Back in business next month
Boyd Gaming’s Main Street Station casino in downtown Las Vegas will reopen its doors to gambling visitors on September 8 at 6am. This will be the first time in 540 days that the casino property will open its doors since it closed because of pandemic restrictions in March 2020.
Main Street Station operator Boyd Gaming Corporation announced the news on Monday via Twitter:
While casinos in Nevada were able to resume operations on June 4, 2020, Main Street Station remained closed. There has been a lack of clarity for some time as to when this property would reopen to the public.
The operating company outlined how growing demand in downtown Las Vegas has made it a viable move for the Victorian-themed hotel-casino to open once again. Currently hiring for numerous positions, Main Street Station will be running its business on a 24/7 basis come September 8, although there will be restricted hours for its two restaurants.
Reviving downtown Las Vegas
Boyd Gaming executive vice president of operations Steve Thompson spoke about the latest news, saying: “We are thrilled to announce the reopening of Main Street Station, and to welcome back our team members and guests who have been eagerly awaiting our return.”
Once Main Street Station resumes operation next month, all three of Boyd Gaming’s downtown Las Vegas casinos – including the Fremont Hotel & Casino and California Hotel & Casino – will be open for business. According to company spokesman David Strow, the other two properties have been “running very busy” in recent times.
as vaccination rates continue to increase, travel will be able to continue to rebound”
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) hospitality professor Amanda Belarmino welcomed the news that casinos are continuing to reopen in the region. She described Main Street Station as a downtown Las Vegas landmark and said its reopening is great for both locals and visitors. Belarmino added: “The date for reopening is well suited to take advantage of fall travel and conventions. Hopefully, as vaccination rates continue to increase, travel will be able to continue to rebound.”
Gambling demand across Nevada
There was a lot of uncertainty for some time surrounding the future of the two shuttered Boyd Gaming properties in Nevada. Company executives had said that demand would dictate when and if these venues would reopen.
Spokesperson David Strow spoke about the “good business trends” its Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall on the Boulder Highway has been seeing as of late. However, he said that the demand is not yet sufficient to open its second Boulder Strip property, the Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel.
Visitors from Hawaii make up a big customer base for Main Street Station. In a July earnings call, Boyd Gaming CEO and president Keith Smith said: “Main Street’s future is all about downtown business and the Hawaiian business returning, and Eastside will just depend on volumes.” Starting September 3, Boyd Gaming is resuming its Hawaii charter flights program.
Demand has been rising across Nevada as visitor numbers are on the increase. However, some other casino companies have also kept properties shut in the region. Station Casinos has three facilities that have not yet reopened since March 2020. Its owner, Red Rock Resorts, has not decided if or when these properties might reopen.