[4][7] but was subsequently put on hold for nearly six months,[4] due to the economic impact of the September 11 attacks.[8][9] The facility was topped out on July 11, 2002.[10]

The $236 million Mandalay Bay Convention Center opened on January 6, 2003,[4][11] with 1,500,000 sq ft (140,000 m2) of space.[4][12] It was among the largest convention centers in the U.S.,[13] and the second largest local facility, surpassed only by the Las Vegas Convention Center.[4][14] Its first event was the Aqua Show, which focused on the pool and spa industry.[11] The convention center has three floors, and the layout allows the facility to be divided into 75 rooms.[11] The convention center failed to meet expectations initially. MGM Mirage acquired the facility and Mandalay Bay in 2005, and convention bookings improved under the new ownership.[14] Convention business makes up a significant portion of the resort's revenue.[15][16]

Solar panels atop the convention center, 2018

In 2013, Mandalay Bay partnered with NRG Energy to add 21,324 solar panels on the facility's roof, capable of supporting up to 20 percent of the resort's energy needs.[17][18][19]

A $66 million expansion of the convention center was announced in April 2014, adding 350,000 sq ft (33,000 m2) of exhibit space and 900 additional underground parking spaces.[20][21] Construction began in October 2014,[21] and the addition opened in August 2015,[22][23] bringing the facility to 2,000,000 sq ft (190,000 m2). Renovations to the existing facilities concluded in January 2016,[24] with second-floor space converted into the 70,000 sq ft (6,500 m2) Oceanside Ballroom.[25][26] The convention center includes three kitchens which provide catering for events.[27]

A $100 million remodeling project was underway in 2022, and is expected to be complete by 2025.[28]

See also

References
  1. "Mandalay Bay Convention Center". MGM Resorts International. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  2. "Mandalay building massive convention center at Strip resort". Las Vegas Sun. April 26, 2001. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  3. Simpson, Jeff (October 13, 2002). "Mandalay Mile cashes in on clustering". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 19, 2005.
  4. Jones, Chris (January 4, 2003). "Drawing on business travelers". Las Vegas Review-Journal – via NewsBank.
  5. Berns, Dave (April 28, 2001). "Authority will tout new center". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on February 21, 2002.
  6. Burbank, Jeff (May 11, 2001). "Gaming: Mandalay Bay to meld hotels, tram, exhibit hall". Las Vegas Business Press. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  7. "News briefs for June 11, 2001". Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  8. "Convention center opening pushed to January 2003". Las Vegas Sun. October 16, 2001. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  9. "Casino construction uncertain". Las Vegas Business Press. November 9, 2001. Retrieved August 28, 2022. Mandalay Bay also stopped work on its $235 million, 1.8 million-square-foot events center and its $75 million, 1.2 million-square-foot shopping mall.
  10. "Mandalay Bay tops off convention center". Las Vegas Sun. July 12, 2002. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  11. "First convention at new venue showcases pool, spa industry". Las Vegas Sun. January 6, 2003. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  12. "It's All About Auto Shows". Casino City Times. November 1, 2005. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  13. Friess, Steve (January 5, 2003). "A Whopper Joins Las Vegas's Convention Lineup". The New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  14. "Show places: Las Vegas' largest convention centers". Las Vegas Sun. March 14, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  15. Sylvester, Ron (January 21, 2013). "Mandalay Bay in midst of major facelift, its first in 14 years". VegasInc. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  16. Prince, Todd; Raz, Nicole (December 9, 2017). "Mandalay Bay struggles to find footing after Las Vegas shooting". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  17. "Mandalay Bay announces plan to build country's 2nd largest rooftop solar array". Las Vegas Sun. July 2, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  18. "New rooftop solar array electrifying Mandalay Bay". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 22, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  19. Hernandez, Dan (May 3, 2016). "Behind the bright lights of Vegas: how the 24-hour party city is greening up its act". The Guardian. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  20. Rindels, Michelle (April 24, 2014). "$66 million expansion planned for Mandalay Bay convention center". Las Vegas Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  21. Stapleton, Susan (April 10, 2015). "The Mandalay Bay Convention Center is on a growth spurt". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  22. "Mandalay Bay finishes first phase of convention expansion". Las Vegas Sun. Associated Press. August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  23. Stapleton, Susan (August 27, 2015). "Mandalay Bay's convention center unveils 350,000-square-foot expansion". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  24. Velotta, Richard N. (August 18, 2015). "Mandalay Bay Convention Center opens major expansion". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  25. Katsilometes, John (October 25, 2015). "New look makes the most of Mandalay Bay's great view". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
  26. "Work completed on Mandalay Bay Convention Center expansion project". VegasInc. January 20, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  27. Prince, Todd (April 15, 2017). "Expanded Mandalay Bay Convention Center ready to welcome even more crowds". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  28. Horwath, Bryan (October 12, 2022). "Mandalay Bay Convention Center undergoing $100 million remodel". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
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