2023-10-05-Las-Vegas-Weekly

PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Deputy Editor SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, TERESA MOSS, RHIANNON SAEGERT, DANNY WEBSTER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, SUE SRAN

Account Executives MARY CHARISSE DIMAIN, LAUREN JOHNSON, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ, NANCY RAMOS

Events Director SAMANTHA PETSCH

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

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Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

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IN THIS ISSUE

SUPERGUIDE

Your daily events planner, starring Pink, Kool & The Gang, the Las Vegas Pride Parade and Festival, Art of the Wild and more.

COVER STORY

The Vegas Golden Knights’ defense of the Stanley Cup starts now, and it starts in the goal with a rising duo.

NOISE

Spoiler alert: The Sphere concert experience is like nothing we’ve ever seen, and U2 was ready to rise to the occasion.

Double covers this week! Collect them both!

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Photographs by Christopher DeVargas

VEGAS INC

THE STRIP Bellagio turns 25 this month but no one is getting tired of watching those fountains do what they do.

FILM

Joe

is taking

West Wind this weekend, just in time for spooky season.

FOOD & DRINK

Echo & Rig hosts a Beard benefit dinner and Daeho Kalbijjim is ready to host your next family-style feast.

Checking in on the current state of commercial real estate in Southern Nevada with help from Commercial Alliance Las Vegas president Natalie Allred.

Bob Briggs’ DriveIn Jamboree

over

U2 and Sphere teamed for one of the most stunning Las Vegas openings ever. (Courtesy/Rich Fury)

SUPERGUIDE 05

THURSDAY

U2 8 p.m., & 10/710/8, 10/11, Sphere, ticketmaster.com

LADY GAGA 8 p.m., Dolby Live, ticketmaster. com

UNLV WIND ORCHESTRA: NEBULA

7:30 p.m., Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv. edu

UNLV WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS. NEW MEXICO 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets. com.

PRESEASON: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. COLORADO AVALANCHE

7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

PARKWAY DRIVE

With The Amity A iction, Northlane, Make Them Su er, 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

THE CHURCH 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.

DJ PAULY D 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup. com

RED ROCK

PASTEL SOCIETY OF NEVADA: ORANGE Awards ceremony reception 5 p.m., exhibition thru 10/29, Priscilla Fowler Fine Art Gallery, priscilla fowler.com

BRETT YOUNG

With Jake Scott, Gri en Palmer, 8 p.m., Sandbar at Red Rock Resort, ticketmaster.com

KERALA DUST

With Monitor Collective, 8 p.m., the Wall at Area15, area15.com

ABANDON 7 & 9 p.m., & 10/7-10/8, Vegas Theatre Company, theatre.vegas/ abandon

WHIPPED CREAM

With Nxsty, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetick ets.us

BALLYHOO

With Kyle Smith, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us KOOL & THE GANG

Thru 10/7, 7:30 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

NOIR BAR: FILM CLASSICS & COCKTAILS

It took a minute, but Downtown Las Vegas is finally receiving a visit from the “czar of film noir.” Eddie Muller has long been an expert on the morally-convoluted crime films of the 1930s-1950s—well before he was tapped to host Turner Classic Movies’ terrific Noir Alley series—but even before that, he tended bar.

The Mob Museum, with its detailed histories of crime and punishment and its swell basement distillery and speakeasy, is tailor-made for an author discussion and cocktail tasting inspired by Muller’s new book, Noir Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the World of Film Noir. Patrons 21 and over are invited to hear this smart, funny and charming fellow hold forth on classics like The Maltese Falcon, Nightmare Alley and Sunset Boulevard—what makes them great, what makes them timeless and, most importantly, what cocktails they best pair with. A book signing follows the program.

7 p.m., $30, the Mob Museum, the mobmuseum.org. –Geo Carter

(Courtesy/Nancy J. Dagata)

CONRAD TAO & CALEB TEICHER: COUNTERPOINT

If you’ve never heard George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” it starts with the trill of a clarinet and goes straight to the 1924 composition’s popular theme. But in a recent performance recorded for the Library of Congress, pianist Conrad Tao and dancer Caleb Teicher switch that clarinet to the patter of tap shoes. More of that kind of delightful deviation can be expected at the artists’ performance of Counterpoint at UNLV. The collaboration between Tao, who has performed and composed for top symphony orchestras across the country, and Teicher, a choreographer making waves in New York and beyond, will feature an array of “stylistically diverse music” from Bach to Art Tatum and Arnold Schoenberg. Disparate in their mediums and approaches, the duo is sure to deliver a boundary-pushing show. 7:30 p.m., $20-$60, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu. –Shannon Miller

CARL COX

There are always innovative artists and brands making exciting debuts at Art of the Wild when the Wynn Nightlife weekender rolls around, and for the fall 2023 edition, no name on the lineup jumps out quite like Carl Cox. The living legend and “King of Ibiza” has made several memorable visits to Las Vegas through the years, but this is the first time his party is a part of Art of the Wild, which seems like the most natural fit for Cox’s highly influential house and techno experience. The Friday night mini-rave at XS also features his curated support acts Brennen Grey, Eli & Fur and Rebūke, sure to be an epic night of music paving the way for the rest of the AOW weekend. 11 p.m., $100+, XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

–Brock Radke

FIRST FRIDAY 5 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas, ffflv.org

AMERICAN LA RONDE

7:30 p.m., & 10/7 (& 10/8, 2 p.m.), Alta Ham Fine Arts Black Box Theatre, unlv. edu

FUEL FEST

Thru 10/7, times vary, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, fuelfest.com

FALL IN LOVE WITH CONTEMPORARY WEST DANCE THEATRE

7:30 p.m., & 10/7, Charleston Heights Arts Center, lvdance. org

OWL CITY

With Augustana, 6:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com

KATHY GRIFFIN 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster.com

ADELE 8 p.m., & 10/7, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com

KATY PERRY 8 p.m., & 10/7, 10/11, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com

SEBASTIAN MANISCALCO

7:30 & 10:30 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com

JACKSON BROWNE 8 p.m., & 10/7, 10/11, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com

TESLA 7:30 p.m., & 10/7, House of Blues, concerts.livenation. com

LAS VEGAS PRIDE PARADE 6 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas, lasvegaspride.org

HENDERSON HOT ROD DAYS Thru 10/7, times vary, Water Street Plaza, cityofhenderson. com

REGGAE RISE UP FESTIVAL With Slightly Stoopid, Iration, Cypress Hill, Rebelution, Sublime with Rome & more, thru 10/8, noon, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, dlvec.com

ANIMALE With Lee Burridge, Francis Mercier, Bora Uzer, Desiree, 4 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com

KENNY LOGGINS

8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com

TIËSTO

10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com

JOE BOB’S WORLD DRIVE-IN JAMBOREE

Thru 10/8, event times vary, West Wind Drive-In, joebobsjamboree.com

WIZ KHALIFA

10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com

DOOMTOWN With Eprom, Mala, Black Sun Empire, DMVU, Ed Rush & more, thru 10/8, times and venues vary, doomtownlv. com

(Courtesy )

(Courtesy )

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

SUPERGUIDE

GOOD RZN

Fergusons Downtown continues its hot streak of hosting great shows under the stars with LAbased indie-pop duo Good Rzn, who will open for Australian dance outfit Crooked Colours.

Josie Molasky (vocalist/songwriter) and Thomas Ghirardini (producer/guitarist) have led the project since 2021, eliciting buzz with a marriage of trebly synths, pop-leaning production and Molasky’s alluring cadence, as heard on “Running Out of Time.” If that doesn’t convince you to give these up-and-comers a shot, the fact that Molasky is one of us just might. The singer grew up in Las Vegas, where she trained herself on multiple instruments, including piano and violin. She and Ghirardini started playing music under the banner of Orange Dream in 2020, but that project quickly evolved into what Good Rzn is now—a hybrid of live instrumentation and digitized dance music. With Good Rzn’s first EP, Falling in Slow Motion, set to drop October 20, now is as good a time as ever to catch a rising new band. 7 p.m., $20, Fergusons Downtown, tickets. wethebeat.com. –Amber Sampson

LAS VEGAS LIGHTS VS. COLORADO SPRINGS FC 7:30 p.m., Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com

LAS VEGAS PRIDE FESTIVAL Noon, Craig Ranch Regional Park, lasvegaspride.org

ANTS

With Blond:ish, HoneyLuv, Kölsch, Oncall, Pawsa, 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial. com

ZEDD Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com

98° & ALL-4-ONE 8 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com

BOULDER CITY ART IN THE PARK 9 a.m., & 10/8, Boulder City Parks, visitbouldercity. com

LUPITA D’ALESSIO 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com

PALEFACE SWISS

With Enterprise Earth, Vctms, Crown Magnetar, Words from Aztecs, Body of Filth, 7 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us

DOWNTOWN BREW FESTIVAL 5 p.m., Clark County Amphitheater, eventbrite.com

JOJI

With Kenny Beats, SavageRealm, Lil Toe (Ammo), 8 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com

INTOCABLE 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com

THE EVENT

With John Legend, Dan + Shay, DJ Pee .Wee, Jennifer Hudson, Ray Romano & more, 9 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs. com.

SUICIDEBOYS

With Ghostemane, City Morgue, Freddie Dredd, Sematary, Ramirez, 6:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com

Pink (Courtesy)

(Courtesy/Brayten Bowers)

FOOD + DRINK COMEDY

PINK

With Brandi Carlile, Grouplove, 6:30 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com

LEWIS BLACK 10 p.m., Mirage Theatre, ticketmaster.com

THE HOLD STEADY

With Built To Spill, 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster. com

RÜFÜS DU SOL

With Cassian, Joplyn, Fergie, 11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com

BIG SEAN 10:30 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com

WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL 4:30 p.m., Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, nevadawilderness.org.

STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com

MOON BOOTS 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com

THE DARKNESS

With The Comancheros, 6:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com

RUMORS

With Guy Gerber, DJ Pee .Wee, SaharZ, 2 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com

NERVO

With Pickle, noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com

BROKE DA MOUTH FOOD FESTIVAL 2 p.m., Taverna Costera, tavernacostera.com

MUSTARD 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com

BABYMETAL

With Dethklok, 7 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, ticketmaster.com

CHARLIE BERENS 8 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com

BLACK COFFEE With Mochakk, 11 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial. com

09

RICH THE KID

With DJ E-Rock, 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events. taogroup.com

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS VS. GREEN BAY PACKERS 5:15 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com

BAD OMENS

With Erra, I See Stars, 7 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com

LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. BROOKLYN NETS 6 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark. com.

MICKI FREE 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, backstagebarlv. com

KT TATARA

Thru 10/15, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy. com

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

(Courtesy/Simon Emmett)

SUPERGUIDE

SOFIA TALVIK 7 p.m., Clark County Library Theater, thelibrarydistrict. org

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. SEATTLE KRAKEN

7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com

ALICE IN CHAINS

With Royal Thunder, 8 p.m., Bakkt Theater, ticket master.com

THE BRONX WANDERERS

6:30 p.m., thru 10/12, South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com

YVES TUMOR

JORDAN ROCK

Thru 10/12, 8 p.m., Westgate Comedy Cabaret, ticket master.com

AIN’T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS

7:30 p.m., & 10/11, Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com

Dare we say, we’re looking at this generation’s Bowie or Prince?

That’s the kind of star power at work in Yves Tumor, the shapeshifting art rocker whose samplings of psychedelic soul and sensuality have shaped a darkly transfixing world over five LPs. Tumor’s Heaven to a Tortured Mind, was an era-defining record for rock ’n’ roll, transcending generations and genres with funk-fueled hits like “Gospel for a New Century” and the screeching intensity of “Kerosene!” It’s a sex-charged album, oddly spiritual in a sense, and succeeded brilliantly by this year’s Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) And Tumor’s stagecraft and gothic, glam-punk aesthetic only seem to add to the allegory of this enigmatic artist. If there’s only one event you see this week, make sure it’s this one. With The Hellp & Izzy Spears, 7:30 p.m., $30$33, the Portal at Area15, area15.com. –Amber Sampson

USHER 9 p.m., Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com

LIONEL RICHIE 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster. com.

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

THE CHAINSMOKERS 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com

DEAN LEWIS 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts. livenation.com.

SALIVA with Drowning Pool, Adelita’s Way, Any Given Sin, 7 p.m., Industrial Event Space, thein dustrialvegas.com

BENSON 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup.com

Yves Tumor (Courtesy/Alec Nicholas)

BUILDING HUMAN CONNECTIONS

BY BROCK RADKE

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation is a very different type of nonprofit organization. First established in 1999, it raises money to support Metro’s programs and initiatives, which sounds simple, but much of that programming focuses on community engagement and creating positive relationships between the public and local law enforcement—a complicated mission for any police force in any community.

Brand-new foundation executive director Karen Marben understands those unique challenges and sees the opportunities to build impactful personal relationships. A native of Minnesota who has owned a home in Las Vegas since 2011, she became a full-timer in 2020 after her husband retired from a 38-year law enforcement career. (Their son is a police officer, as well.). Marben accepted a new position at Goodwill of Southern Nevada as chief mission services of-

ficer three years ago and then joined Metro’s foundation on August 31. Marben tells the Weekly she’s already impressed with Sheriff Kevin McMahill’s commitment to make Las Vegas one of the safest communities across the country and to “inject humanity” into the department’s work. She’s raising awareness of that work and showcasing new programs like the Hispanic Giving Circle, which is focused on “uplifting Spanish-speaking communities around the Valley, and making sure philanthropic supporters can designate funds to that giving circle and get resources to the community,” she said. It was launched during last month’s Mexican Independence Day celebrations and incorporates several initiatives including providing school supplies to students in need, offering mentorship through athletics with the Bolden Lions Futbol Club for Boys & Girls, and continuing to strengthen the Hispanic Citizens Police Academy.

What lessons did you learn about the philanthropic community and Las Vegas in general during your time at Goodwill? Even before I took the role with Goodwill, I really researched what was going on in workforce development here, and became actively involved in how to best serve people in marginalized neighborhoods, and how to leverage the dignity of work to do so. I think what we see too often is the approach of train and pray, where we’re spending millions of dollars to give program participants access to training, but too often those participants are not finding success while employers are scrambling to find talent. So we started building out programs at Goodwill focused on efficacy and achieving better outcomes, and getting participants into in-demand careers with family-sustaining wages with local employers. One of the thing I was most proud of at Goodwill was how we created training sprints, which have received national recognition in Goodwill networks around the country, and all of that is to say that those strong results are one of the biggest takeaways I can apply at the police department foundation, aligning with the sheriff’s priorities and the leadership team so we are creating impactful programs and achieving sustainable outcomes.

What do you think people don’t understand about the LVMPD Foundation? Most people aren’t aware it’s a 501c3 nonprofit organization. The role we play essentially is raising funds and providing programming that supports the department and builds trust between LVMPD and the local community, and it’s quite varied. Last month,

through the Back to School Initiative, we provided backpacks stuffed full of school supplies, and they are divided up to different command centers and distributed by officers directly to school children in the neighborhoods they serve. The officers and families already knew each other. We provide funding support for LEEAP, the Law Enforcement Empowerment and Athletic Program, which leverages sporting experiences and leadership training to marginalized youth. That’s one of the opportunities we

The LVMPD Foundation’s Back to School Initiative (Courtesy)

New LVMPD Foundation executive director Karen Marben shares optimism and thoughtful initiatives

are [creating] to interact with police officers as humans.

What do you see as the greatest challenges to the growth and success of the foundation? If you look at the last three or four years, it’s been a very challenging time for law enforcement, and we see that in the huge number of vacancies and reduced staffing levels that impacts the safety of our community. The safety of a community is of paramount importance. Sheriff McMahill’s vision and his expectation for officers is to make sure they’re treating every individual they encounter as humans first and foremost, and we want to have enough staff where officers can be much more proactive than reactive. If we don’t have safe communities, it’s near impossible to get people the additional assistance marginalized neighborhoods need to thrive. And we need to make sure, since Southern Nevada is such a destination of choice, that people know they can come here from around the world and

THE WEEKLY Q&A

feel safe. The foundation works to make sure we can obtain the funding necessary to support the difficult work our law enforcement heroes do every day.

Las Vegas is a very generous community, but it doesn’t necessarily have the established generational donors you might find in older, more developed cities. Does that place certain restrictions on your fundraising, and do you feel there’s potential to expand and improve the donor community here? I don’t see it as

a restriction, but it’s different for sure. Maybe it’s not as mature as the philanthropic orientation of older or larger cities, but I have strong optimism about our growing list of generational donors in the greater Las Vegas area. We see brand-new family and corporate foundations founded each year and they tend to focus on the most pressing needs in our community. Most have specific pillars for their philanthropic focus, and many times that includes the safety of our community. Maybe 15 years ago, it was almost rare to meet someone who said they were a Las Ve-

gas native. Now we are seeing many second, third, fourth generation Las Vegans serving as community leaders and making impactful contributions in leading different organizations and foundations, and in philanthropic giving. I’m really proud of the initiatives of the LVMPD Foundation and how they have a strong and wide appeal to a vast array of donors, and I think it will be organizations like this foundation that will help philanthropy mature and become more impactful for this great community.

For more information, visit lvmpdfoundation.org.

“The role we play essentially is raising funds and providing programming that supports the department and builds trust between LVMPD and the local community.”

Karen Marben poses outside the Joint Emergency Training Center (JETI), a cooperative training campus for first responders. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

WALLET-SMART CANNABIS

Left to right: Logan Thompson and Adin Hill. (Photographs by Christopher DeVargas/Sta )

BY DANNY WEBSTER

Competition has always brought Logan Thompson and Adin Hill together.

The Golden Knights’ two goalies have known each other since they were 10 years old, when they rst started playing hockey together while growing up in Calgary. They took di erent paths to the NHL before both ultimately ended up in Vegas and lived out their childhood dreams by helping the Golden Knights win a Stanley Cup championship.

No one was happier about Hill’s shutdown run through the nal three rounds of the postseason than Thompson, who was out nursing a lower-body injury. Similarly, when Thompson reached the NHL All-Star Game after a strong rst half of the regular season, Hill was ecstatic and more than content with his role as the No. 2 in the crease.

They might have the strongest bond, or at least the longest-lasting, of anyone on the team. They support and encourage each other no matter who’s getting more work.

The pleasantries only end when digital hockey sticks are involved.

Count the 27-year-old Hill and the 26-year-old Thompson among pairs of friends that turn on PlayStation or Xbox when they have spare time. Sports games are their most common choice with EA Sports’ NHL franchise naturally a common selection.

Right before the Golden Knights reported to training camp ahead of the 2023-2024 season, Hill and Thompson cranked up PlayStation for a few nal rounds of NHL 23 before NHL 24 comes out. They played a game or two as teammates, where Thompson skated as a forward and Hill was a defensemen.

But Hill wouldn’t stay in his own zone and caused chaos when a turnover happened.

So eventually they switched and squared o head-to-head on opposite sides. In this particular case, Hill’s team led Thompson’s 5-0 before the latter “rage quit” the game by turning o his console.

“We have our own games: I’ll put it that way,” Hill chuckled early in training camp. “One of us is better at some games, the other is better at the others.”

Thompson usually wins NBA 2K or Call of

Duty showdowns, according to Hill. But Hill has the edge at NHL and Madden Thompson’s temper may get the best of him at times like many typical gamers but the two can always laugh o both their successes and failures. Gaming helps keep them close, and the chemistry between the Vegas netminders might be one hidden edge in the team’s impending title-defense season.

“Me and Hillsy have a great relationship on and o the ice,” Thompson said. “Here at the rink or at home playing video games.”

The on-ice dynamic is set up to be a lot di erent this time around. A year ago, Hill was brought in late as an insurance option because of injuries to Robin Lehner and Laurent Brossoit. The former San Jose Shark and Arizona Coyote was to back up Thompson, whom the organization wanted to give a chance to be its No. 1 goalie.

Thompson remembered hearing detractors call them “the worst tandem in the league” going into the regular season. Expectations were low with the Golden Knights coming o their rst missed postseason in franchise history, but the old friends quickly exceeded them.

Neither Hill nor Thompson was perfect, but they both played extremely well for large stretches when they got the most opportunities. Now they have to show it wasn’t one dream year and pick up where they left o .

They’re more likely to be considered among the best goalie duos than worst going into this season with Thompson looking to regain his All-Star form and Hill fresh o signing a two-year, $9.8 million contract.

“It’s de nitely a little di erent,” Hill said. “This year, we kind of all know the system. (Coach) Bruce (Cassidy) was coming in last year, too, right? All the veterans, we know the system, a few refreshers here and there. It seems a little smoother.”

Hill enters camp presumably at the top of the depth chart, but Thompson can’t be forgotten. Thompson went 21-13-3 in 37 regular-season appearances last year.

If not for his play, especially with all the injuries the team dealt with throughout the season including captain Mark Stone’s back surgery, the Golden Knights likely don’t earn the top seed in the Western Conference playo s. They may then not have ridden home-ice advantage all the way to the Cup. Thompson didn’t play another game after a March 23 win over Calgary after re-aggravating his injury. He did suit up for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, precisely so he could lift the Cup on home ice after a clinch-

ing win where Hill had 32 saves on 35 shots by the Florida Panthers.

“I think it’s more of a mental toll,” Thompson said of missing so much time at the most critical juncture of the season. “You start to get frustrated and cranky because you want to be out there so bad. I think the way my season ended was shi**y, to say the least, but how the team ended was amazing.”

There’s a chance that neither Hill nor Thompson wind up the No. 1 this season. Cassidy may prefer to go with a 50-50 split in net like he employed in his nal season with the Boston Bruins where both Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman played equally.

He may want to approach this season in that fashion mainly to increase the chances of keeping Hill and Thompson healthy after they both missed extended time last year. The net of goalie insurance isn’t as wide within the organization this year.

With Brossoit having signed with the Winnipeg Jets and Lehner still listed on long-term injured reserve, Henderson Silver Knights starter Jiri Patera is the Golden Knights’ No. 3 netminder. It’s a lot di erent than last year when Vegas had an NHL veteran like Brossoit or trade-deadline acquisition Jonathan Quick, who signed with the New York Rangers in the o season, in the spot.

“How we divvy up (Hill’s and Thompson’s) starts, let’s get through training camp rst,” Cassidy said. “We’re not playing one guy 60 games, I can promise you that—unless for some crazy reason we have to. Will one play more than the other? That’ll be decided down the road with how they play. I don’t think one will play a lot more than the other.”

Part of the reason why the Golden Knights strongly believe they will keep winning internally is the familiarity and continuity in the locker room. They’ve brought nearly everyone back from last year’s team.

Having both Thompson and Hill heightens con dence. The Golden Knights know both players are capable, and just as importantly, supportive of each other—except when they’re playing video games.

WILDIN’ OUT WILDIN’ OUT WILDIN’ OUT WILDIN’ OUT WILDIN’ OUT

WILDIN’ OUT

BY CASE KEEFER

William Karlsson’s epic speech at the conclusion of the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup championship parade in June has drawn more than 100,000 combined views on various videos posted on YouTube.

Karlsson himself has not accounted for any of them. Upon returning to City National Arena for training camp ahead of this season, the man Golden Knights’ fans a ectionately refer to as “Wild Bill” distanced himself from the revelry that encompassed him in the moment outside of T-Mobile Arena.

He said he had heard plenty about his words from friends but hasn’t sought them out himself.

“Does anyone like to see themselves talk really?” Karlsson explained when pressed on why not. “I haven’t watched it.”

Karlsson is soft-spoken and shy when he’s not in celebratory mode. It’s therefore no big surprise he doesn’t want to reminisce too much about breaking out of his shell in front of hundreds of thousands of fans live, if not millions more worldwide who caught clips on shows like Sportscenter.

The only hope is that he’s not ashamed or embarrassed by his shirtless victory address because there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Someone on the roster needed to harken back to “Day 1” of the franchise.

Karlsson was the perfect one to do it—albeit probably with more slurred speech and expletives than some team employees like the woman who infamously tried to wrest the microphone away from him would have liked.

But Karlsson earned that moment, and not just because his status as perhaps the most beloved of the six “Original Mis ts” left on the Golden Knights’ championship team six years later. He also earned it by tapping into some of the best play of his career throughout the Golden Knights’ postseason run.

Karlsson didn’t end up receiving any votes for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playo s’ most valuable player, but he was every bit as essential as winner Jonathan Marchessault and runner-ups Jack Eichel, Adin Hill and Mark Stone. His biggest moments may have come before the Stanley Cup Final, but take away Karlsson, and the Golden Knights may not have been there in the rst place.

His o ense carried Vegas through the Western Conference Final as he bookended the series against Dallas with two-goal games to emerge as

the team’s leading scorer through the rst three rounds. Defensively, Karlsson was an even bigger di erence-maker.

A turning point of the second-round series against Edmonton, which sat tied 2-2, came when Karlsson began logging more ice time opposite Oiler superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to limit the duo more than anyone else could. That conveniently coincided with Karlsson’s wife, Emily, giving birth to the couple’s rst child, a boy named Beckham.

It became popular to chalk up the newfound inspiration as a driver of Karlsson’s hot streak, but anyone who’s followed the Golden Knights from their inception, knew the 30-year-old was more than capable of putting up such a standout stretch. He’s done it from the beginning.

Playing a “200-foot game” has always been the Golden Knight organization’s hockey cliché of choice, as they’ve put an emphasis on building around players who excel on both ends of the ice. Karlsson has embodied that versatility for six years as a forward who will occasionally chip in sensational goals but consistently produce as a defender.

Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy has called Karlsson one of the best defensive forwards he’s been around, but it increasingly feels like fewer around the league notice.

In another potential awards snub, Karlsson hasn’t received a single vote for the Selke Trophy—awarded the forward who plays the best defense—since 2019. That’s not coincidentally the season Stone arrived in Vegas via midseason trade with Ottawa.

Karlsson’s teammates continue to sing his praises, but he’s fallen down the hierarchy of faces of the franchise by outside perception as more stars have arrived in town over the years. He might have boosted himself back up with the speech, which stands as one of his most memorable moments for better or for worse.

If Karlsson wants to be known for more, that’s understandable. He deserves it.

Karlsson is one of the biggest reasons the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup last season. He’s also one of the biggest reasons why they have a shot to repeat this season.

But he’s not looking that far ahead, just as he prefers not to look all the way back on the parade.

“The playo s was good for me, scoring a lot of goals and really contributing to the team,” Karlsson said. “I wish I could keep that up for the regular season, but it’s something I haven’t really thought about.”

William Karlsson. (Photograph by AP Photo/Je Roberson)

BY DANNY WEBSTER

No one saw Ivan Barbashev’s runaway success with the Vegas Golden Knights last season coming.

Most assumed the Golden Knights had bolstered their depth and added to their physicality by acquiring the 6-foot, 187-pound wrecking ball of a forward shortly before last year’s trade deadline. There were hopes he could chip in some scoring coming o a career-high 60-point season in 2022 with the Blues, but it was no guarantee.

But the 27-year-old Russian native was never supposed to become a rst-line winger and emerge as one of the reasons the Knights won the Stanley

Cup. Barbashev scored 18 points in the playo s to lead to another surprise in the aftermath: The team rewarded him with a ve-year, $25 million contract extension to stay in Vegas.

Assumed to be a one-year rental player, Barbashev instead more or less displaced one of the most popular players in franchise history. The Golden Knights had to trade forward Reilly Smith, one of the last remaining players from the team’s rst year, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in order to provide the necessary cap space to re-sign Barbashev.

“This is the team I want to be with,” Barbashev said. “There’s no other place I wanted.

BRINGING BACK ‘BARBIE’ BRINGING BACK ‘BARBIE’

IE’

I’m just really excited. It’s been a fun last ve months since the trade and winning the championship. Staying here for another ve years, it sounds like everything is pretty fun right now.”

Barbashev can no longer be considered the new guy after playing such a critical role last year, but he might be the closest player the Golden Knights have to that distinction after largely reassembling the same roster.

Replacing Smith’s leadership and his revered status among the fanbase as an original Golden Knight will be di cult. Smith was the rst player to receive the Stanley Cup after team captain Mark Stone in June, and it felt well-deserved with the consistent two-way play he had given to

the franchise for six straight seasons.

But the Golden Knights are banking on Barbashev being more valuable and building on the success he had alongside center Jack Eichel and forward Jonathan Marchessault on the top line. Barbashev’s north-and-south game opened the ice for Vegas’ top scoring threats and allowed them to dominate.

His style is a lot di erent than Smith’s, but it’s one that team o cials feel ts better with the current pieces in place. Vegas is hoping depth can help ll Smith’s void as it searches for a serviceable replacement in the center of William Karlsson’s third line.

“Barbashev comes in as a really good player for us,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I think we will be able to replace (Smith’s) position with good hockey. Will it be exactly like Reilly Smith? That would be extremely disrespectful to Reilly. But who knows? Maybe someone will take the ball and run with it and replicate his numbers and value.

“We didn’t have Barbie to start last year, and we feel we have an advantage there with his play from Day 1. I think it balances itself out.”

Barbashev nished with 45 points last season, 16 of them in 23 regular season games with the Golden Knights. The question is whether he can sustain such production.

It wouldn’t be the rst time Vegas hit the jackpot by trading for a perceived fourth-line skater who turned into a big-time di erence maker. Chandler Stephenson went from the bottom of the Washington Capitals’ roster in 2019 to an All-Star with the Knights last year.

Expecting Barbashev to match that coup might be setting the bar too high but the organization clearly believes in him. It jumped at the chance to keep him, seeing it as a risk well worth taking.

And Barbashev isn’t interested in resting on the laurels he earned last season, but rather moving ahead with more to prove.

“We all know it’s going to be a competitive season,” Barbashev said. “Everyone’s going to play against you extra hard, try to be the next champions … but as soon as we can turn the page and start the road to the Cup, it’s going to be easier for us.”

New ways to watch the Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have a new TV home this season. There’s also a new way to watch them on streaming devices.

By way of a new multiyear deal with Scripps Sports, the team will broadcast 69 regular-season games and the first round of the playo s on Vegas 34. The channel replaces AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain after six years. AT&T was a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, which ceased all business with regional sports networks at the end of last season.

Vegas 34 can be found on DirecTV channel 34, Cox channel 38 and DISH channel 32.

Vegas 34 will be unavailable on cord-cutting options like YouTube TV, Fubo and Hulu. But fear not; the Golden Knights created KnightTime+ as an alternative for fans without traditional television providers.

The direct-to-consumer KnightTime+ option has two subscription options: a season pass for $69.99 or single-game packages for $6.99. Games can be accessed live at knight timeplus.com, except for those getting national-television treatment on ESPN or Turner.

If neither of the first two options sound appealing, getting a classic antenna will also work. Vegas 34 can be accessed on channel 34.1 with a channel scan.

–Danny Webster

Ivan Barbashev. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

BY DANNY WEBSTER

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon believes that winning can improve players organically. If that holds true, expect many players to take another leap this season.

Young players who gained playo hockey experience might be the most obvious candidates to take a step up, but it could happen with veterans too. With a desire to win back-to-back championships, even the stars on the Golden Knights’ roster could nd another gear.

Fans couldn’t have asked for much more out of Vegas’ four best players in the playo s—Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo and Jonathan Marchessault—but here’s a path to each of them being even better this season.

JACK EICHEL

His talent is undeniable. The only question surrounding Eichel after he was traded from Buffalo to Vegas in November 2021 was whether he could thrive in the playo s.

Safe to say that the answer was yes. Eichel led Vegas with 26 points during the postseason, and it wasn’t just scoring where he excelled as he showed he could be reliable defensively while showing out as the most talented o ensive forward in the roster. Now the equation has ipped: If Eichel can play at his playo level over the course of 82 games, he could be considered one of the top three or ve players in the world.

MARK STONE

What more could possibly be asked out of the captain, the heart and soul of the Golden Knights? A full bill of health would be a nice start. Stone underwent his second back surgery in less than a year last season to miss three months right before the playo s. He rushed his recovery to come back in time for the postseason and it worked out as he had 24 points in 22 playo games, including a hat trick in the Game 5 clincher. Fans have seen the impact Stone makes when he’s fully healthy and can rightfully dream about the team’s potential if he can stay on the ice for a whole season. “I feel great,” Stone said. “It’s probably the best I’ve felt in three, four years.”

ALEX PIETRANGELO

The now two-time Stanley Cup champion is a future Hall of Famer as one of the league’s most consistent defensemen for the better part of a decade. To say there’s another level he could reach might be an insult, but like Stone, it could happen if he stays healthy. Petro will turn 34 years old this season but age didn’t slow him last year when he tied a career high with 54 points in 73 games. He should be plenty motivated for another year considering he’s on pace to hit a pair of career milestones with 1,000 games and 600 points this season.

STARGAZING

VGK2023

JACK EICHEL

MARK STONE

ALEX PIETRANGELO

JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT

It’s easy to forget that Marchessault’s playo run was quite the roller coaster. Yes, he nished it with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player, but he endured a drought without a goal in seven straight games to start the playo s. Imagine if he harnesses the streakiness that has de ned his career and scores at a consistent pace all year.

The 32-year-old is enter-

of a veteran. The Golden Knights would love to bring back Marchessault and vice versa, but the o season trade of Reilly Smith cautions that nothing is a sure thing. But for right now, Marchessault is both riding a wave of momentum and playing with a big extra driving force.

“At the beginning of my career, I thought the desire of winning goes away maybe,” Marchessault said. “(But now) I have the same desire to do the same thing. I’m motivated. I

ing a contract year, which often brings the best out want to win here and keep it going.”

CALENDAR

JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT

October 10 vs. Seattle

There’s a giant space in the rafters of T-Mobile Arena above section 205. That will be filled this night when the Golden Knights unveil their Stanley Cup banner ahead of the season opener.

October 17 vs. Dallas

This is the first rematch of last season’s Western Conference Final that saw Vegas win in six. Former Vegas/current Dallas coach Pete DeBoer will surely be fired up to see the aforementioned banner hanging above his head.

October 21 at Chicago

The Golden Knights face No. 1 overall pick and 18-year-old phenom Connor Bedard in his home opener at the United Center. Bedard and the Blackhawks then make a quick return trip to Vegas for the annual Nevada Day game on Oct. 27.

November 14 at Washington

The Golden Knights will likely take a detour to the White House in the days before facing the Capitals. If he’s healthy, Washington free-agent acquisition Max Pacioretty will face his former team for the first time since Vegas traded him to Carolina in the summer of 2022.

November 28 at Edmonton

The betting odds and most power ratings have the Golden Knights and Oilers as the two best teams in the Western Conference. This has perhaps unexpectedly become one of the sport’s bigger rivalries after Vegas upset Edmonton in six games in the second round of last year’s playo s.

December 23 at Florida

It’s a Stanley Cup Final rematch in both teams’ final game before the NHL’s three-day Christmas break. Both Stanley Cup games at Amerant Bank Arena came down to the wire with one-goal margins.

BY DANNY WEBSTER

Another 82-game hockey season is here, and this one might be more intense than any in Golden Knights’ history. ¶ Several games carry more weight than usual with Vegas’ status as defending Stanley Cup champions. Here are eight worth watching.

January 1 at Seattle

T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, will host the Golden Knights’ second outdoor game in franchise history. They previously faced the Avalanche in February 2021 in Lake Tahoe, losing 3-2 in a game marred and delayed by problems with the ice.

January 20 vs. Pittsburgh

Reilly Smith makes his return to Vegas for the first time since he was traded to the Penguins in June. It’s expected to be an emotionally charged night with the crowd honoring the original Golden Misfit.

ENTER RESORTS WORLD’S

The year is 2099, we’re living in a neon dystopia, and it’s time to party. Inviting guests to step into this futuristic vision, Resorts World is hosting 2099: A Halloween Experience, Oct. 26-31. Expect out-of-this-world costumes, unforgettable performances and stellar food and beverage options.

ZOUK NIGHTCLUB

When the sun goes down, it’s time to head to Zouk Nightclub where you’ll find the ultimate cybernoir party destination and four nights of electrifying performances under the neon lights.

Jamie Jones

Welsh DJ Jamie Jones kicks off Halloween weekend on Thursday. The house music star will bring his futuristic beats and keep the party going well into the morning.

Ty Do lla Sign

Who brings the party like Ty Dolla Sign? Friday night sees the hip-hop hitmaker take the stage with his signature soulful, energetic and vibey performances.

DJ Snake

One of the biggest DJs in the world, DJ Snake is back at Resorts World for Halloween weekend and will be spinning on Saturday for a can’t-miss set.

GET YOUR OUTFITS READY

The dress for Zouk’s Halloween extravaganza is futuristic best. Zouk is hosting the Sexiest Halloween Costume Contest with $5,000 in cash and prizes.

G-Eazy

G-Eazy will close out Halloween with the ultimate high-vibe performance.

RESORTS WORLD THEATRE

More than 50 futuristic culinary adventures await at Resorts World for the 2099: A Halloween Experience

From cyber-inspired market bites to gourmet dining experiences in the neon-lit future, this curated journey will satisfy any craving. Plus, the recently reinvented room service offering, powered by Grub Hub, means any of the food and beverage options are right at your fingertips. These meticulously crafted, extraordinary dining experiences transcend time and awaken the senses.

CARVERSTEAK is a modern steakhouse featuring dry-aged American cuts and Japanese-certified Wagyu steaks. A beverage program will impress the most discerning of palates.

GATSBY LOUNGE offers vintage Champagnes, cocktails and aromatic wines in a chic, 1920s-inspired atmosphere that will transport you to a different era.

EIGHT CIGAR LOUNGE’s extensive cigar list, hand-rolled tobaccos and a substantial whiskey selection make it the ideal hideaway for an extravagant evening.

REDTAIL is a social gaming bar with a huge menu of premium beer, wine, cocktails and late-night karaoke, should the mood strike.

Katy Perry

The global pop star found a perfect home at Resorts World Theatre for her largerthan-life show, Katy Perry: Play, where the sets are poppy and exuberant, and the visual and audio experience is unmatched. It’s lively, fun and playful. The last show is November 4, so catch it while you can.

ALLE LOUNGE: Fine wines, rare spirits, and expansive views from the 66th floor, Alle Lounge is the definition of decadence.

GOLDEN MONKEY: The property’s signature tiki bar, Golden Monkey allows guests to indulge in island flavors and bright, tropical cocktails.

FAMOUS FOODS STREET EATS: This food hall features some of the most famous and sought-after street eat destinations in Asia and beyond.

KUSA NORI: Offering both classic and innovative dishes from Japan, Kusa Nori has a sushi bar, teppanyaki grills and an incredible sake list.

NEWS IN THE

-Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels, asked about defensive end Chandler Jones, who was released by the team after being arrested for allegedly violating a domestic violence temporary protection order

STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

Indictment made in Tupac case

SUSPECT’S OWN PUBLIC STATEMENTS REVIVED THE CASE

A man who prosecutors say ordered the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur was arrested and charged with murder September 29 in a long-awaited breakthrough in one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries.

Duane “Keffe D” Davis has long been known to investigators as one of four suspects identified early in the investigation. He isn’t the accused gunman but was described as the group’s ringleader by authorities.

“Duane Davis was the shot caller for this group of individuals that committed this crime,” said Las Vegas police homicide Lt. Jason Johansson, “and he orchestrated the plan that was carried out.”

Davis himself has admitted in interviews and in his 2019 tell-all memoir, Compton Street Legend, that he provided the gun used in the drive-by shooting.

Davis, now 60, was arrested early while on a walk near his home in Henderson, hours before prosecutors announced in court that a Nevada grand jury had indicted the self-described “gangster” on one count of murder with a deadly weapon. The grand jury also voted to add a sentencing enhancement for gang activity that could add up to 20 additional years if he’s convicted. –Associated Press

All signs point to the postseason

UNLV wide receiver Senika McKie (0) celebrates after a 28yard gain during a 44-20 win September 30 against Hawaii at Allegiant Stadium. The win put the team within two victories of bowl eligibility for the first time since 2014. In addition, the Las Vegas Raiders announced October 2 that the organization plans to donate $1 million to UNLV football. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Lobbyists sue teachers trying to block stadium COURTS

The educator-led political action committee Schools Over Stadiums is being sued for its efforts to force a public vote on the use of $380 million in taxpayer funds to help build a baseball stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. The teachers group is affiliated with the Nevada State Education Association, a statewide educators’ union. NSEA officials say they oppose the stadium funding package on the grounds that the state should have invested further in its public school system. Their referendum petition seeks to repeal the state tax funding dedicated to the stadium bonds. Plaintiffs Danny Thompson and Thomas Morley allege that the referendum petition is deficient because it includes only portions of Senate Bill 1, the special session bill that approved the bond funding, that the group seeks to repeal. -Hillary Davis

“

We want the best for all of our players, former players, etc. So, that will never change.”

CRIME

WATCH THIS

The Aces play in the WNBA Finals on October 8 at noon and October 11 at 6 p.m.

lost

Pat Dalton, country singer and Route 91 Harvest festival shooting survivor, performs a song during the annual 1 October Sunrise Remembrance Ceremony on October 1 at the Clark County Government Center amphitheater.

“Six years later, we cannot forget those moments of resilience in the face of unspeakable tragedy,”

Sheri Kevin McMahill said at the ceremony. “I want you to remember how we looked out for each other, how we helped each other; we lifted each other up to the darkest of times (and) that is what remains with me to this day, the love of our community.” (Steve Marcus/Sta )

BUSINESS

Bill could be vital for cannabis industry

A federal bill that would enable state-sanctioned cannabis businesses to access the banking system cleared a key hurdle in the U.S. Senate, and appears to have enough bipartisan support to clear the upper congressional chamber.

On September 27, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act advanced out of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban A airs Committee by a bipartisan 14-9 margin. Proponents of the measure say it would ensure legal cannabis businesses are able to access banking and insurance services without fear of a crackdown by federal law enforcement, and would expand economic opportunities and create a safer working environment for those in the cannabis industry.

“Right now, many legitimate businesses in Nevada and across the country are shut out of banking services and they’re paying high fees for access or being cut from national banks,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, a member of the committee, said. “It’s an all-cash business; they (cannabis businesses) are concerned about their security and how to pay vendors.”

Cortez Masto was among a group of senators who introduced a similar version of the bill in 2017, and has advocated for its passage since. Similar iterations have cleared the U.S. House during previous congressional sessions, but has never been approved in the Senate.

BY THE NUMBERS

$29M

The Southern Nevada Water Authority will bolster its new septic system conversion program and ramp up its grass replacement e orts with two state grants totaling $29 million, including $24 million to fund the Water Smart Landscape Rebate Program and $5 million to fund the voluntary septic system replacement program.

-Casey Harrison

SCAN FOR RESERVATIONS

THINKING GLOBALLY

Sphere also aims to be a game-changing marketing platform

BY BROCK RADKE

The world has seen what Madison Square Garden Entertainment’s rst-ofits-kind venue Sphere can do, from the science- ction spectacle that was the initial illumination of its LED-covered exterior in July, to this past weekend’s spectacular opening of U2’s Las Vegas concert residency.

The $2.3 billion, 366-foot-tall architectural marvel wasted no time making an impact on the city’s geographic and entertainment landscapes. Next up, we’ll witness its equally unique capabilities as a marketing brand and

advertising platform.

It has already broadcast memorable content on its exosphere related to NBA Summer League basketball and the U.S. Open, the latter of which wasn’t even held in Las Vegas. More recently, Sphere announced its rst movie studio collaboration for DreamWorks’ Trolls Band Together, launching a campaign for the November 17 movie to be showcased on the 580,000-square-foot exterior surface.

That’s only the beginning; Sphere is expected to unveil a special campaign for November’s

Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, with the race route running right beneath it.

The commercial potential of the project has been magni ed by the recent founding of Crown Properties Collection, an entity that will manage global partnerships, sponsorships, naming rights and other corporate relationships for Sphere along with MSG’s other sports and entertainment brands and venues, including Madison Square Garden itself in New York City, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.

CPC was founded by MSG, its subsidiary Sphere Entertainment Company, and Oak View Group, an entertainment and hospitality company and developer of sports

and entertainment venues. Oak View will operate CPC.

“I think the way Oak View and MSG looked at this is the hope that one plus one equals four or ve,” says Jay Voelker, who left his post as senior vice president of business development for the PGA Tour to become president of CPC. “Oak View Group has this immense success in arena development and monetization. We certainly want to draft o the success and resources that exist with the Oak View Group ... and from the MSG perspective, the same people who have been selling Sphere and those MSG assets still exist, now complemented by another sales team. You’d be hard-pressed to nd a larger commercial team out there globally.”

OWNING THE SKYLINE

Whether it’s been an AI art installation by Re k Anadol, a whimsical emoticon, or a giant glowing basketball stamped with the NBA logo, everything seen on Sphere has gone viral to some extent. Its technological prowess and captivating performance so far has made Sphere one of the most exciting media platforms in the world.

“Its power is tremendous,” says Marla Royne Sta ord, UNLV professor of marketing and international business. “It’s such a unique venue, but it’s more than a venue. It’s a unique opportunity for all kinds of businesses, for visitors, for locals. The potential is unlimited.”

In addition to concerts and immersive lms, Sphere is expected to host a multitude of business and cultural events, Sta ord says, which also introduces more entertainment and marketing opportunities.

“It’s already attracting crowds just to go see it, like the Bellagio’s fountains, even if they aren’t going to a concert,” she says. “I can’t wait to see where it will go next and what it will do for the city.”

Voelker says the Sphere team has been conscious of its display potential from the very beginning, and nding a balance between art and commerce is a top priority.

“It’s a work of art at the end of the day,” he says. “In order to reach its full potential, we have to think globally, and that’s why they created this partnership, to leverage these resources and bring Sphere to its full potential,” he says.

“We want to be very cautious because we don’t it to be viewed as a billboard at all. We talk about leveraging the exosphere to ‘own the skyline’ of Las Vegas. How do you own the skyline? Certainly by partnering when big events come in ... but [using it] to

leverage during cultural moments is how we think about it. We want to be thoughtful. It is a piece of art and we don’t want to forget that, so we’ll be strategic what we use it for.”

A PARTNERSHIP BUILT FOR THE FUTURE

Founded by Irving Azo and Tim Leiweke in 2015, Oak View Group bills itself as the largest developer of sports and live entertainment venues in the world. It manages more than 60 convention centers across the country and recently took over management of McCormick Place in Chicago, and it has opened billion-dollar arenas for the Seattle Kraken and the New York Islanders.

Its latest project is a $10 billion complex at Las Vegas Boulevard and Blue Diamond Road that includes a 2,000-room casino resort and a 20,000-seat, NBA-ready arena. Voelker wouldn’t comment on that project or whether such a property

could be represented by Crown Property Collections, but OVG’s Leiweke told Forbes last month that CPC will be looking for more clients and future growth.

“Crown Properties Collection will represent only the most valuable properties in all of sports and entertainment together with the most revolutionary venue in the world, Sphere in Las Vegas,” Leiweke said in a statement.

Sta ord says the Oak View development south of the Strip “just shows that companies see the opportunities in Las Vegas. We have created a vacation hub with entertainment, sports, gambling, food and more, very di erent from the Orlandos of the world.

“There is so much here, and these grand new projects like Sphere, Fontainebleau and more,” she continues. “It emphasizes what Vegas is and what it’s still becoming, going to new heights.”

Sphere showing o during NBA Summer League (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

REMEMBERING RECLAIMING REIMAGINING OUR NAACP

NAACP FREEDOM FUND BANQUET

October 21

Paris Hotel Resort & Casino Las Vegas

Cocktail Hour - 6pm | Dinner - 7pm

For sponsorship please email: info@naacplasvegas.org

SCAN FOR TICKETS

FEATURING KEYNOTE SPEAKER ATTORNEY GENERAL AARON FORD

UNBELIEVABLE ODYSSEY

BY AMBER SAMPSON

“If you build it, they will come.” That famously misquoted line from 1989’s Field of Dreams whispers up at me as I take in the full, monolithic size of Las Vegas’ new mega-venue, Sphere. It’s hard to imagine that anyone built this; it’s otherworldly in almost every way.

Fans from around the globe have traveled by land, sea and air for opening weekend of the U2: UV Achtung Baby Live show tonight, the most anticipated Las Vegas residency of the year. And me? I’m here to see the future.

Neo-futurism drives the architecture of Sphere, hence the sleek and ultra-modern main atrium, where scientific formulas engrave the walls like hieroglyphics of another time. Cool tones bathe the halls in Blade Runner blues and a sculpture of Gort, the humanoid robot from The Day the Earth Stood Still,

can be seen at the escalators. It’s almost as if the visionaries behind Sphere knew they were designing something sublimely alien to the industry and went full-send on the theme.

I have a tough time finding my seat because I’m too busy looking up … and up … and up. The venue’s 160,000-square-foot interior display is a triumph of modern technology. Never have I seen a concert screen so winding, so towering—and that’s before the thing fully powers up. It wraps all around us, to the tips of the ceilings, even for concert goers on the balcony sections. And now I get all the fuss about the dome shape. We’re in a bubble of our own reality.

U2’s show was originally created in virtual reality as Sphere was being built. But to see these screen visuals come wholly alive, like an

organic life form ready to do the Irish band’s bidding, is another story. Sphere uses the largest LED screen resolution known to man, pumping out over 200 million video pixels. An entire village of visionaries combined their talents to make the masterpiece that is U2 UV and with these screen specs, it’s unlike anything I have ever seen.

Words appear and reshape themselves around the confines of the room. Kaleidoscopic visuals adopt their own dimension and scale, wrapping around and closing in on viewers like the stargate scene in 2001: A Space Odyssey. The screen height can make fire rain down from the virtual heavens, or lightning and thunder in the eye of a storm. Sphere is a simulation of our wildest, most technicolor dreams.

Unpacking what the concert experience is truly like at Sphere

Some of the most subtle and most jaw-dropping features were midset, when U2 took an acoustic break from Achtung Baby. At one point, the screens darkened with a dusting of stars overhead, and the venue got noticeably colder, fooling us into thinking we were outdoors on a chilly night.

And the audio, for all the challenges it faces in a dome-shaped venue, exceeded my expectations. Bono’s every quivering rasp and whisper were audible (“It cost $2 billion to hear those whispers,” he said), and they were seemingly aimed directly at me, as was the band’s water-tight musicality.

Sphere’s arrival has changed the concert landscape for me. It’s given a taste of what the future holds. And as a music lover, I’m ready for it.

U2 AT SPHERE UNITES TECHNOLOGY AND SHOWMANSHIP

 In 1991, U2 dropped Achtung Baby, a fuzzed-out, brilliant swerve of an album inspired by Krautrock, rave culture and Berlin-era Bowie. They supported the album with the Zoo TV tour, a multimedia spectacular that not only changed U2, but played a role in how arena rock was presented going forward.

Like Pink Floyd’s The Wall shows, Zoo TV was an “I was there” event. Everyone who saw it was floored. Not even subsequent U2 tours, like 1997’s PopMart—which featured a McDonald’s-like golden arch and enormous, lemon-shaped mirrorball—could seemingly match up to Zoo TV’s visual overload.

Which is to say: U2’s show at Las Vegas’ new Sphere, an 18,000-seat venue dominated by a concave, 16K-resolution screen capable of delivering images that can easily trick the eye, isn’t so much a game-changer for U2 as it is a leveling-up.

U2: UV, playing at the Sphere on assorted dates through mid-December, brings a U2 that’s been all over and been all over you, and is perhaps better for it. It unites all three iterations of the group—chest-beating idealists, post-ironic art rockers, warm and fuzzy hit singles band—underneath the most technically dazzling concert production ever mounted. Even

people leery of U2’s whole thing could walk out of this one completely gobsmacked by U2:UV’s crystal-clear sound and towering, beautiful imagery.

Built around an end-to-end performance of Achtung Baby, U2: UV zips along with an energy you wouldn’t expect of a show whose backbone source material is 32 years old. But thanks to a smart rearranging of the tracks, a mid-program acoustic set, a rip-roaring and hit-laden encore, and a creative team that includes stage designer Es Devlin, local multimedia whiz Brett Bolton and such large-type geniuses as Brian Eno and Industrial Light and Magic, U2: UV revives Achtung as the thrumming engine of a must-experience stage blockbuster.

Having first seen the band in the late 1980s, I can tell you that U2: UV —named for Achtung deep cut “Ultra Violet (Light My Way)”—features a U2 that has still got moves. Perhaps in deference to the massive screen that both magnifies and dwarfs him, Bono is humble and engaging, often speaking to the audience in a soft voice that’s perfectly audible over the Sphere’s magical sound system. He’s still in fine voice—only a handful of songs are re-tuned to accommodate his older pipes—and his stage banter is loose, friendly and genuine.

The rest of the band is also in sharp form. The Edge, enjoying a sound mix that accents every last nuance of his guitar playing, has rarely sounded better. Bassist Adam Clayton once again proves himself the band’s secret sauce, making the bops bop and the rockers crunch. And Bram van den Berg, a stand-in for ailing drummer Larry Mullen Jr. “deputized” by Mullen himself, delivers near-perfect versions of that player’s beats, fills and flourishes.

In interviews, Bono has likened U2: UV to a “turntable” the band will throw different songs onto each night, but it’s safe to tell you that Achtung tracks “Acrobat,” “One” and “The Fly” are standouts, for reasons both musical and visual. And one of the encore tracks played when I saw the show on September 30 was the band’s new single “Atomic City,” a Vegas-inspired stomper that grows on me a little bit more every time I hear it. It’s the capper on an evening that’s packed with Las Vegas references and Easter eggs. U2 knows whose house they’re in, and they go the extra mile to make you feel welcome. You can’t get more Vegas than that.

–Geoff Carter

For more, visit lasvegasweekly. com.

U2 performs inside Sphere. (Courtesy/Stufish)

U2 (Courtesy/Sam Jones)

ICON DEFINED

The grand spectacle of Bellagio is undiminished after 25 years

Las Vegans know their home is a special place because when you go to some other place and tell people where you’re from, their eyes light up. Wow! Really? What’s it like to live in Las Vegas?

Now imagine if you also happen to work at Bellagio, now and forever one of the most recognizable pieces of the Las Vegas Strip. The wow increases exponentially. And what if your job was to look after those famous fountains? They might not even believe you.

“When I was an engineer and told people I would have to be a diver in the fountains, they always say, ‘What?!’

I’d have to explain how we’d do maintenance, dive down and fix this or that, and sometimes show them videos,” says Victoria Rios, currently facilities manager at Bellagio. “They can’t believe that’s happening during the day under the water, saying ‘What a cool job!’ And it is. Every day is different here.”

Rios has spent thousands of different days at the iconic resort. She’s one of approximately 1,300 Day 1 employees at Bellagio, which is celebrating 25 years this month. Those fountains, the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, Cirque du Soleil’s epic O, the fancy restaurants, the glass blossoms by Dale Chihuly hanging over the lobby—all these things seem like they’ve always existed, paragons of the universe of Vegas, but they first arrived on October 15, 1998.

Rios, a born-and-raised native, has been part of the Bellagio team since July 1998, transferring from Treasure Island, which was also opened by Steve Wynn. “We always talk about these [anniversaries] when they come around, all the different events we’ve had at Bellagio from commer-

cials to stuff on the lake to films being made here,” she says. “I just happened to be flipping channels and saw Ocean’s Eleven, and I realized Bellagio looked totally different from the day we first opened up to now.”

In her current role, Rios is in charge of front features, including the fountains, the Conservatory and its seasonal changes, and the hotel’s key shop as well. She says she never gets tired of watching the fountains and she has too many “favorite memories” from those special Bellagio moments to pick just one, but the best part is spending all those days and years with her co-workers.

“Seeing them every day, and just the opportunities I’ve had here,”

that’s what stands out, Rios says. “Every year has been a learning lesson ... and we learn so much from each other.”

Bellagio has around 6,000 team members, so the fact that 1,300 of them have been there from the start begins to tell the story of how the luxury resort has maintained its reputation and following. The staff will be celebrated this month with a party that will last 24 hours so every team member can participate, according to Ann Hoff, president of Bellagio and Park MGM.

“There is great camaraderie with their co-workers and they also have relationships with our guests, who come back time and time again to see these employees,” says Hoff, who has been with Bellagio’s current parent company, MGM Resorts, for 33 years. “They have personal relationships from creating memorable, meaningful moments for our guests. Our employees truly are the stars of

the show and the reason we have such loyalty at Bellagio with consumers.”

Hospitality is and always has been the name of the game in Las Vegas, but Bellagio contains undeniable magic. In addition to those awe-inspiring attractions, it revolutionized cuisine on the Strip with the first real portfolio of celebrity chef fine-dining restaurants, and three of those original chefs (Julian Serrano, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Michael Mina) are still in the mix. So is the legendary New York transplant Le Cirque.

“It just delivers,” Hoff says. “Everyone has their moments they think about. Cirque wasn’t introduced first at Bellagio. There were other [shows] before O, but O is so much more than entertainment. It is truly one of the most beautiful and the most successful theatrical experience ever created, and there are still sold-out audiences after all these years.”

Bellagio is a part of global pop culture, and there aren’t many casinos or hotels on the Strip or anywhere else that can make that claim. It simply doesn’t seem like Las Vegas could exist as we know it without Bellagio, even as the city has evolved into something much greater than the rest of the world’s limited perception.

THE INCIDENTAL TOURIST BY BROCK RADKE

(Above) Bellagio’s conservatory, (below) Lago (Photos Courtesy/MGM Resorts International)

AT THE DRIVE-IN

Kick o spooky season with the world’s greatest horror host

BY MIKE GRIMALA

The American drive-in is the greatest place on Earth, and Joe Bob Briggs knows that.

He has always known it, and that’s why he has made it his life’s calling to get people to watch movies outdoors, in the privacy of their own automobiles, like God intended, rst as a columnist for the Dallas Times Herald who only reviewed drive-in movies, and then, for the past four decades, as a television horror host of The Movie Channel’s Drive-In Theater, TNT’s MonsterVision and currently The Last Drive-In on Shudder.

Now Briggs is bringing his show on the road, setting up shop at the West Wind Drive-In for his third annual World Drive-In Jamboree October 6-8.

“A lot of people say, ‘There’s a drive-in in Vegas?’” Briggs says with a laugh. “But the people want to come. They want to come to Las Vegas and party, and the combination of being with the mutants and being in Vegas and being in a

drive-in, I think this is going to be our biggest year yet.”

It’s hard to think of a better way to kick o spooky season than a weekend hosted by Briggs, complete with his trademark bolo tie, Texarkana drawl and encyclopedic knowledge of all things horror. So put it in park, hit the concession stand and settle in for a dusk-to-dawn marathon, done the drive-in way.

Let’s look at those drive-in totals:

2,000 maniacs!

The West Wind Drive-In features six screens and has a capacity for more than 900 vehicles, and there will also be a camping area for carless attendees who intend on sticking around all weekend, so the lots will be over owing with what Briggs a ectionately calls his “drive-in mutants.”

The 2021 and 2022 Jamborees, held in Mahoning, New Jersey, and Memphis, respectively, brought in fans from around the country, and while Briggs expects the Vegas

location to attract out-of-towners, the main draw is the camaraderie of the horror community.

“The mutants normally only see each other online,” Briggs says, “but now at the Jamboree, the real person is there. They don’t just come to listen to me and watch movies, they come to meet each other.”

16 movies rolling!

What’s your stamina level for B-movies? Friday night is dedicated to an amateur lm festival, featuring 10 DIY horror icks. Saturday is a celebration of legendary producer/ director Roger Corman, with Briggs and Corman screening two of his movies (which will be recorded for a future episode of The Last Drive-In). Sunday is an all-night marathon of the 1983 fan favorite slasher Sleepaway Camp and its three sequels, complete with commentary and an onstage cast reunion for the series’ 40th anniversary. Make sure your car battery (and cordless curling iron) is fully charged.

1 cultural landmark!

What lasts 57 years in Las Vegas?

Nothing! Except the West Wind Drive-In, which has been continuously operational since it opened in 1966 as the Las Vegas Drive-In. Its massive capacity is one reason Briggs selected the venue to host this year’s Jamboree, as well as its positioning as a West Coast hub.

It’s also just damned cool. “We wanted to have it on the West Coast, somewhere you could drive from LA, San Diego, Phoenix, San Francisco. We looked at all the West Coast driveins, but none of them were as cool as the West Wind.”

We looked at all the West Coast driveins, but none of them were as cool as the West Wind.”

3 days of scares!

3 days of scares!

As soon as the sun goes down, the movies begin. But the Jamboree continues through the daylight hours as well, with the West Wind lots converted into an open-air horror convention. Briggs will host a meetand-greet barbecue on Friday, and on Saturday he’ll take fans on a walking tour of Downtown Las Vegas. (He’s something of an expert—you may recognize Briggs from his role in the lm , where he played an incompetent but connected oor worker who could not be red.) There will also be horror vendors, music performances, live podcasts and autograph signings to keep you occupied until the onscreen mayhem resumes.

as well, with the West Wind lots converted into an open-air horror convention. Briggs will host a meetand-greet barbecue on Friday, and on

No headlights!

Though the drive-in has been around for almost a century, there are some people who have never experienced the joys of watching a movie from behind their steering wheel. For rst-timers, know that there is etiquette involved, but most of it is pretty intuitive.

The gravest sin? Disrupting the movie, obviously. Daytime running lights are a modern complication, and Briggs has seen it enough that he suggests going in prepared, lest a deluge of a thousand car horns rain down upon you.

“All it takes is one car shining its lights on the screen, and you can’t see the movie,” Briggs says. “Get the owner’s manual for your car, nd the place on your dashboard where you can turn the switch o , and set it so that your lights don’t automatically come on when it’s dark. You’ll thank me.”

JOE BOB’S WORLD DRIVE-IN JAMBOREE October 6-8, event times vary, $75+, West Wind Drive-In, joebobsjamboree.com.

GOOD DAE

BY AMBER SAMPSON

There is something to be said about breaking bread with a table full of friends. We laugh a little longer. We check our texts a little less frequently. We relish a different kind of Facetime.

One dish that comes to mind during those times is kalbijjim. Sometimes referred to as galbijjim, this simmering stew of braised beef short ribs has a whole history behind it. It was a feast fit for the kings of the Joseon dynasty of Korea for roughly 500 years, and remains a meal largely enjoyed by Korean families during holidays and celebrations today.

Prepared just right, kalbijjim is dynamite in a dish. And one restaurant doing it

especially well is San Francisco export Daeho Kalbijjim & Beef Soup.

The restaurant originally opened in the Bay Area’s historic Japantown in 2019, but has since expanded to Vegas and three other outposts. People take their Daeho quite seriously over there. It’s regularly an hours-long wait in San Francisco, and with Daeho’s Vegas location sitting right next to the soon-to-open H-Mart, it’ll likely follow suit.

The interior of the local space is modern and sleek, if not a little sexy with the right dining partner. There’s also plenty of seating for larger groups, which you’re going to want to bring for the full experience.

The smallest plates at Daeho could still feed two people, but if you’re alone, opt for the hot stone bibimbap with kalbi grilled barbecue beef ribs ($26). You can swap out that protein for spicy calamari or vegetables, but the beef at Daeho is prime grade, slip-offthe-bone level good. Paired with Daeho’s side of bibimbap sauce, it’s a tangy, acidic kick to the taste buds. Other great solo meals include the kalbi tang beef rib soups, the incredibly hearty Suyuk beef bone soup, and the Naengmyeon cold noodles that are chilled in beef broth.

All that said, there’s a reason Daeho prides itself on being the “King of Kalbijjim,” and it

Daeho Kalbijjim makes every meal feel like a holiday reunion

isn’t because of its soup game. A regular portion of braised beef rib kalbijjim ($80) feeds up to three people, but the large ($90) feeds four with plenty left over.

Daeho’s spice level runs from zero to level three, but judging by the bibimbap sauce, these chefs aren’t kidding around with the heat. The real game-changer here is the optional cheese, which gets melted onto the kalbijjim with a blowtorch right at the table. Combined with this bubbling cauldron of bone-in beef and veggies simmered in a sweet and savory broth, it’s a mouthful of heaven.

Palates start to hum sometime

DAEHO KALBIJJIM & BEEF SOUP

2580 S. Decatur Blvd. #5A, 725-255-7888, daehokalbijjim.com.

Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. & 4:30-11 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. & 4:30-11 p.m.

THE INDUSTRY COMES TO THE DISTRICT AT GVR

 If you haven’t yet checked in at chef Sam Marvin’s stylish Echo & Rig location in Henderson and you consider yourself a culinary advocate of the highest order, act now. You might be able to snag one of 100 seats for the Friends of James Beard Benefit dinner coming up this month, a six-course feast paired with wines from Chateau St. Michelle Wine Estates and spirits from Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey.

Premium braised beef rib kalbijjim at Daeho (Brian Ramos/Staff)

around the third or fourth blissful bite. You can hear the murmurs of joy at the table, the contentment and the camaraderie. The cheese pull is as dramatic as it is satisfying, the beef is richly marinated by the base sauce, and the potatoes and carrots are boiled down to perfection. This is stew on steroids, and it’s becoming more clear why kalbijjim is a family affair.

Food has a way of bringing people together. And in sharing it, we share a little piece of ourselves, too. Restaurants like Daeho remind us to keep doing that, even if it’s just one meal at a time.

These fundraising festivities held at exclusive eateries across the country benefit the nonprofit James Beard Foundation’s mission “to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.” In addition to its illustrious awards, JBF provides a plethora of industry and community-focused initiatives and programs.

A similar benefit was held September 26 at Casa Playa at Wynn, but this opportunity at a new neighborhood gem at The District at Green Valley Ranch is a unique one. And Marvin, a true friend of the foundation, cooked at the James Beard House in New York in 2019.

“I have always supported the historical tradition and culinary excellence of the James Beard Foundation and am now more fully dedicated to their critical mission as they have re-committed to help the most important aspects of our beloved industry,” he said in a statement. Cheers to that. –Brock Radke

FRIENDS OF JAMES BEARD BENEFIT

October 16, 5:30 p.m., $195. Echo & Rig, 725-258-3246, secretburger.com.

Sam Marvin (Courtesy)

LAS VEGAS BUCKS NATIONAL TREND ON DEMAND FOR OFFICE SPACE

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

Though many major U.S. cities may be seeing lower demand for o ce space as remote and hybrid workplaces increasingly become the norm following the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say the commercial real estate market in Las Vegas is still going strong.

O ce vacancy in Las Vegas is lower than traditional rates, said Marc Magliarditi, a rst vice president at the commercial real estate rm CBRE. Magliarditi attributed the growth of tenants in Las Vegas o ce buildings to the expansion of professional sports in Southern Nevada, and the fact that it’s a more suburban market than cities that may rely heavily on public transportation.

“We’ve been fortunate here in Las Vegas,” he said. “That demand has been pretty steady, and I would even say strong … post-pandemic.”

Las Vegas is a growing, tax-friendly community with a good climate, which are just a few factors that might make it enticing for potential o ce tenants, said Je LaPour, founder and CEO of LaPour Partners.

The Valley’s increasing population, strengthening economy and short supply of o ce space also are driving high demand, he said.

“You have companies that are growing,” said LaPour, who is also a member of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. “You have companies that are relocating from California or other parts of the country, and they have a need for space.”

Employers are also making bigger investments in new and improved o ce space, he said, in an e ort to recruit and retain employees after the pandemic. This means newer, nicer o ce buildings are going quick.

Easy parking, multiple access points into the

building, natural light, walkability and more are just a few of the amenities that companies are looking for in o ce buildings, LaPour said. Midsized buildings that are easily navigable make a big di erence, he said.

“The market’s very good,” LaPour said, adding that tenants are paying some of the highest rates Las Vegas has ever seen. “There’s been pent-up demand, and there’s great credit tenants—good absorption. But you have to have a brand new, Class A building that’s desirable. If you don’t, then you’re gonna have trouble.”

Small business has a great impact on suburban markets when it comes to commercial real estate, as well, said Wes Drown, treasurer of Commercial Alliance Las Vegas. In spite of ination and economic headwinds, he said, small businesses are not stopping or slowing down.

“We forget about the American spirit,” Drown said.

Many companies nationwide are downsizing as a result of fewer people coming into the o ce. Drown pointed to a Las Vegas medical center looking to downsize, now that much of its marketing sta is enjoying working from home.

“And that’s an example of an adjustment that’s just kind of starting to make sense to them, because they’ve had enough time trying it both ways post-COVID,” he said. “But, for the most part, we’re seeing small businesses not being impacted to the extent that we have a lot of vacancy.”

Drown said demand for o ce space will likely remain high in Las Vegas going forward, but will become more of a challenge as there’s increasingly less available to lease or buy.

“We have almost no new construction, just a couple buildings,” he said. “So I expect we’ll continue to see increasing rent rates because there’s not enough product and there’s not enough land, frankly, to build enough products.”

LaPour said he’s con dent the commercial real estate market will continue to bounce back from pandemic lows, although much of the older o ce space that has become obsolete over time will have to be torn down or repurposed and ultimately given “new life.”

“I do think that the market for o ce will come back,” he said. “I was never a believer that o ce is dead.”

Check Out These Fun Fall Events At Your Library!

The History & Business of Hip Hop for Teens

Thursdays at 5 p.m. | Oct. 5, 12, 26, Nov. 2, 9, 30 | East Las Vegas Library

Rick Arroyo & The Latin Percussion Ensemble

Fri., Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. | Windmill Library

Summerlin Library Outdoor Fall Festival

Sat., Oct. 7 from 10a.m. – 2p.m. | Summerlin Library

Las Vegas Classical Guitar Ensemble in Concert

Sun., Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. | West Charleston Library

Sofia Talvik in Concert

Tue., Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. | Clark County Library

Wed., Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. | Windmill Library

The Dollheads Teen Punk Band in Concert

Thu., Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. | Windmill Library

2023 Las Vegas Writes

Thu., Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. | Clark County Library

The Wonderful World of Was — A Musical Dramedy

Thu., Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. | Windmill Library

Fri., Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. | Clark County Library

Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet

Fri., Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. & Sat., Nov. 4, 3 p.m. | Windmill Library

Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival

Sat., Nov. 4 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Clark County Library

Dia De Los Muertos

Sat., Nov. 4 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. | East Las Vegas Library

Native American Flute, Dance & Stories with Shelley Morningsong & Fabian Fontenelle

Fri., Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. | Windmill Library

Sat., Nov. 18 at 12 p.m. | Whitney Library

Sat., Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. | West Charleston Library

Sun., Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. | Summerlin Library

Teen animeFest

Sat., Nov. 18 from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Sahara West Library

For details on these events, or to see many more events, scan the QR Code or go to TheLibraryDistrict.org.

A Month Of Scary-Fun Events

Just For Teens In Grades 6-12!

Creator Space

Thursdays at 2 p.m.

Oct. 5, 12, 19

Moapa Valley Library

TeenTober Thursday

Thursdays at 4 p.m.

Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26

Sahara West Library

TeenTober Crafternoon

Thursdays at 4 p.m.

Oct. 5, 12

Tuesdays at 4 p.m.

Oct. 17, 24

Meadows Library

TeenTober Art Show

Fri., Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.

Sunrise Library

TeenTober Crafts!

Fri., Oct. 6 at 4 p.m.

Blue Diamond Library

Teen VIP

TeenTober Edition

Saturdays at 3 p.m.

Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28

Spring Valley Library

TeenTober Horror Video Game Hour

Sundays at 3 p.m.

Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29

East Las Vegas Library

TeenTober Movie

Monday

Mondays at 3 p.m.

Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30

Whitney Library

In the Teen Zone:

Paper Doll Witches

Wed., Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.

Whitney Library

TeenTober: 3D

Pumpkins

Thu., Oct. 12 at 3 p.m.

Windmill Library

Glow in the Dark Party

Thu., Oct. 12 at 4 p.m.

West Las Vegas Library

Sunrise Anime Club

TeenTober Edition

Oct. 17 at 5 p.m.

Sunrise Library

TeenTober Haunted House

Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.

Whitney Library

Locked in the Library

Oct. 20 at 3 p.m.

Goodsprings Library

SCAN FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS FOR TEENS!

BY NATALIE ALLRED

Given this opportunity to write about commercial property management, I have to admit my first thoughts were about the daily challenges we deal with in this rapidly changing field.

As a longtime property manager and this year’s president of the Commercial Alliance Las Vegas (CALV), these challenges are usually hot topics of conversation.

At the same time, we can point to plenty of positive developments that benefit the profession—as well as the overall commercial real estate industry and the Southern Nevada economy.

Let’s start with some of the challenges.

There’s no denying the office sector has been facing some tough times. With interest rates rising and so many office workers around the country still working from home, vacancy rates soared during the pandemic and remain relatively high. National and industry media outlets have been quick to cover instances where once-bustling office parks and buildings have been facing foreclosure or otherwise dealing with distress.

Many tenants are looking to downsize or opting not to renew their lease, often because they don’t need as much office space as they did before the pandemic. A good amount of sub-lease space has also hit the market. Other office tenants are consolidating multi-

Commercial property management has its share of challenges, but also is not without its bright spots

ple offices into one location in each city where they do business.

Fortunately for us, Las Vegas has not been hit as hard as most other big cities. For proof, consider some of the new state-of-the-art office and mixed-use developments being built in high-profile suburban locations such as Summerlin and in the booming southwest part of town along the 215 Beltway.

Still, we have seen some recent examples of distress, including the once-thriving office park near Paradise and Flamingo roads known for years as Hughes Center, where Blackstone recently allowed the property to go into default amid increasing vacancy rates.

Another challenge for commercial property managers (and hotels) is that Nevada is now enforcing a code change requiring costly upgrades to elevators. Of course, this has a bigger impact on the office sector, since elevators are more common in office buildings than in retail or industrial buildings.

The law actually changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, though local officials are just now starting to actively enforce the code. The required upgrades can be very expensive for property owners. For example, I recent-

ly received a bid for about $37,000 to make the required elevator upgrades at a local office building I manage.

An extension can be requested, and if granted, building owners may be allowed to defer the work until the end of 2025. However, the work still needs to be done, and the costs continue to climb.

Combined with rising office vacancies and other challenges, these costs are increasingly hard to swallow.

While it’s not all doom and gloom in the industry, commercial property owners and managers are also spending more time dealing with issues related to homelessness, vandalism and theft at our properties. I recently saw a report estimating that homelessness increased locally by 16% from 2022 to 2023. While I’m not an expert on the topic, I can attest to the fact that we’re dealing with more and more costly incidents at our properties. This, in turn, leads to increased security measures and costs.

This is one of many reasons CALV and other leading local organizations for commercial real estate professionals have been supporting good causes like the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. In fact, we recently

organized an event where dozens of our members donated money and materials and volunteered to renovate residences that house homeless teens served by NPHY.

On another positive note, we continue to see plenty of bright spots in the local commercial real estate industry.

One recent example came in early September, with news about Prologis buying 879 acres of land at Apex on the outskirts of North Las Vegas. The company announced plans to build an 11 million-square-foot industrial development once it pays to bring the necessary utilities to the site. Construction is expected to start within the next three years and include multiple buildings.

After all, if there’s one thing we do well here in Southern Nevada, it’s build things that keep the local economy humming.

Natalie Allred is the 2023 president of the Commercial Alliance Las Vegas (CALV). She is also vice president of property management for American Nevada Company. Her professional designations include being a Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Accredited Residential Manager (ARM).

There’s no denying the office sector has been facing some tough times. With interest rates rising and so many office workers around the country still working from home, vacancy rates soared during the pandemic and remain relatively high.

VEGAS INC NOTES

Highlights of the best in business

UNLV and Boyd Gaming Corporation have finalized a lease and sponsorship agreement to bring the Boyd Innovation Lab to the university’s Black Fire Innovation Building at the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. The fiveyear lease and sponsorship agreement includes access to office and research space and will support student internships and research and development opportunities. The partners will also work together to bring even greater functionality to the facility’s hospitality lab.

Three Henderson City Clerk’s Office members—City Clerk Jose Luis Valdez, City Clerk Operations Manager Kristin Harrell and Election Services Administrator April Parra—were designated as Certified Elections/Registration Administrators (CERA). In addition, the office was honored with the Freedom Award for Innovation in Election Administration by the National Association of Election Offi-

cials. The City Clerk’s Office was awarded for its strategic and innovative 2023 Professional Practices Program called “Polls, Peace, and Pups: Mental Health and Wellness in an Election Environment.”

FEA Consulting Engineers hired mechanical designer Nathan Heimark, draftsman Uriel Madrid, IT professional and draftsman Kleber Pacheco and draftsman John Busbee

Cox Communications kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) by recognizing four Nevadans for their significant community contributions. Honorees include Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar; Latin Chamber of Commerce President Peter Guzman; Norma Intriago, executive director, Dress for Success Southern Nevada and Cox 40-year-employee Reyna Mann, senior manager of enterprise applications. Thirty-second public service announce-

ments featuring the honorees will air on Cox channels through October 15. Cox also donated $1,000 to the nonprofit of choice for each honoree.

Grand Canyon Development Partners, a project management company, hired Anthony Wallace as senior project manager. Wallace offers more than 13 years of experience as a project manager in and out of the Las Vegas Valley. He previously served as senior project manager at Compass Development Co.

The City of Henderson Department of Utility Services received consecutive accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA). The accreditation program recognizes agencies that go beyond the requirements of the management practices established nationally in the industry. Also, the department received recognition as a national best practice for other agencies to follow.

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✔ RX For (3) Month Phentermine Tablets

✔(12) Weekly B12 Injections

✔(12) Weekly Lipotropics Injections

✔ Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis

✔ Medication For (3) Month Treatment

2 2

www.iuventusmedcenter.com

(702) 919-1099

Motional AD, Inc.– Las Vegas, NV– Engineer –Mapping Operations – Provide global support to the Map Operations team by annotating maps as well as conducting data-collection and map validation. Position is fixed based in Las Vegas, NV office; however, telecommuting from a home office location up to two (2) days per week is allowed. Travel requirement Up to 30%.

To apply, Please send your resume to jean.curley@motional.com Ref#KMLV2023

JOB LISTING

Financial Analyst: Analyze financial performance facing financial difficulties to identify or recommend remedies. Review and analyze all costs for the management in operating. Handle orders with operations specialists and agents to control budgets. Update info and accrue all costs in the operating system. Collaborate on projects with other professionals, such as accountants, or PR experts. Evaluate and compare the marketing price for products, and analyze the potential profit. Interpret data on price, yield, stability, future investment-risk trends, economic influences, and other factors affecting investment programs. Inform investments decisions by analyzing financial info to forecast Business, industry, or economic conditions. Prepare all materials for transactions or execution of deals. Prepare plans of action for projects. NEED: Bachelor in Finance, Accounting, Business Management or related fields. Fulltime. Jobsite: 3327 S Las Vegas Blvd, Suite 2882, Las Vegas, NV 89109.

Email resume to Spice World Las Vegas LLC: xpot.spiceworld@gmail.com

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