New Year, New Vegas: 12 New Things to Do in Vegas in 2021
With 2020 behind us, it’s time to look forward to the future! Last year was a year of change, and 2021 is the year to enjoy what we have all been waiting for. Read below to see what to do in Vegas this year with our many new attractions, things to do, and hopefully some shows to see down the road.
New Las Vegas Hotels
Circa Resort & Casino
Circa Las Vegas is the first Downtown hotel in decades to be built from the ground up, and is already proving to exceed high expectations since opening amenities in October 2020 and the hotel in December 2020. The opening of the resort meant the opening of a number of new Las Vegas attractions within.
Featuring the largest sportsbook in the world with Circa | Sports, a stunning pool amphitheater called Circa Stadium Swim® with the most advanced water filtration system, state-of-the-art casino technology (including an impressive HVAC system to keep the air fresh and clean), luxury rooms and suites, an efficient and beautiful rideshare hub named the Garage Mahal, and a restaurant and bar scene fit for any foodie, Circa is sure to be a popular Las Vegas 2021 spot.
Resorts World
After years of planning and construction, Resorts World is on pace to open in the summer of 2021. The 88-acre site is being developed by Genting Berhap and is already an impressive sight with a pair of twin skyscrapers finished. The towers include Crockfords, a luxury hotel-within-a-hotel concept with its own pool and check-in lobby. No residencies have yet been announced for Resorts World’s all-new 5,000 seat theater, but expect a big name to make a splash.
Virgin Hotels
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is planned to open January 15, 2021. The property formerly housed the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and is undergoing an extensive renovation with more than 1,500 rooms being given a fresh makeover. The resort is also welcoming Kassi Beach Club, Night + Market and a casino revamped in partnership with Mohegan Sun. Restaurants include the return of Olives (formerly at the Bellagio) and old favorites Nobu, MB Steak, and Pizza Forte.
New Las Vegas Attractions
Allegiant Stadium
After the success of the Golden Knights, Las Vegas takes another major step toward becoming a true sports town with the arrival of the Raiders for the 2020 NFL season. The 65,000-seat venue is an attraction all by itself with high-tech features, ultra-high-def video screens and a window that allows fans to see the Las Vegas Strip from inside. The stadium initially opened without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Nevada capacity laws have limited access to the stadium, but we are all hoping the 2021 season will be more promising for visitors to experience the growing Vegas sports scene.
Area 15
Area 15 is a new kind of attraction that mixes art and commerce with food and nightlife. Enjoy cocktails at Oddwood, a bar with a giant 23-foot-tall LED maple tree in the center. You can also take flight with Birdly (a virtual reality attraction) or the Haley’s Comet motorized zipline. Food is offered by The Beast Pop-Up in the back outdoor A-lot. The most intriguing element is Mega Mart, a large-scale, immersive, interactive art installation by Meow Wolf that spoofs the superstore concept. It’s set to fully open this year along with an interactive on-site distillery by Lost Spirits. If you’d like to visit this far-out location and see what is already open, free reservations are needed to limit capacity.
HyperX Esports Arena
Gamers and sports enthusiasts now have their own way to experience the Las Vegas Strip. HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas is the result of a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Allied eSports. It fills the 30,000-foot, two-floor space at Luxor once occupied by megaclub LAX. Features include a 50-foot LED video wall, telescopic seating, a production studio and food and drink offerings from famed restaurateur and chef Jose Andres. You can purchase a day pass for $50 but participating in tournament events will cost extra. They have diligent safety procedures in place so you can game knowing that you are in safe hands.
Las Vegas Convention Center Loop
Elon Musk’s The Boring Company has begun construction on a futuristic “people mover” underneath the new Las Vegas Convention Center scheduled to open by the end of 2020. The project will use autonomous electric Tesla vehicles to transport attendees underground, cutting what would otherwise be a 15-minute walk down to little over a minute. The vehicles have room for both standing and sitting and will travel 35-40 miles-per-hour in a twin tunnel loop system. The new form of transportation could eventually connect to casinos throughout the Strip and McCarran International Airport.
New Las Vegas Shows
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson was set to headline starting in April 2020 but announced via Twitter in May that she was postponing her residency, Kelly Clarkson: Invincible, due to COVID concerns. Dates have yet to be announced for Clarkson’s upcoming show at Zappos Theater Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in 2021, but is billed as a one-of-a-kind, up-close music journey through her award-winning smash hits.
Magic Mike Live
Magic Mike Live will have a new home in 2021. The stage production and all-male revue based on the hit movie had to end its run at the Hard Rock when the hotel closed in 2019. Now, the show, which is produced by Channing Tatum, will return in the spring at the Sahara. A new theater is being constructed for the production, taking over a two-story space on the second floor of the resort.
Sting
The 17-time Grammy winning composer and singer-songwriter, was originally supposed to perform in May-September 2020 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The show dates were pushed “to ensure the safety of the audience, performers and support crew,” according to Sting’s official Instagram. Tickets for My Songs: The Las Vegas Residency are currently on sale for Jan. 29 through Feb. 13 and May 7-22, 2021. Prices start at $55, plus tax.
Usher
R&B megastar Usher is the first act scheduled for a new Las Vegas residency in 2021. Dates begin July 16 at the recently renovated Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Grammy-winning artist Usher promises an only-in-Vegas spectacular in 2021 that will span his 20-year career, ranging from his early records to his recent songs and new music. Expect hits like “Yeah!” and “You Remind Me” as well as new singles like “I Cry” and “Don’t Waste My Time.”
ZZ Top
Longtime Southern rock and blues band ZZ Top also postponed their new Las Vegas residency until 2021. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have since rescheduled for April 9, 10, 14, 16 and 17 at the Venetian Theatre inside the Venetian Las Vegas. They “look forward to seeing you all in Vegas soon,” according to a statement from the band. Tickets for ZZ Top: Viva Las Vegas start at $45 plus tax and fees.
We have our fingers crossed that 2021 gets to go back to normal to some degree, but we are still thankful for the expansion and growth we managed in 2020. With all these new things to do in Vegas, this year is already looking hopeful and the future is looking bright! Book your room at Circa Resort to be in the heart of the new Las Vegas attractions and have the time of your life.
