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Jonathan Short/The Associated Press
Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones arrive at a central London venue Thursday, July 12, 2012, to mark the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ first performance.
Thursday, March 21, 2013 | 4:20 p.m.
Those overseas phone calls from Australia to Las Vegas to book dates for The Rolling Stones concerts at MGM Grand Garden Arena for now have proved pointless. In fact, all 18 rumored West Coast tour dates went up in smoke in an around-the-world financial drama this week.
The Stones management team took the deal away from Sydney music promoter Paul Dainty this week and have now handed the assignment to AEG Live, the company that operates The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel and promotes MGM Grand Garden Arena one-nighters.
Billboard.biz reports that the Australian company in partnership with Virgin Music failed to deliver The Stones’ $80 million guarantee for the dates, so The Stones asked AEG to intervene. This morning, AEG L.A. is busy “routing the show and penciling in new dates and arenas.”
I’m reliably told that it will take another 48 hours to put the jigsaw puzzle of tour locations together, so we’re on watch for the new final announcements likely in one week. Reportedly, the plan and the hope are for The Stones to still play Las Vegas after the Australian promoters surprise sudden exit threw everything up in the air this week.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
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MGM Grand, a AAA Four Diamond resort, offers 5,044 rooms and suites.
MGM Grand features KÀ by Cirque du Soleil; Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club; and world-class entertainment at the Grand Garden Arena and Hollywood Theatre.
The resort offers signature restaurants by celebrity chefs including Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Emeril Lagasse’s New Orleans Fish House, Wolfgang Puck’s Bar & Grill and Michelin three star and Forbes Five Star restaurant, Joël Robuchon.
As part of its ongoing “Grand Renovation,” MGM Grand has remodeled all rooms and suites in its main tower and is adding several new experiences to its lineup including Hakkasan Las Vegas Restaurant and Nightclub, a new upscale dining/nightlife concept (coming in April 2013).
MGM Grand also features a state-of-the-art, non-smoking conference center, the Grand Spa, Cristophe Salon, "CSI: The Experience" and an inviting pool complex featuring the tantalizing daylife of Wet Republic.
Upscale accommodations include The Mansion, an exclusive hotel within the hotel; the luxurious two-story SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand; and The Signature at MGM Grand, a luxury all-suite, non-gaming hotel located adjacent to the main resort.
So what, 90 percent of the tickets will be snapped up by dealers. Then the price will be out of reach!
Stones are always a great show-can't wait.
Old farts