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Plaza Hotel & Casino

Coordinates: 36°10′18″N 115°08′47″W / 36.17175°N 115.14651°W / 36.17175; -115.14651
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This article is about the downtown Las Vegas casino. For the planned Las Vegas Strip casino, see Las Vegas Plaza.
Plaza Hotel and Casino
Plaza Hotel and Casino is located in Downtown Las Vegas
Plaza Hotel and Casino
Plaza Hotel and Casino is located in Nevada
Plaza Hotel and Casino
Location Downtown Las Vegas
Address 1 Main Street
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Opening dateJuly 2, 1971
ThemeClassic
No. of rooms995
Total gaming space80,000 sq ft (7,400 m2)
Signature attractionsCORE Arena, rooftop pool and 12 pickleball courts
Notable restaurantsOscar's Steakhouse
Hash House A Go Go
Pop Up Pizza
Casino typeLand-based
OwnerTamares Group
Previous namesUnion Plaza
Renovated in2004, 2011, 2019, 2023
Websitewww.plazahotelcasino.com

The Plaza Hotel & Casino is a casino–hotel located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned by the Tamares Group and Jonathan Jossel is the CEO. It currently has 995 rooms and suites, as well as a 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) casino and more than 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2) of event space. The Plaza also features a showroom, a rooftop swimming pool, fitness center, bingo room, and a race and sports book.

The Plaza began an extensive $35 million renovation project at the end of 2010 that included brand new guest rooms and suites, a remodeled casino floor and lobby, and new restaurants, bars and entertainment options.[1] The renovations utilized contemporary furnishings and materials purchased from the Fontainebleau Resort after it suspended construction on the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel and casino reopened on September 1, 2011. Later that year, the Plaza opened Oscar's Steakhouse inside its glass dome.

The property has undertaken numerous other renovation projects in the years since to further enhance the guest experience, including refurbishing the rooftop pool and adding 12 dedicated pickle-ball courts, opening 100-plus Luxe guest rooms and suites on the top floors of the North Tower, and completing a multi-million dollar renovation to the convention space.

History

Las Vegas Union Pacific Station

Union Pacific Station, Las Vegas, c. 1940

Prior to the construction of the casino, part of the site was used for the first train station in Las Vegas, a Spanish style depot, constructed in 1906.[2] Union Pacific replaced that station in 1940 with a Streamline Moderne train station designed by H. L. Gogerty, with a Union Pacific shield, and "Streamliners & Challengers" neon sign.[3] This station was demolished in 1970. The casino -- originally named Union Plaza, in reference to the railroad station that originally stood at the site -- included a small waiting room to be used as a station for Amtrak trains.[4]

Union Plaza Hotel and Casino

Upland Industries, the Union Pacific's real estate division, and developer Frank E. Scott built the Union Plaza complex on the station site.[5] The hotel opened at 10 AM on July 1, 1971; the casino opened at midnight following[6] and was managed by a team of local casino executives that included Sam Boyd, Jackie Gaughan, JK Houssels Jr, and Bill Boyd.[7] With 500 rooms when it opened, it was advertised as the largest hotel and casino in the world.[8][9][10]

Before the discontinuation of the Desert Wind train route on May 10, 1997, Amtrak made its Las Vegas, Nevada station near the Plaza. The station and ticket windows were directly connected to the hotel. It was the only train station in the United States located in a casino. The Greyhound Bus station for Las Vegas was also located at the ground floor of the Plaza since opening, until hotel management terminated their lease. The station moved out February 23, 2021.[11]

Plaza Hotel & Casino

Barrick Gaming Corporation acquired the Plaza from Jackie Gaughan and in late 2005 later ceded operation to majority owner Tamares Group. On July 1, 2005, after Tamares took control of the Plaza, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman made his opinions clear: "If I had my druthers, I would like to have somebody in place to discuss imploding the Plaza."[12] He was referring to his desire to see the Plaza replaced with new construction that would create a scenic entrance to Union Park. Yet, in the decades since, the Plaza has invested millions to improve the property, and Goodman is now a strong supporter of the property, even lending his name to its steakhouse.

During its ownership by Barrick Gaming Corporation, D.W. Barrick's friend, Larry Manetti (who played Orville "Rick" Wright on the television show Magnum, P.I.) hosted a celebrity brunch every Sunday, featuring such guests as Pat Morita and Steve Rossi.[citation needed] He also owned Manetti's in the Plaza. When Barrick sold its interest in the hotel to the Tamares Group, Manetti closed his restaurant and severed his relationship with the hotel. The Plaza's famed glass dome is now the home of Oscar's Steakhouse, which opened in 2011.

The Plaza's rooftop pool with D*Face mural on North Tower in the background

The hotel closed for renovations on November 11, 2010, and acquired furniture, carpets and fixtures from the bankrupt Fontainebleau Resort Las Vegas project on the Strip.[13] From November 2010 to August 2011, the Plaza still operated its sports & racebook, showroom, one bar, and a portion of the casino. By March 2011, the south tower had been renovated, and the casino finished renovations and re-opened on August 24, 2011.[14] The hotel officially re-opened for business on September 1, 2011.[15]

In 2014, the Plaza announced that a new 3,500-seat facility would be constructed at the hotel to become the new home arena for the Las Vegas Wranglers minor league hockey team of the ECHL.[16] However, the hockey team suspended operations for the 2014-15 season and would eventually fold mid-season.

The property has undertaken numerous other renovations and amenity enhancement projects since 2011. In 2016, the Plaza fully refurbished its rooftop pool creating a "retro Palm Springs meets classic downtown Las Vegas" inspired outdoor space with a wet deck, hot tub, private cabanas, bar and food truck. With 12 Pickleball courts, the Plaza is the only hotel/casino in Las Vegas with so many courts dedicated to the sport.[17]

The Plaza built the multipurpose venue CORE Arena, an equestrian center in downtown Las Vegas, with 80 equine stalls.[18] which hosts events including rodeos, monster truck shows and other sporting events.

In 2019, a $15 million renovation created 100-plus fully renovated Luxe guest rooms and suites on the top floors of the North Tower.[19][20]

The Plaza boasts three 21-story murals by artists, Shepard Fairey, D*Face and Faile on its North Tower.[21]

Film

  • In the 1989 film, Back to the Future Part II, Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino Hotel is based on the structure of neon lights & signs of this hotel.
  • The Union Plaza played a major role in the 1992 movie Cool World.
  • In the 1995 movie Casino, a scene starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone plays inside the Center Stage Restaurant, where Ginger (played by Sharon Stone) and Sam (played by Robert De Niro) argue over missing money.
  • In the 2000 movie Pay It Forward, a scene starring Kevin Spacey plays inside the Center Stage Restaurant.
  • In the 2001 movie The Mexican, Samantha and Winston stay at the Plaza, and Frank is killed by being thrown from one of its balconies.
  • In the 2003 movie Looney Tunes: Back in Action, the Plaza serves as the hotel tower for "Yosemite Sam's Wooden Nickel" casino.
  • In the 2004 movie The Girl Next Door, desperate to win her back, Matt (Emile Hirsch) and his friends follow Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) to Las Vegas and find her performing at a convention, which appears to be taking place at the Plaza.
  • In the 2008 film The Grand, the Plaza serves as the hotel tower for "The Rabbit's Foot".
  • The Union Plaza played a major role in the 2008 film Yonkers Joe.

Television

Music videos

Gambling history

  • On April 11, 2004, Ashley Revell, 32, of Kent, England, sold all his possessions and traveled to the Plaza to bet his life savings of $135,300 on one spin of the roulette wheel. He won, and doubled his money.[27][28]

References

  1. ^ Finnegan, Amanda (June 23, 2011). "Renovation is transforming downtown's Plaza Hotel". Vegas Inc. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  2. ^ "Union Station, 1906-1940". Classic Las Vegas. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  3. ^ "Union Station, 1940-1970". Classic Las Vegas. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  4. ^ "Union Plaza". Vintage Las Vegas. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  5. ^ "Construction of Union Plaza, Spring 1971". Vintage Las Vegas. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Ed Lattin Heads Security at New LV Plaza Hotel". Henderson Home News. Vol. 24 (52 ed.). Henderson, Nevada. July 1, 1971. p. 1.
  7. ^ "Construction of Union Plaza, Spring 1971". Vintage Las Vegas. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Plaza Hotel and Casino History". PlazaHotelCasino.com. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Opening Thursday night July 1st at midnight, worlds largest casino, free midnight champagne" (manual readerboard outside Union Plaza). Plaza Hotel & Casino. 1971. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  10. ^ Bacharach, Burt (June 29, 1971). "Better Vision Equals Better "Look"". Greenville Record. Vol. 123, no. 152. Greenville, Pennsylvania. p. 5.
  11. ^ "Greyhound bus terminal moving to make way for downtown development". KLAS. February 23, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  12. ^ "New land baron moves on downtown". Las Vegas Business Press. July 1, 2005. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013.
  13. ^ Benston, Liz (October 7, 2010). "Plaza gets Strip stuff at Downtown prices". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  14. ^ O'Reiley, Tim (August 25, 2011). "Fresh look for downtown's Plaza". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  15. ^ "Infographic", Plaza Hotel & Casino. Retrieved on June 26, 2013.
  16. ^ Katsilometes, John (February 14, 2014). "Wranglers' search for a new home in Las Vegas ends at the Plaza". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  17. ^ "Renovated rooftop pool — with food truck — to open at Plaza". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 25, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "CORE Arena". Plaza Hotel and Casino. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  19. ^ Miller, Ken (July 26, 2019). "Elevate your Plaza experience with Luxe Rooms and Suites". Las Vegas Magazine. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  20. ^ Horwath, Bryan (June 3, 2019). "Plaza renovation another piece of downtown's renaissance pie". VegasInc. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  21. ^ "Plaza Murals". Plaza Hotel and Casino. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  22. ^ "The Odds (2010) (TV)". IMDb. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  23. ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (August 31, 2016). "An Oral History of "We Built This City," the Worst Song of All Time". GQ. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  24. ^ Kim, Emmeline (October 2, 2013). "Iggy Azalea Calls 'The New Classic' A Sonic & Visual Hip Hop Experiment". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  25. ^ Bracelin, Jason (June 28, 2017). "The Killers' new video features several classic Las Vegas locations". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  26. ^ Jossel, Jonathan (November 27, 2019). "I recognize these lights". @JonathanJossel. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  27. ^ Revell, Ashley; Ben Riley-Smith (September 18, 2013). "What it's like to bet everything you own on red". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  28. ^ "'All or nothing' gamble succeeds". BBC News. April 12, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
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