Been in Vegas during any iconic moments?

Anyone been in Vegas when something major happened? MGM fire, Tupac shot, etc?

The only one I can recall was being at the Gold Coast in 1993, not far from Caesars where the Holyfield/Bowe fight was going on. That was the fight when Fan Man para-glided in and got pummeled.

 

I was in Las Vegas (Harrahs Las vegas) during the 2017 shooting, and I didn't find out about it until the next morning.

 

Ryan Brown drove his Ford truck into the entrance of the Stratosphere trying to commit suicide by cop on Sept 16, 2014. He missed my husband and I by seconds. It really shook me up, stayed with me for a while.

 

Does the Bellagio opening night count? It was pretty darn iconic for me. Everywhere you looked there was a famous face. We were probably disappointments for many.

 

I was in the Tropicana casino at the time of the 2017 shooting. As it's the closest structure next to the fair grounds, hundreds of people came running into the casino screaming, "They're shooting! They're shooting!". Panic and pandamonium in less than 0.3 seconds as the entire casino of people started running like gazzelles across the casino. Trouble was we didn't know how many were shooting or where were they? Inside? Outside? Coming in? Some people were bleeding but most were just scared shitless. After hiding behind a bar for a while a bunch of us made it to a side door used as an emergency exit and then we decided to go for it and run through the parking lot to get away from gunmen who might end up coming into the casino. I then got to run, squatting down using the cars outside for cover, across the street to MGM. We moved through there (it was a silent ghost town) and I moved up the Strip eventually ducking into the Bellagio. I figured this place is big and rich enough to have some police. After 10 minutes at Bellagio a panic went through the casino and everyone (everyone!!) rushed to the emergency exits to get out of there. My exit put me on Flamingo back by the garage. I then walked over to Gold Coast figuring that if gunmen were attacking on the Strip, this small local casino would be safer than the large Rio. I stayed there until 4:00am and then walked back to the Tropicana when I heard on the news that the route was re-opened.

 

I was about 50 yards from Tupac when he was shot. I was working at the Maxim at the time.

 

I stayed at Palace Stn. The day I checked out was the day O.J. Simpson was up there doing his thing.

 

I was staying at Bally’s in Oct ’93 and had a great view of the Dunes implosion. Oh yes, there was quite a crowd in town that week up to the main event. It was a site to see!

 

I was in Vegas for the Floyd vs Manny fight (first one). Had two ways to get seats for free....but I didn’t feel like going.

 

I was at Aria for opening night...don’t remember that many famous faces but it was iconic for me...

 

I was at Bally's when Steve Wynn fired the cannon to destroy the Dunes from Treasure Island. In those days you could stand in the front parking lots. Speaking of TI, i stayed across the street at Imperial 400 before TI opened, but i was one of first visitors to Treasure Island's opening a couple of days later.
I was staying at Monte Carlo in the late 90's when the Strip was flooded, took hours to dry up, couldn't leave MC.
Speaking of floods, i was at Imperial Palace and my car almost drowned during the infamous "leaks".
I rode the elevator at the Linq and said hi to a Guy....Fieri that is....LOL.
I was in Vegas when a moderate quake hit, don't remember the exact date but it was in the 90's.
I drove to Vegas just after 9-11, i had made plans beforehand but didn't change it after it happened. The place was deserted for the most part.

But the event i witnessed in Vegas that i will never forget was on Sunday Oct. 20th 1996 through Friday Oct. 25th 1996..........the date will always stick with me till the day i die, was when the escalators worked for a whole week, no maintenance, no nothing. free as a bird.
Whew!!! I'm still shaking thinking about it.

 

Opening day at the Wynn. Opening day at the "It's Red!" Encore. Opening day at "Don't call it Station!" Red Rock. Closing evening at the Frontier.

(I may be missing one, but I'm not very lucid at the time.)

 

Ooo nice thread!!! I been reading some interesting postings .. wish I was there during any iconic times but nah lol, my most magical moments going to iheart concerts and seeing celebrities hanging out aria sky suite lounge area (sports stars to movie stars etc)

kee em coming!!!

 

Don't think the "first one" is needed. Unless you know something in the future the rest of us don't

 

Watching the CBS news in the room the night the High Roller launched..View from the Rio confirmed it.I think it was April 1 forget the year.

 

I was in town for that as well. it was very exciting but I had no desire to go to the fight.

I was also in town when the Alladin was imploded.

 

Mine are pretty sad in comparison to everyone else.
Dec 2000. Went to the opening of Terrible's. It was our first trip and we were staying at Key Largo across the street.

Went to the opening of Palms because we were staying at Gold Coast. Didn’t stay long. It was too busy for us.

We were there for the implosion of both Stardust and New? Frontier. Staying at the Gold Coast for both too. Could see the demolition from our non strip view rooms.

 

I personally know 3 pro fighters...never watched them fight....LOL
I think I’ve watched 2 matches in the last 20 years.

Now do you see why I didn’t go to the fight....LOL.

Haven’t followed boxing since Buster beat Mike....

 

I just got into town when the shooting happened. Took a cab from the airport, no problem to the Cosmo. Checked in and dropped off my bags, walked towards the exit to the strip and was told casino was on lock down.

 

1990 Was walking the Strip, and the street was closed down. Noticed some open truck driving with cameras and crew. Behind them was Andre Agassi driving a Jeep! About 6 months later, I see a commercial for Canon featuring the footage.