A rumor has been circulating for a month or two that an Elvis-themed megaresort is planned for the Strip. It's believed to be the project of Robert Sillerman. Sillerman, 51, is a member of Forbes' exclusive billionaire club. He made a killing flipping radio stations in the '80s and now controls a huge chunk of the international live-entertainment business.
Sillerman recently paid the Presley family $100 million for the majority rights to Elvis' name and likeness, among other prized family assets. Sillerman is expected in the near future to announce an Elvis museum and theme show, which could occupy property he owns on the Strip, south of Harmon Avenue.
One interesting side note. Sillerman is also the managing partner in Flag Luxury Properties, which is one of the investors in a private group that's currently buying out the Riviera. What this might mean in terms of an Elvis casino is unknown, but Sillerman could eventually combine his Elvis holdings with his Las Vegas real estate and hence, an Elvis-themed megaresort.
Although in recent years, Las Vegas has been moving away from the concept of overtly themed casinos, Elvis is such an international icon and had such a long and intimate relationship with the city — not only did he play here, marry here, virtually live here, and, in "Viva Las Vegas," give the city the song that's pretty much universally acknowledged as its anthem — that this theme might just work. And providing evidence that the Elvis/Vegas connection is still alive and well, only last Thursday the new "Elvis Multi-Strike" game made its Nevada debut at the Gold Coast and, by all accounts, has gotten good play since its installation. The game, which features 45 different concert performances of 18 classic Elvis Presley songs, is slated to hit the floors of several more Las Vegas casinos over the next 60 days, so look out for it if you're a fan of the "King."
