So, after making the big bad Fire Department the fall guy for Dec. 31's sucktastic fireworks display (more of an obfuscation than a display, really) it turns out that the culprit was organizer Las Vegas Events. Perhaps, in a new bow to Truth in Packaging, it will rebrand itself Las Vegas Non-Events.
The problem wasn't that — as initially reported — new fire-safety rules prevented launching fireworks from Strip rooftops. Rather, LVE was too cheap to pay the $200K that compliance would have required. This is the first time I can recall hotel-tax money being spent thriftily, as the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (the prime room-tax beneficiary) is in the habit of flinging great gobs of it to the four winds. But spend an extra 200 grand on the Strip's single biggest party night? Nosiree Bob, can't have any of that. There's a recession on, you know. Or, "The first priority is the experience on the Strip," to borrow the excuse du jour. Although, if the latter is the case, why bother firing off pyrotechnics from the Convention Center (well off the Strip) and beneath the Fremont Street Experience canopy ('nuff said)?
Based on experience, I'd say to expect LVE to stay atop its high horse for maybe another fortnight and then, when it hopes nobody is looking, admit that "It was a mistake." Sort of like how NBA All-Star Weekend was the greatest thing since sliced bread — until it wasn't.
