Is the Bellagio Fountain Going To Be Replaced with a Shopping District?

I heard that the folks at the Bellagio were considering closing the fountain, filling in the lake and putting in a some shops. Is there anything to this?

Yes, there is.

A year ago last May, the late great Robin Leach reported and "confirmed" that "top MGM execs" were "in preliminary discussions" about draining the 8.5-acre lake and replacing it with a "boutique shopping and restaurant promenade."

Immediately, MGM issued a statement: "We have no plans or intention to eliminate the iconic Bellagio Fountains, one of the most identifiable tourism landmarks in the world.”

Leach subsequently noted that MGM didn't deny that the idea had been considered. He wrote, "I was reliably told that it was apparently Steve Wynn's decision to replace his current golf course at Wynn Las Vegas with the new Paradise Lagoon water attraction that triggered Bellagio executives to analyze the incredibly valuable real estate that earns the hotel nothing. 'It has had a long run as a tourist attraction, but now it’s time to make it a revenue earner,' I was told. 'Steve’s new water park will become the new attraction on the Strip. MGM wanted something entirely new for Bellagio.'"

This idea resurfaced last April 1 and we've seen scuttlebutt that it was originally an April Fool's joke, or that Robin Leach invented it, or that the same MGM bean counter who came up with paid parking floated the proposal, which got shot down.

Thinking it through, the fallacy, in our opinion, is that the fountain show earns the hotel nothing. Bellagio’s fountain-view rooms are more expensive. Tables overlooking the fountain at Bellagio’s restaurants are in constant demand. And millions of visitors a year are drawn to Bellagio to see the fountain show; certainly, at least a few wander inside and spend money.

As one wag commented about possible boutique shopping in that space, “I’m not sure that a 'Pottery Barn View' room would net quite as much for the hotel.”

We also wonder how replacing the pirate show with a CVS has worked out for Treasure Island overall.

So we’ll lay this one to rest -- until we see a press release from MGM announcing the replacement of what they themselves call "one of the most identifiable tourism landmarks in the world." Which, we might add, we’re not expecting anytime soon, given that the last one we saw concerned countersuing the victims of the October 1 shooting -- a suit in which, in case you didn't see the item in Vegas News on this site on Thursday, MGM lost the opening round.

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Comments

Kevin Lewis Oct-06-2018

Fountain improvements

What they're actually going to do is add the sharks from Mandalay Bay, the guy in the scuba gear who pops into the fish tank at Silverton, the dolphins from the Mirage, and the old pirate ship from the Treasure Island show (it's been sitting in mothballs somewhere downtown) and a bunch of pirates and stage a bloody, spectacular, multi-participant battle every hour on the hour, to thrilling music of course, right there in the lake. The occasional tourist will be seized and thrown to the sharks. Vin Diesel and Roseanne Barr will make guest appearances.

Dave in Seattle. Oct-06-2018

Fountain display.

It may go away because they are running out of parts to repair the jets.The design company is no more.
It cost the casino 10K per "show?"

Jackie Oct-06-2018

Didn't you know?

MGM stands for "Men Grabbing Money"

That Don Guy Oct-06-2018

I'd like to comment...

...but unfortunately the popup ad that shows up when I went to this page had the "Your computer is locked up, and we are stealing your passwords and credit card information unless you call this number with the password to unlock it" scam (yes, it's a scam; just close the window, or, if necessary, close your browser, then restart it)

O2bnVegas Oct-06-2018

eventually, sadly

Earlier this year, two Bellagio staff (of two unrelated  departments, different conversations) told us that closure of the fountains is in discussion, secondary to eventual unavailability of parts critical to operation.  That's what they said.  When the first one mentioned it, I caught an opportunity later to ask the second if he had heard this, hoping he would say "no way."  But he confirmed, didn't know when, or how it would be repurposed.  Don't ya love that word?

Isn't there a Bellagio-similar fountain (though bigger) somewhere outside the US?  Italy?

Deke Castleman Oct-06-2018

This in via email

You’ve noted in one of the past QODs that they’re having trouble getting parts for the Bellagio fountain because the company that built it is out of business. It was also repeated in the comments to today’s QOD.

I’m pretty sure the company is alive and well.  Check out wetdesign.com.

In fact, I had a job offer from them just a couple months ago (I had to decline for family reasons). When I toured the facility they were installing millions of dollars worth of new equipment. They are expanding, not closing.

I’d also suspect instead of filling in the whole lake they’d encroach around the perimeter with new places to spend money. That way they could capitalize on the value of the lake with more of the coveted restaurant and bar seating. It wouldn’t surprise me if eventually it ended up like the show at Wynn where you really had to be eating or drinking (and spending money) to get the best view.

O2bnVegas Oct-06-2018

for Don Guy

I keep getting a similar message left on my voicemail.  "Your windows have expired and will be shutting down unless you call this number..."
  
I'd like to tell 'them' my windows are alive and well, that Windex works wonders.

Question of the Day - 06 October 2018

Comments