The MGM Grand is one of the most iconic resorts in Vegas, and it’s especially known for hosting some of the world’s most talented Elvis Presley impersonators. It’s also a popular destination for Las Vegas limo tours thanks to its unique design that provides phenomenal photo ops, but there’s more to the MGM Grand than meets the eye.
The Hotel is the Size of a Small City
A staggering 70,000 people – the population of a small city – pass through the MGM Grand every single day. Those patrons include the individuals and families staying in one of the landmark’s 6,852 rooms as well as casino-goers, staff, and tourists.
It’s the Largest Casino in Las Vegas
Vegas is no stranger to huge casinos, but the MGM Grand really takes the cake. Inside, you’ll find more than 2,300 gaming machines, and that doesn’t even include the various poker, baccarat, and craps tables, among others. The casino floor measures 170,000 square feet, which is equal to about three football fields.
Floyd Mayweather Won His Fame Here
Back in 2004, a then 17-year-old Floyd Mayweather fought against Martin Castillo, and he’s been a sensation ever since. He set four of the five live gate records at the MGM Grand, including his fight against Saul Alvarez back in 2013, which brought in a whopping sum of more than $20 million. Still today, the venue refers to itself as the “Home of the Champion”.
It’s Where the Infamous Mike Tyson Fight Happened
Back in 2007, the world gasped in shock as famed fighter Mike Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Hollyfield’s ear during a match. It gets even worse, though. Mills Lane, who was a fight referee that night, sold his shirt to a collector for just $200 moments before the fight. Witnesses say Lane paced around MGM Grand in shirtless horror as he kicked himself for cutting a deal with the collector before the fight. That shirt would probably sell for several thousand dollars or more today.
Even the Slots are Famous
When it comes to slot machines, the MGM Grand is no stranger to high stakes. In fact, some of the machines on the venue’s insanely massive floor run $1,000 a spin or more! Despite this, there are numerous slots that are far more affordable to play, and back in 2014, one lucky patron won $2.4 million on a single $3 spin.
The Servers at Hakkasan are Fashion-Forward
Hakkasan is the five-level restaurant and nightclub at the MGM Grand. It boasts a massive 80,000 square feet of floor space, and it’s one of the most luxurious venues in the city when it comes to nightlife. The servers on the main floor change their clothes for each resident DJ set, which means they change up to four times every single night. Many of the DJs co-design the servers’ uniforms, too. It’s all in the name of immersion, and patrons love it.
The (Un)Lucky Lion
The lion is the ubiquitous mascot of the MGM Grand, and while you can still find images of the king of the jungle throughout the entire venue, things have certainly changed over the years. When it opened in 1993, visitors would walk through a cartoonish gaping lion’s mouth to enter the building, which turned out to be unlucky in Asian cultures. Renovations a few years later shifted toward a more traditional entryway. From 1999 to 2012, the MGM Grand hosted a live lion habitat. Today, a 45-foot, 50-ton bronze lion sculpture stands guard over the MGM Grand. To date, it’s the largest bronze sculpture in the United States.
The MGM Grand is one of the most recognizable names and buildings in all of Las Vegas, and its history is just as interesting as its unique design650. To see it for yourself, schedule a luxurious Las Vegas limo tour today.
