Who Decides for Whom To Dim the Las Vegas Strip Lights?

Re: Your Question of the Day on dimming the lights on the Strip, I would fully have expected that a man of Sheldon Adelson’s stature, philanthropy and accomplishments, particularly in relation to Las Vegas, would have made this list ahead of some of those listed. So really ... to whom is entrusted the decision regarding this expression of memory and honor?

As you can see in the question, this was submitted in response to our QoD on February 3 as to whether or not the lights along the Strip were dimmed to acknowledge the passing away of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Founder, Chairman, and CEO Sheldon Adelson -- the answer being no.

We submitted the question to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, whose Erica Johnson replied, “No one person or entity makes the decision, nor are there specific criteria. It's up to the discretion of the individual resort partners.”

It's worth noting that the Strip lights are not traditionally dimmed to mark the passing of casino executives or owners. Case in point: Kirk Kerkorian, whose influence was even greater than Adelson’s, was not accorded such an honor.

For the most recent light-dimming tribute, on October 1, 2018, it appears that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority acted as the middleman, getting everyone on the same somber page, since collecting a dozen or more casino executives on one conference call is a tough gig under any circumstances, and the ones for the dimming were extraordinary.

At the time, Amanda Peters of the LVCVA told us, “The LVCVA regularly coordinates with our resort partners on tributes to recognize key Las Vegas figures and/or events. “Sometimes they're suggested by our resorts and sometimes by us, but it is a consensus partnership to conduct these tributes.”

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Adam Cohen Mar-01-2021

Agreement would be hard

I think considering how everything is so divided today finding an agreement would be hard.

Brent Mar-01-2021

This zombie question won't die

This really is a no-brainer.

Why would casinos on the Strip dim their lights to memorialize the owner of a competing casino?

They wouldn't.

VegasVic Mar-01-2021

Adelson?

I can't think of anyone less worthy to be honored than Adelson.

Kevin Lewis Mar-01-2021

A bit of history

These decisions used to be made by Oscar Dimbulb, official Las Vegas Decider of Light Issues. He was thrown out of office after his dog died and he turned off all the lights for a week. And by "thrown out," I mean out the window of the Emperor's Suite at Caesars.

Those were the days!

O2bnVegas Mar-01-2021

Kevin models Clint Eastwood

Was it "Dirty Harry" or one of the other DH movies?  The police Captain introduces Harry Callahan to his new partner, wherein Harry says something in a snarky way like "marvelous", which of course makes the new guy uncomfortable, given Harry's reputation of disliking just about every new partner at first.  The Captain, attempting to smooth things over says "Don't worry, Harry hates everybody."

As with Dirty Harry, Kevin gets in some outrageous lampooning of the bigger names in Vegas.  Worthy or not?  That's in the eye of the beholder.

But, it entertains us, doesn't it. When does your book come out, Kev?

Candy

Kevin Lewis Mar-01-2021

My upcoming book

Candy, it's been ready for some time now, but I didn't want Sheldon Adelson to have me whacked. It would have been trivially easy for him--petty cash. One phone call.

Now that he's dealing 6:5 blackjack to Satan, I might be safer--but he might have left posthumous instructions in his will to deal with folks like me.

Maybe I have nothing to be afraid of, though. These days, they don't put out a contract; they just sic their lawyers on you.

Oh, wait, that's actually worse.

emtcater Mar-01-2021

Really Vegas Vic

Adelson was one of the very few casino owners who paid his employees IN FULL during the shit down. So stop the hate.

Question of the Day - 01 March 2021

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