World-Famous Las Vegas Strip Is Dark, While Construction At Raiders Stadium Is A Go After Governor’s Business Shutdown Announcement Tuesday Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered the shutdown of all hotels, casinos, restaurants and bars across the state and the Strip went dark Tuesday, while construction will continue at the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium and other building sites in Las Vegas.
After Sisolak made the announcement Tuesday, he grew annoyed at reporters’ questions about Nevada’s world-famous casino industry shutting down in the age of a respiratory virus pandemic that has 35 COVID-19 cases in Clark County and claimed the life of a man in his 60s here.
“Take this seriously,” Sisolak said at the state office building in downtown Las Vegas.
It was another painful day for the world’s Entertainment Capital as Sisolak ordered the shutdown of all casinos and gambling machines and all nonessential businesses for 30 days.
Local 872 Business Manager Tommy White told Channel 8’s Chris Maathuis that all construction workers are expected to continue working unless the project developer or owner wants to stop construction.
“Construction is a go. Stadium is a go,” White said. “The stadium was a big concern. We are on track with the stadium.”
The $1.97 billion stadium project, being built on 62.5 acres on the west side of Interstate 15 across from Mandalay Bay, is scheduled to be completed July 31. The 65,000-seat domed stadium will host the Raiders and the UNLV football team. Its first major concert is a Garth Brooks event Aug. 22, and the concert sold out all 65,000 seats in 75 minutes Friday. The public is giving $750 million to the Raiders to help build the stadium.
Here’s some Twitter reaction posts to the Channel 8 item on White.
Sisolak was direct and serious about nonessential businesses closing for 30 days.
“Not the time to go to the movies,” Sisolak said.
The bars, restaurants and casinos are closed. The Strip’s hotel-casino companies and properties — MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn, Sands, Cosmo — are all shuttered.
“Today, I took the necessary steps to try to mitigate this pandemic & keep our community safe. Medical experts have advised that the most effective course of action is to direct all Nevadans to stay home & for all nonessential businesses to close to the public for 30 days,” Sisolak tweeted.
More Sisolak in another tweet: “All gatherings should be postponed or canceled. This is not the time for sleepovers, playdates, concerts, theater outings, or athletic events. Although you may not be experiencing symptoms at this time, you may be contagious. Do not risk your own health or the health of others.”
Keep in mind that MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts — two major hotel-casino owners on the Strip — had already announced Sunday they were going to close starting Tuesdday. And if any hotel-casinos were going to stay open, there was already talk that the occupancy rates would have been in the single digits.
Sisolak said it’s his last press conference in person before reporters. His tweet: “Please note that this is likely my last press conference in person to protect my staff & members of the media. We will continue to update all of our Nevadans through other methods, incl. videos, emails and at the dedicated Nevada Health Response website: nvhealthresponse.nv.gov.”
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