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We are nearly through July and the bad news keeps rolling in and the promise of the early days of re-opening in June seems long, long ago. While not the article I want to be writing a month out from Labor Day, the obvious truth is more is going bad than good when it comes to Vegas.
The biggest news of the week (for now) is the announcement that CES 2021 will be held virtually, removing the biggest week of the year off the calendar. Scheduled for January 6th, the typical 180,000+ attendees will no longer be taking over Vegas in one of the least busy times of the year.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® is reimagining how to connect exhibitors, customers, thought leaders, and media from around the world while prioritizing health and safety. We are excited to share that CES® 2021 will be an all-digital experience.
For more than 50 years, CES has been the global stage for innovation. And CES 2021 will continue to be a platform to launch products, engage with global brands, and define the future of the tech industry.
With the growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, it is not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person.
An all-digital CES 2021 will allow the entire tech community to safely share ideas and introduce the products that will shape our future. You’ll be able to participate in all the awe-inspiring moments of CES wherever you are in the world. We are designing a unique experience for the tech industry.
CES Press Release
This is a huge blow for 2021 and beyond. If these virtual events are a success, this could be the start of a new trend. And it may not completely replace an in-person event, but could mean that they offer a more comprehensive virtual option that could cut into the large in person crowd.
The only news that would be worse is that the Raiders 2020 season will be played without fans. That seems more and more likely as owner Mark Davis has laid out. Not only is this the first year for the Raiders in Vegas, they had an amazing schedule with 4 primetime games against future Hall of Famers like Brady and Brees. If fans are not permitted, that’s potentially 650,000 fans that will not be spending money on and around gameday.
Speaking of Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders, Garth Brooks caved in and has postponed what was supposed to be the first event at the new venue, instead moving it to February 27, 2021. As of a few weeks ago, they still planned on having the concert, but with the restrictions mounting, this is not a surprise just a few weeks out.
And we know it’s a lot of bad news, but MGM officially announced they have cancelled all shows from their entertainment division till at least the end of August, leaving a huge number of entertainments without jobs and Vegas-goers without additional entertainment. Again not surprising, but still disappointing.
All-in-all, Vegas continues to be hit incredibly hard by this virus. And while it’s easy to say you should stay away, it does mean that locals in Vegas continue to stay unemployed or under-employed in a city that is so dependent on tourism. It’s sad for my “second” home and know we are thinking about everyone who is affected.
Hopefully we can soon get back to a semblance of normal and again start writing about the amazing things to do in Vegas, but it looks like there’s still more bad news on the horizon before we get there. Either way, we’ll keep you up-to-date.
