New Circa Resort & Casino Set for Las Vegas Grand Opening

Downtown Las Vegas is set to see a new property debut for the first time in decades.

On Wednesday, Circa Resort and Casino will open its doors at the corner of Main Street and the Fremont Street Experience, making it the first all-new, built-from-the-ground-up hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas since 1980. Despite the ongoing pandemic, Circa is opening two months ahead of schedule.

"Sometimes life throws you curveballs, and 2020 has been an unpredictable year for the entire world," Derek Stevens, CEO and owner of Circa said in a news release. "However, thanks to the creativity and ingenuity from our partners at McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and Tré Builders, we can move forward on this accelerated path and have an opening unlike Las Vegas has experienced. We are excited to see what the future holds and to give visitors and locals something to celebrate."

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Circa encompasses 1.25 million square feet and features a 35-story hotel with 777 rooms and has a two-story casino that will feature 1,350 slot machines and 49 table games. It is open to those 21 and over and includes a number of new amenities such as a three-story sportsbook and a swimming area with six pools.

Here are some of the top amenities at the resort:

Sportsbook

The Circa’s stadium-style sportsbook includes a 78-million-pixel screen that requires 10 operators and can fit up to 1,000 people. According to Stevens, it’s the largest in the world by cubic feet. The book will be operated by Stevens’ sports betting venture, Circa Sports.

Reservation options for the sportsbook include VIP single-seat cushioned chairs, plush recliners, booth-style seating and tiered stadium-style seating. The Overhang Bar on the second floor offers visitors another vantage point of the large screen. There is also a seating area available for podcasters who wish to record near the sportsbook. The third floor includes a dedicated broadcast studio.

Pool Amphitheater

Circa’s Stadium Swim has the amenities to make it one of the city’s signature pools. Operating 365 days a year, the pool includes a 40-foot tall, 14 million pixel screen designed to show multiple games at once, similar to a sportsbook. The entire pool area makes up 15,000 square feet and includes 337 chaise lounges, 38 daybeds, 30 cabanas and super cabanas, eight poolside boxes and two swim-up bars to give the pool a capacity of 4,000.

The pool can be a year-round option because the water temperature can range from 74 to 94 degrees. Some pools could reach 104 degrees for the coldest days in the winter.

Original Restaurants and the Longest Bar

Circa will feature a wide range of restaurant concepts, including delicatessen fare at Saginaw’s Delicatessen from renowned restaurateur Paul Saginaw; premium steaks and seafood at Barry’s Downtown Prime from Chef Barry S. Dakake; Carolina barbecue Project BBQ; and various menus at Victory Burger & Wings Co. from the founding family of American Coney Island.

Circa also includes the longest indoor bar in Nevada, with the Mega Bar spanning 165 feet. It will operate as a sister concept to Stevens’ record-breaking 100-foot LONGBAR at the D Casino and Hotel. The Mega Bar has 53 spots for seated, bar-top gaming and features 40 double-stacked TVs for sports viewing and 120 beer taps with a rotating selection.

Garage Mahal

Circa’s nine-story garage includes 982 parking spots inside a structure that is well-lit to ensure safety and make guests feel secure. The garage features murals and other pieces of art on every floor, including a 22-foot color-changing chandelier called “Time of Your Life.”

The garage was built with ride-sharing services in mind, and visitors can expect a seamless Uber and Lyft experience, according to Circa.

Users will be required to pay for parking, but rates have not been disclosed.

Circa a Bright Spot During Pandemic

Circa’s opening is a positive for the Las Vegas community since the coronavirus pandemic hit and closed casinos across the U.S..

In Nevada, Gov. Steve Sisolak ordered casinos to be shut down in mid-March in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. Casinos were not permitted to reopen until June 4, under strict social distancing guidelines. Some have struggled in their return, while others have yet to reopen, including downtown’s Main Street Station Casino.

As a result of the pandemic, tourism and gaming revenue have taken hits. According to the Las Vegas Sun, about 1.7 million people went through McCarran International Airport in August, a decrease of 61% from the same month in 2019.

In the same month downtown hotel occupancy was nearly 40%, down half of what it was at the same time last year. Meanwhile, gaming revenue was down 22% compared to August 2019.