9 New Venues in Las Vegas for Summer 2023 Meetings and Events

Although it doesn't officially open until September, undoubtedly the buzziest venue of the summer is MSG Sphere—particularly after its Fourth of July display, where its 580,000-square-foot fully programmable LED exterior (the largest LED screen on earth) was illuminated for the first time. Called "The Exosphere," the exterior screen consists of approximately 1.2 million LED pucks, spaced eight inches apart. Each puck contains 48 individual LED diodes, with each diode capable of displaying 256 million different colors—creating a vivid new landmark on the Las Vegas skyline, not to mention a can't-beat branding opportunity. Inside, Sphere will host a wide variety of events, concerts, and residencies from major artists; the main venue bowl can hold 17,600 seated or 20,000 standing and features immersive effects like changing temperatures, cool breezes, and custom scents to enhance experiences. There’s also a grand entry that can hold 3,000 people, along with 23 VIP suites.

New to Caesars Palace is Stanton Social Prime, which opened in March. The restaurant from Tao Group Hospitality is a spinoff of chef Chris Santos’ famed New York steakhouse. The vibrant space was designed by renowned architecture and design firm Rockwell Group; it boasts a modern take on an art deco style, with dramatic features like a velvet curtain entrance and bold colors of ruby red, sapphire blue, and gold with rich textures and patterns. In addition to the 200-seat main dining room, there’s a 10-seat bar and two private dining rooms.

Ocean Prime, a new $20 million steakhouse on the Las Vegas Strip, opened in June. The 14,500-square-foot space—one of 18 Ocean Prime locations around the country—serves steak, seafood, and specialty cocktails, along with caviar and vodka service, a lounge menu, and weekend brunch. The sleek restaurant from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants was designed by Karen Herold, principal of Studio K. The decor is inspired by the meeting of land and sea and features soft wavelike elements and earthy hues intermixed with deep, dark blue shades. Ocean Prime has 400 seats, three bars, and three private dining rooms. There’s also a 2,500-square-foot rooftop terrace overlooking the Strip.

Aloft Henderson, a modern hotel concept from Marriott International, opened in March. Located just eight miles from the Las Vegas Strip, the property—the first Aloft hotel in the Las Vegas area—features 136 rooms, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and the WXYZ Bar serving craft cocktails. For meetings, there are 678 square feet of space with high-speed Wi-Fi and advanced audiovisual equipment.

For sports lovers, Flanker Kitchen & Sports Bar opened in June at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Designed with events in mind, the 8,445-square-foot restaurant and bar was conceived as a fan-focused experience. The ceiling lighting design was inspired by the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix track at night, guiding guests toward the main dining room’s 30- by 9-foot LED viewing screen. LED screens continue throughout the six dining areas, which include a bar and lounge; three private dining suites that can hold 20, 40, or 60 guests; a 20-seat karaoke and game-day viewing suite; and a 24-seat dining patio.

After a yearlong transformation, Horseshoe Las Vegas opened in March in the former Bally’s space. The reimagined Caesars Entertainment-operated hotel has a number of new additions, including a 7,000-square-foot arcade with more than 80 games and a first-of-its-kind World Series of Poker Hall of Fame Poker Room, a 4,900-square-foot space with 18 poker tables. For dining, there’s Jack Binion’s Steak (pictured) as well as James Beard Award-winning chef Martin Yan’s first Vegas eatery, M.Y. Asia. Opened in June is Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen, a 6,540-square-foot restaurant that seats as many as 279 people throughout the 360-degree bar, main dining area, and private MVP lounge.

Asylum Bar & Arcade opened inside AREA15 in June. Taking over the former Emporium Arcade Bar, the new space is a vintage arcade with a contemporary twist, offering an array of gaming options and cocktails. (Guests under 21 are only allowed from opening until 9 p.m.) The eclectic space features colorful murals along with 32 classic and new arcade games, 12 pinball machines, and four pool tables. The beverage program, meanwhile, includes curated canned and draft beers, housemade boozy slushies, and draft cocktails. Asylum Bar & Arcade regularly hosts local DJs, community-based events, and video gaming meetups; it can also be rented for corporate groups and private events for as many as 500 people.

Also new at AREA15 is Kaia Handroll, a restaurant offering a vibrant take on sushi handrolls inspired by traditional Japanese flavors and techniques. Meaning “of the sea,” Kaia offers an array of fresh handroll selections and chef pairings, including specialties such as lobster truffle, blue crab and bluefin tuna, and classic and vegetarian options crafted by head chef Joseph Soto and sous-chefs Juan Laguana and Christopher Soldivieri. Decor also draws inspiration from water, with AI-generated artwork depicting powerful female characters alongside other water-inspired decor. Combining augmented reality technology with the dining experience, guests can also use their cellphones to activate a unique AR moment on Kaia’s menus: Computer-generated characters, including Kaia and sea creatures, will spring to life on the physical menu after guests download an app and scan a code.

Retro by Voltaggio, the first Las Vegas restaurant from TV stars, judges, and renowned chefs Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, opened in May at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Conceptualized by the famed chef duo, the one-year culinary residency will celebrate the best of the '80s and '90s with the brothers’ modernized take on classic American dishes served in an environment with playful and nostalgic nods to the era. The menu features elevated takes on nostalgic snacks such as pepperoni rolls featuring San Marzano marinara, basil, and stracciatella; chicken pot pie fritters handmade with a buttery cracker crust, pea leaves, and lemon; and “Voltaggi O’s,” a twist on the canned childhood favorite prepared with anellini pasta, tomato gravy, and a giant meatball. The 9,000-square-foot, multilevel space also features throwback music and decor like framed vintage records.