Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

November 25, 2009

ARIA Fountain Test ; Crystals Walkway Opens

Posted by Hunter

Some interesting CityCenter related photos and videos today.

First a tourist video of a test of ARIA's porte-cochere fountain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_984aK2mZ4A&feature=player_embedded

Also, the overhead walkway and sidewalk in front of Crystals is now open:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33394294@N05/

Enjoy.



Comments

Read archived comments (10 so far)
November 26, 2009 8:11 AM Posted by detroit1051

Excellent photos! As CityCenter nears completion, these photos make it look much more human-oriented. Most of the year, it will be very walkable and have its own urban personality. However, I still seem to be fixated on the number of steep stairs as shown in these two photos. I hope there are also escalators, not elevators, to move between levels.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33394294@N05/4134569311/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33394294@N05/4135327128/

November 26, 2009 9:28 AM Posted by John

Hey, these are mine!

Anyway, in all cases where there were stairs to climb, there were elevators installed and in use. I did wonder if that uphill walk to Aria from Las Vegas Boulevard is a widow-maker though.

November 26, 2009 9:18 PM Posted by Brian Fey

Looks like a major shit storm is brewing with Dubai World, I am assuming (and hoping) none of this will or can effect City Center at this point. It's looking like Dubai World might be in even worst financial shape than MGM, who would have ever thought that could have been possible? I assume MGM has their butts covered, and protected themselves and their project, in the rare event that something should go very wrong with Dubai World. I think we might be finding out pretty soon. I guess nothing can last forever, and even the fine people in the middle east eventually have to pay the piper so to speak.

November 27, 2009 11:27 AM Posted by mike_ch

I'm pretty sure anyone who took a look at Dubai would have thought it's possible. It was more likely than that level of development being sustained indefinitely. Then again, it seemed like that principle would apply to Las Vegas too and people quickly lost touch with reality there. Must be something about deserts.

It's worth pointing out that Dubai is basically asking for a bailout, but the people holding the pursestrings in Abu Dhabi are pretty much ignoring them.

It would be nice if MGM could recover their 50% at a bargain basement price eventually. Even if getting the cash for it requires them to find a Phil Ruffin type to take something off their hands (may I suggest Luxor?)

November 27, 2009 1:48 PM Posted by parchedearth

Excellent photos. The fountain looks like a blowtorch. It might turn out to be the star attraction of CC.

I think the reflections from the other neighboring properties is interesting. At night the front of Cosmo is lit up from the PHo displays across the street.

Looks like MO did not use reflective glass, so people can see right into the rooms at night. They may regret this.

November 28, 2009 7:42 AM Posted by Phil

Interesting in these shots how the lights of the fountain blast into a few select rooms. "Honey, close the curtains better, I can't sleep with that damn fountain light"

scroll down on this link to see

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=100928&page=385

November 28, 2009 9:23 AM Posted by MarkD

I don't get it. What's so special about that little fountain?

November 28, 2009 9:31 AM Posted by Hunter

I think it looks a bit like a flamethrower, which I think is pretty neat. It's super intense in color.

November 28, 2009 10:14 PM Posted by Doug

I noticed on the property map of Aria posted over at VegasTripping that the poker room doesn't seem to have a 'line of sight' to the sports book. This was something very popular with the old Bellagio poker room/sports book design.

Also(from my research), Aria room rates and 'travel deals' for the first few months of 2010 are all over the place as far as price is concerned.

November 29, 2009 5:35 AM Posted by detroit1051

What makes Jim Murren tick? This LV Sun story gives some good insights on Murren and his vision for CityCenter:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/nov/29/one-mans-concept-real-story/