Why Has MGM Grand Changed So Much over the Years?

It seems as though there have been many changes at the MGM Grand. Back in the day, there was a lion’s head at the main entrance that I walked through to enter the casino. There were also many pictures of stars from the golden era of Hollywood. I enjoyed those things. Why all the changes?

MGM Resorts International Senior Advisor Alan Feldman walks us down memory lane, admitting, “It was before my time, so to speak, but it was a topic that I discussed with [then-CEO] Terry Lanni on multiple occasions. Terry joined MGM Grand Inc. (parent company to MGM Grand Hotel) in 1995 as president and CEO and a member of the board of directors. In addition, from July 1995 through December 1999, Alex Yemenidjian served as president of the MGM Grand Hotel. He also served MGM in other capacities during this period, including as chief operating officer from June 1995 until April 1999 and as chief financial officer from May 1994 to January 1998.

“During this time, they oversaw an extensive effort to re-position the property. The new re-branding to become the ‘City of Entertainment’ was announced in 1996 and was not completed until 1998.

“Terry was pretty matter-of-fact about how he believed that Fred Benninger (the original president) had given little thought to some of the decisions that had been made when the property opened in 1993. He often referred to the front lion feature as a paper maché lion and was very public about the fact that walking into the mouth of a lion was particularly offensive to Asian customers, as it was considered bad luck. For many years, including his time at MGM Mirage, Lanni pointed this out as a prime example of a significant cultural oversight, one that proved the need to have diversity in decision-making at all levels.

“Although it cost $1 billion to open MGM, the lion design, the decision to incorporate the old Marina Hotel, as well as the decision to build an inexpensive theme park (which Terry often referred to as the ‘themette parkette’) all really undercut the quality of the property. Frankly, parts of MGM Grand were pretty flimsy.

“The remodel was undertaken over a 24- to 30-month period starting in spring 1996. The first phase that was finished was Studio 54, which opened with Elton John; the last last phase was the opening of a massive and beautiful Conference Center in the back where the rides used to be. The remodel project also included replacing almost all the restaurants and creating the Mansion, which catapulted the MGM high-roller product to the top of the market.

“All together, the re-positioning was very successful and continued with further changes following the acquisition of the Mirage Resorts properties by MGM Grand Inc. in 2000. These further changes included adding the Ka Theater and show, an expansion of the Convention Center, and a complete remodel of the old Marina Tower.”

Although the interior had opened with Wizard of Oz theming, complete with a faux Emerald Brick Road, those elements had been eliminated by 2000, less than seven years later. The Movieland theming was gradually dialed back and, by 2005, was gone, part and parcel of a general sentiment in Las Vegas that the theming of resorts had gone too far and that a lighter vibe, such as that of Bellagio or the Mirage, was preferable.

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Kevin Lewis May-24-2021

What MGM stands for

It's a Strip casino, so, it means "More, Gimme More." And you do, you do--every time you visit there.

Luis May-24-2021

Too Bad

the biggest changes have not been physical, yes there have been lots of changes in the Hotel casino, and the de-theming is a major one, but the biggest change is the more corporate approach, less care, less service, less, less and less for the average client , you and me, and more ,and more, and more gain for the company and it's stockholders, in other words gauging the client, getting every penny from them, corporate greed, that's the biggest change in MGM. That's too bad, they have dome prime properties, they do dominate the strip but, for me, they have made all the effort to scare off the average customer, and attract the whale and the rowdy bunch (less average people circulating there, means they are substituted for others),but as long as they are getting the all mighty dollar, they don't care, that's their bottom line, Too Bad, I don't go, and won't be going there until their policy changes, haven't been at an MGM owned place since resort fees and paid parking started.

jay May-24-2021

sad

I took my aging inlaws to the dominican for a holiday with the family, in 96' and they really enjoyed it. Being their first international vacation, they bemoned the fact that they did not travel to other international locations - Vegas in 98' was not the international travel they sought but as they were aged their ability to travel to these places would be limited at best. Vegas gave them a taste of Venice, Paris, egypt, MonteCarlo etc. So sad the theme'ing is dying and the prices are rising. It probably costs a lot more to keep the Nile ride going than a stale, staunch unifrom box that looks like every other casino. I can stay home for that without the parking fees.

Beard May-24-2021

the way of MGM

With casinos opening all over the US, Vegas is no longer the only place to gamble.  Theming casinos does keep Vegas apart from the run of the mill casinos popping up everywhere.  The higher table minimums,  less and less value dining options there really isnt much reason to go to Vegas anymore.  Don't get me wrong,  I get the itch to go quite a bit, but I can just go to my local casino and play BJ for $15 and get 3/2 odds to scratch my itch.

Roy Furukawa May-24-2021

Moan and Bemoan...

Corporate greed. It seems to be the overbearing response by everyone here (including me) that the Strip casinos hold little value for the customers.

[email protected] May-24-2021

selfish

Ever since they started the parking fees i have refused to go to the strip.To pay for parking to go into a casino is just crazy,and just shows how greedy they are.MGM has really put a damper on the strip casinos cause others just follow suit.They buy up all these properties and they ruin them.Other casinos were well liked before MGM got their hands on them.I have the same feelings about Caesars as they might be worse now,and both of these corporations don't care about the public,but just themselves.The 6-5 blackjack is a joke,but really its not cause more and more casinos  are going to that format.But it all starts with MGM and they will only ruin more as the years go by,and about the local casinos that were talked about,well ours is horrible and also could care less about the players.If i wanted to have a serious good time i would have to go to AC to play,as they are and have been getting more heavy action than vegas.Also vegas is just a adult playground anymore,as gaming is like joke

[email protected] May-24-2021

Atlantis better than Vegas!

I am writing this from the best casino resort, I have ever been to: Atlantis, Nassau, the Bahamas!  The man who founded Sun City, South African Sol Kerzner, and the Sun International empire, also was responsible for Atlantis. 
https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/about

https://corporate.suninternational.com/about/history/

Question of the Day - 24 May 2021

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