This is the online home of David G. Schwartz, who 
Aria is open at last
But you didn’t need me to tell you that, you’ve probably seen pictures and more at ariaopening.com. And here’s a few words from the Sun about the opening:
The wait is over.
After a two-minute fireworks display, the Aria Resort & Casino opened its doors to the public late Wednesday night, giving tourists and Las Vegas residents a glimpse inside the centerpiece of CityCenter. It is an $8.5 billion project many have watched evolve since its inception five years ago.
That evolution has not been without adversity. Construction defects and a sharp downturn in the economy persuaded MGM Mirage, the world’s largest gaming company and the developer of the site, to top off the Harmon hotel to half its proposed size.
Six construction workers died during the building of CityCenter.
And, it opens during the worst recession since the Depression, appealing to a shrunken class of high-end consumers.
But Wednesday was about celebration.
I’m working on a few longer pieces to try to make sense of the new resort from a few different angles. Time will tell if City Center is truly transformational, but it’s certainly inspiring a lot of talk right now.
Posted in business of gambling, life in vegason 12/17/2009 02:49 pm by Dave
12/18/2009 at 3:44 am
WOW!!!!
I just viewed the 75 photos on ‘Vegas Tripping’ and the 190 pictures on ‘Rate Vegas’. Those two websites really put a handle on what City Center is all about.
‘Rate Vegas’ has photos posted on Flickr. (I don’t know how to place a link here properly, or I would). The Slide-Show option presents a great full-screen view of the complex…that just takes an enjoyable 10 minutes to watch.
The Las Vegas Sun link (above) also shows some excellent photos…especially Steve Marcus’ view of the fireworks exploding over CC. Plus, a real nice photo (by Leila Navidi) of some girl playing a violin in a green mini-skirt (the 12th photo of 15). The ‘Sun’ photos look really good when seen in the Full-Screen mode.
The interior of Aria is So Psychedelic. It’s one of the best things I’ve seen since one strange 1967 New Year’s Eve night on Haight Street…(woops, never mind).
Seriously though. That interior is incredibly amazing. Artistic sights are seen in every inch of the place. It looks like a 2070 air or space-port would (oops. Another bad description I suppose). It’s hard to find words to describe the beauty of the place. It’s definitely one futuristic casino….yet seems to have the ‘open-air’ windowed feel of Old Las Vegas casinos like the 1950 Desert Inn or the 1952 remodeled, glassier Flamingo.
I’ve never seen a building-complex that seems so well done and so fit for humans to use. The architects and artisans who designed this place have completely entered another realm thru their work.
If I had the bucks I’d definitely want to purchase a room there for a few nights…just to experience the room views and the cool furnishings.
As long as Aria keeps their hotel lively and filled with exciting entertainment and beautiful people…the place will attract almost everyone to want to spend time there.
They’ve somehow made it look ultra-high-end….without making it feel like low-end people (like me, haha) wouldn’t belong there.
It certainly has the feel of a welcoming City Center. I already like it and haven’t even been there yet.
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BTW Dave. It was interesting to read that you were shooting the cell-phone video of the first two craps’ players there.
It was also interesting to read that about what’s happening at the Mirage.
Thanks for posting these links. Otherwise I’d be nearly clueless.
12/18/2009 at 8:41 pm
Well. I went to City Center today (Friday). It is mind blowing. It really IS like another city set right into the heart of The Strip.
And the Aria Hotel-Casino is a wonderful place.
I didn’t make it into Vdara or Crystals. Aria alone, had enough sights to keep me occupied, on is first and second floors.
Later, I wanted to check-out the north access driveway…the one that comes in from the West and runs between Aria and Vdara. It’s huge and very well designed. The Las Vegas (or Nevada) transportation department did a great job in creating such a modern roadway right into and thru a commercial property.
Engineers world-wide, will be impressed by how functional it is.
I talked to Aria’s ‘north valet’ doorman. He cheerfully took the time to explain & show how easy it is to enter Vdara and Aria from the West Harmon side. Signs show the way without confusion.
The north valet guys are super-quick…and parking space is really easy to access if coming from the west.
I actually parked at Monte Carlo – but found out that I didn’t need to….since there is plenty of parking space available at CC. They planned the parking well.
After seeing Aria I walked over to see the Mandarin Hotel. The entrance is about 30 feet lower than Aria’s entry-way. I took the steps down and entered a really subdued entrance.
Mandarin is very nice, yet much different than Aria. It’s quiet, relaxing and peaceful there and a good get-away from the (sometimes) hectic feel of the Strip. Yet, a person only has to walk 50 yards to be back on the Strip sidewalk (or 70 yards to go into the CVS drugstore).
The Mandarin doormen are super-friendly. They greet people well and run things smoothly. I took a quick peek inside the small lobby and came back out within two minutes. The doorman asked why I didn’t stay a bit longer. I assumed I’d seen all there was to see…but he told me they have a Sky Lobby on the 23rd floor…so I went back in to see it. It’s very comfortable there and has a lounge and a great view of the Strip.
Mandarin has cheerful hostesses walking the halls to provide help and smiles.(The sincere kind of smiles).
All-in-all….I was highly impressed by City Center. I actually gasped when I first caught sight of it as I turned the corner next to Monte Carlo and entered into the front driveway. It was truly a “Whoa Nelly” moment.
Walking in from the Strip might be the best way to approach City Center. Entering thru Crystals’ shopping-center wouldn’t have given the true scope of the beauty that the front drive-way & walk-way provide.
One thing that really stands out quite notice-ably is the attitude of ALL the employees. They are incredibly friendly, happy and completely ‘there’ for you. I’m not judging this by just 5 or 10 employees….cuz I must have talked to over 40 of them. Everyone single one of them was gracious and helpful. Whoever chose to hire or train them did an excellent job.
If it took a recession to make people appreciate their jobs and wear cheerful faces…then it was worthwhile after all. The employees at City Center seem proud to work there. And that’s a very cool thing.
City Center is a happy place.
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P.S. Aria’s Poker Room looks very modern and comfortable. It’s placement adds a lot of life to the casino floor.
My only complaint (regarding getting to City Center) is that Harmon Street doesn’t run straight thru to Decatur Blvd. Eventually, it should.
12/19/2009 at 9:03 pm
EW 1951 thanks for taking the time to put your review on here. I also looked through Hunter’s pictures on his ratevegas.com website and I was really impressed with City Center. There is lots and lots and lots of steel in City Center. The way things look now I should be out in Las Vegas sometime soon and I will definitely check out City Center.
I was reading the Friday edition of the USA Today newspaper yesterday and on page 5 of the first section they had a full page ad for City Center. Hopefully MGM Mirage will also put some ads in The Wall Street Journal.