The Las Vegas Strip site of the nation’s single-largest mass shooting will house a community and athletic center, but also a parking lot that will service the nearby $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium.
In a statement Tuesday, MGM Resorts International, which owns the 15-acre Las Vegas Village across from Mandalay Bay, said it would also create a space on the property to remember the 58 victims who died in the shooting on Oct. 1, 2017, and the 422 who were wounded by the gunfire.
“We will also support the future community effort around a permanent, public memorial when that process begins,” the company said.
MGM Resorts said a community and athletic center on the north end of the property would be home to sporting events and community gatherings, host high school basketball tournaments, youth indoor soccer, and serve a practice location for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, which owned by the company. MGM said the Aces players would “engage with the community to inspire the next generation of female athletes.”
In the statement, MGM said, “It was important to us that the long-term use of the property include the community in some way.”
The site had been a festival grounds but has sat empty since the shooting, which took place at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. A lone gunman fired multiple weapons from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay.
“We know that for many, the Village property will forever be linked to the tragic loss of life that took place there on October 1st,” MGM said in the statement. “We will never forget the victims, and all of those impacted by that evening. As the second anniversary nears, we remain committed to being part of the community effort to continue healing and moving forward.”
The company said the property will revert to a parking area for games at Allegiant Stadium involving the Las Vegas Raiders, UNLV football and other sporting events and concerts.
“Over the coming weeks and months, there will be construction activity near the property to ensure the safety of pedestrians crossing the street toward the stadium,” MGM said. “We will share plans for the community and athletic center as they advance.”
In May, MGM Resorts said in a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it might pay up to $800 million to settle liability lawsuits stemming from the shooting.
“The company believes it is reasonably possible that a settlement will be reached” by next May, it told the SEC.
MGM Resorts also said it has $751 million in insurance to pay toward a settlement.
However, a lawyer handling mediation talks for plaintiffs called it premature for MGM to report a possible settlement range between $735 million and $800 million. MGM Resorts has defended itself against liability claims, including filing lawsuits against more than 1,900 people in a bid to consolidate claims in one federal court.
Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for a range of physical and psychological harm from the shooting. They accused MGM Resorts of failing to adequately protect the 22,000 people attending the festival
They point to findings that the shooter, Stephen Paddock, spent several days amassing an arsenal of assault-style weapons and ammunition in the two-room suite. Paddock was a 64-year-old retired accountant and high-stakes video poker player.
Police and the FBI say he acted alone, firing out the windows with guns equipped with rapid-fire bump stocks then killing himself before officers reached his room. Paddock didn’t leave a note or a manifesto, and authorities closed investigations saying they didn’t identify a motive.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgamingreports.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
