The Las Vegas Strip has completed its pandemic comeback. 

That became clear when Formula 1 took over the city for an event that literally transformed the Strip into a racetrack.

With the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the city showed the world that it now stands as not just a leading city for business conventions and the gambling capital of the U.S., but also as one of the top sports destinations. 

Las Vegas will show off that position again in February when it hosts the Super Bowl.

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That event will cap a miraculous transformation for the city. When the Supreme Court decided in 2018 that states could make their own decisions on sports gambling, that changed everything for Las Vegas.

Before that ruling, Sin City was effectively off limits for pro sports. Leagues did not want to bring their players to a place where they could easily bet on games. But once sports betting became widely offered nationwide, even in some arenas and stadiums, Las Vegas lost its taboo status.

That led to Las Vegas very quickly becoming a sports destination. The National Hockey League added the Las Vegas Golden Knights expansion team, which plays on the Strip in the middle of a number of MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment (CZR) – Get Free Report properties.  

Las Vegas also lured the National Football League’s Raiders from Oakland and will bring Major League Baseball’s Athletics to the Strip once a stadium gets built at the current site of the Tropicana. In addition to those teams, the Strip has hosted the National Basketball Association’s summer league and the NFL draft.

Now, on Feb. 11, Las Vegas will host the Super Bowl and one of its most-iconic attractions will be closed during the event.

Hard Rock closes Mirage Volcano 

Since Hard Rock International bought Mirage from MGM in early 2023, the clock on the iconic Mirage Volcano has been ticking. A free attraction, the Volcano has been erupting since 1989, but it’s not part of the new owner’s plan for the property.

Hard Rock plans to build its signature Guitar Hotel where the Volcano currently sits. Those plans have been approved by Clark County, but work has not begun and the Volcano has continued to operate. 

The new owner has kept its plans close to the vest because it does not intend to close Mirage during construction. Even though Hark Rock plans to fully remodel the main Mirage towers, the company does not want to lose customers for Super Bowl week or for March Madness, both of which should pack the Strip.

HRI has also said little about when the Volcano will close for good. It shut down during F1 week, then reopened after the special viewing areas for the race were taken down.

Now, for Super Bowl week, the Volcano will be closed and replaced by a promotional “Mountain” touting Paramount Global’s (PARA) – Get Free Report biggest properties. After the Super Bowl, however, it is expected to reopen. 

Mirage Volcano becomes Paramount Mountain  

Since Paramount Global’s CBS will broadcast the Super Bowl, the company wants to use the event to tout its streaming and broadcast properties. To do that, the company will transform the Mirage Volcano into “A Mountain of Entertainment.” 

Beginning Feb. 8 and running through the end of game day on Feb. 11, the Mountain will feature 10 brands from across the company’s portfolio, including CBS, CBS Sports, Paramount+, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Pluto TV and Paramount Home Entertainment. 

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Built on top of the Mirage Volcano, Paramount Mountain will cover a full city block and feature interactive experiences built around “Transformers,” “Yellowstone,” ‘Star Trek,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Ghosts,” “Sistas” and UEFA Champions League.

“At the “Paramount+ Lodge,” explorers can traverse the various realms that embody Paramount’s flagship streaming service. Expeditioners also will have a chance to check out sneak peeks at Paramount Pictures’ highly anticipated films, the company said in a news release.

On the top of the mountain, visitors will be able to ride what Paramount is calling “an immersive “FUNicular Experience.” 

“Voyagers will board a hyperrealistic gondola ride and ascend in a thrilling simulation, accentuated by frigid winds and harrowing heights, with their favorite Paramount characters and brands to guide them to and from the Mountain’s peak,” the company added.