Downtown Las Vegas
Encyclopedia
Downtown Las Vegas is the central business district
of Las Vegas
, Nevada
. It is the original gambling district of Las Vegas, prior to the Strip, and the area still incorporates downtown gaming
.
(Fremont Street Experience
and Fremont East).
The Fremont Street Experience is a canopied street of the downtown area where casinos have been connected to the street and to each other in a unique visual manner. With more than 2 million lights and a state-of-the-art sound system, the Fremont Street Experience brings nightly shows through the world's largest audio-video system. The $70 million attraction features the ultimate in multisensory entertainment. It also brings a variety of exciting special events, cuisine, special entertainment and live concerts throughout the year.
, which is located a few miles to the south. The city has been working on revitalization efforts to entice more visitors and residents to the downtown area.
The city has been successfully working to redevelop Fremont Street just east of the Fremont Street Experience. In 2007, the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency
joined with Fremont East property and business owners for a $5.5 million streetscape improvement. This three-block renovation included pedestrian-friendly street redesign, landscaping and retro-looking neon signage.
The three-block revitalization of Fremont Street was celebrated on August 24, 2007. Development of this area is intended to increase the draw of downtown Las Vegas by offering a compact, walkable entertainment area of bars and clubs. This area is officially called the Fremont East Entertainment District.
World Market Center
Las Vegas is another project on which the city concentrated its efforts. In 2002, WMCLV was announced on a lot adjacent to the city of Las Vegas' redevelopment parcel, as an eight-building complex offering 7500000 square feet (696,772.8 m²) in a facility designed by Jon Jerde
. Three of the buildings have opened as of 2011.
The square footage of World Market Center Las Vegas is greater than the Willis Tower in Chicago
(the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere
), and the Empire State Building
in New York City
.
A third effort put into place is Symphony Park
, a mixed-use development in downtown Las Vegas. The city of Las Vegas is undertaking the development on 61 acres (24.7 ha) located on land purchased from the Union Pacific Railroad
. The city acquired the land in 1995. The Symphony Park development will be one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the country.
Symphony Park is being planned by the city of Las Vegas. This is a major project for the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency
and the city.
The city is also working to attract events to the downtown area. For instance, in April 2007, the Champ Car World Series hosted the 2007 Vegas Grand Prix in downtown Las Vegas.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. It is the original gambling district of Las Vegas, prior to the Strip, and the area still incorporates downtown gaming
Downtown gaming Las Vegas
Downtown Gaming is the term that the city of Las Vegas uses for the casinos near the Fremont Street Experience. The Nevada Gaming Control Board NGCB lists the Stratosphere Casino as a downtown casino even though that property is from Fremont Street and is often considered the northern edge of the...
.
Tourism
Downtown Las Vegas is centered on Fremont StreetFremont Street
Fremont Street is a street in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the second most famous street in the Las Vegas metropolitan area after the Las Vegas Strip...
(Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience
The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and attraction in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The FSE occupies the westernmost 5 blocks of Fremont Street, including the area known for years as "Glitter Gulch," and portions of some other adjacent streets.The attraction is a barrel vault canopy,...
and Fremont East).
The Fremont Street Experience is a canopied street of the downtown area where casinos have been connected to the street and to each other in a unique visual manner. With more than 2 million lights and a state-of-the-art sound system, the Fremont Street Experience brings nightly shows through the world's largest audio-video system. The $70 million attraction features the ultimate in multisensory entertainment. It also brings a variety of exciting special events, cuisine, special entertainment and live concerts throughout the year.
Film and media history
- The 1971 James Bond filmJames Bond (film series)The James Bond film series is a British series of motion pictures based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond , who originally appeared in a series of books by Ian Fleming. Earlier films were based on Fleming's novels and short stories, followed later by films with original storylines...
Diamonds Are ForeverDiamonds Are Forever (film)Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the Eon Productions James Bond series, and the sixth and final Eon Productions film to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming's 1956 novel of the same name, and is the second of four James Bond films...
featured a chase scene in which James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
, running from Las Vegas police, side-rolls a car through an alleyAlleyAn alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
exiting onto Fremont Street. - The 1987 music video for the song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking ForI Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is a song by rock band U2. It is the second track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's second single in May 1987...
" by U2U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
was filmed on Fremont Street and featured the band members wandering around, while The EdgeThe EdgeDavid Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
played an acoustic guitar. - 1998's Very Bad ThingsVery Bad ThingsVery Bad Things is a 1998 black comedy directed by Peter Berg, based on the book by Gene Brewer. It stars Jon Favreau, Cameron Diaz, Christian Slater, Jeremy Piven, Daniel Stern, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Leland Orser.-Plot:...
featured Fremont Street in the movie. - 1992's Honey, I Blew Up the KidHoney, I Blew Up the KidHoney, I Blew Up the Kid is the 1992 sequel to the 1989 film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Directed by Randal Kleiser and released by Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Robert Oliveri and Amy O'Neill, who reprise their roles as Wayne, Diane, Nick, and Amy Szalinski...
prominently featured Fremont Street in the movie. - 1992's Cool WorldCool WorldCool World is a 1992 American live-action/animated film directed by Ralph Bakshi, and starring Kim Basinger, Gabriel Byrne, and Brad Pitt. It tells the story of a cartoonist who finds himself in the animated world he created, and is seduced by one of his characters, a comic strip vamp who wants to...
showed all the animation coming out of the Plaza hotel and going down Fremont Street. - In 1994, Glitter Gulch was featured prominently in the TV Miniseries The StandThe Stand (TV miniseries)# Project Blue [1:33]# The Dream Begins [2:08]# On the Road to Kansas [3:57]# The Trashmen in Vegas [1:58]# Headin' West [1:56]# Larry & Nadine [2:38]# Mother Abigail [3:10]# 'Sorry Mister, I Don't Understand' [2:54]# Mid Country [3:22]...
. - The 1997 comedy Vegas VacationVegas VacationVegas Vacation is a 1997 comedy film. It is the fourth film in the original Vacation film series centering around the fictitious Griswold family, following Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase reprises his starring role as Clark W. Griswold, the patriarch of the family...
includes a few scenes on Fremont Street. - In the 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog StoryDodgeball: A True Underdog StoryDodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, commonly referred to as simply DodgeBall, is a 2004 American sports comedy film produced by 20th Century Fox and Red Hour Productions, written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber and starring Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, and Rip Torn...
, Steve the Pirate is seen along the Plaza near the Fremont Street ExperienceFremont Street ExperienceThe Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and attraction in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The FSE occupies the westernmost 5 blocks of Fremont Street, including the area known for years as "Glitter Gulch," and portions of some other adjacent streets.The attraction is a barrel vault canopy,...
. - In a 2005 release, Panic! at the DiscoPanic! at the DiscoPanic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
released a song about cheap motels on Fremont Street called "Build God, Then We'll TalkBuild God, Then We'll Talk"Build God, Then We'll Talk" is the fifth and final official single from Panic! at the Disco's 2005 album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, including the radio-only single "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage".-Track listing:...
." - The 2007 film Next, has Nicolas Cage's character entering the Golden Nugget from the Fremont Street ExperienceFremont Street ExperienceThe Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and attraction in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The FSE occupies the westernmost 5 blocks of Fremont Street, including the area known for years as "Glitter Gulch," and portions of some other adjacent streets.The attraction is a barrel vault canopy,...
. - Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
's music video for "Chrome and Paint" took place on Fremont Street, with Ice Cube in a lowrider. - In the video game, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: VegasTom Clancy's Rainbow Six: VegasTom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas is the fifth game in the Rainbow Six series of video games. It was released for the Xbox 360 on November 21, 2006 and Windows on December 12, 2006. The PlayStation Portable version was released on June 12, 2007, while the PlayStation 3 version was released on June...
, Logan Keller, and his teammates Jung and Michael, infiltrate Fremont Street to find a news van, which they find by going through the maintenance tunnels under the "Stocco Casino." - Heavily referenced in the Tom WaitsTom WaitsThomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
song "Mr. Siegal." - Featured at the beginning of the TV Series CSICSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
season 7 finale episode 24. - Featured in the opening credits of the TV series Vega$Vega$Vega$ is an American detective television drama series that aired on ABC between 1978 and 1981. It was produced by Aaron Spelling. The series, was filmed in its entirety in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is believed to be the first television series produced entirely in Las Vegas...
. - Magician & illusionist Criss AngelCriss AngelChristopher Nicholas Sarantakos , better known by the stage name Criss Angel, is an American illusionist, writer, director, musician, and actor...
has done many demonstrations and TV specials there. - In Fallout: New VegasFallout: New VegasFallout: New Vegas is a first person action role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is based in a post-apocalyptic environment in and around Las Vegas, Nevada...
New Vegas (Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
) downtown is called Freeside on Fremont Street.
Revitalization and future
The downtown area in recent years has played second fiddle to the larger and more famous Las Vegas StripLas Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, which is located a few miles to the south. The city has been working on revitalization efforts to entice more visitors and residents to the downtown area.
Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency
Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency is a redevelopment agency whose goal is to work in concert with the community and private sector to reverse the physical, economic and social blight within its designated boundaries.-History:...
joined with Fremont East property and business owners for a $5.5 million streetscape improvement. This three-block renovation included pedestrian-friendly street redesign, landscaping and retro-looking neon signage.
The three-block revitalization of Fremont Street was celebrated on August 24, 2007. Development of this area is intended to increase the draw of downtown Las Vegas by offering a compact, walkable entertainment area of bars and clubs. This area is officially called the Fremont East Entertainment District.
World Market Center
World Market Center
World Market Center Las Vegas, located at 495 S. Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a showcase for the home and hospitality contract furnishings industry in downtown Las Vegas.World Market Center currently has about of space...
Las Vegas is another project on which the city concentrated its efforts. In 2002, WMCLV was announced on a lot adjacent to the city of Las Vegas' redevelopment parcel, as an eight-building complex offering 7500000 square feet (696,772.8 m²) in a facility designed by Jon Jerde
Jon Jerde
Jon Jerde is an American architect based in Venice, California, Founder & Chairman of , a design architecture and urban planning firm that pioneered the concept of placemaking and "experience architecture;" and has created multiple award-winning commercial developments around the globe...
. Three of the buildings have opened as of 2011.
The square footage of World Market Center Las Vegas is greater than the Willis Tower in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
(the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
), and the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
A third effort put into place is Symphony Park
Symphony Park
Symphony Park, originally called Union Park, and formerly known as Parkway Center, is an under construction mixed-use urban community located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The city of Las Vegas is undertaking the development of a parcel located on brownfield land purchased from Union Pacific...
, a mixed-use development in downtown Las Vegas. The city of Las Vegas is undertaking the development on 61 acres (24.7 ha) located on land purchased from the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. The city acquired the land in 1995. The Symphony Park development will be one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the country.
Symphony Park is being planned by the city of Las Vegas. This is a major project for the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency
Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency
Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency is a redevelopment agency whose goal is to work in concert with the community and private sector to reverse the physical, economic and social blight within its designated boundaries.-History:...
and the city.
The city is also working to attract events to the downtown area. For instance, in April 2007, the Champ Car World Series hosted the 2007 Vegas Grand Prix in downtown Las Vegas.