Another Vegas Casino Closes + NBA Expansion Vote This Week, Guy Fieri Out at Rio & A Canada Plan!

Another Vegas Casino Closes + NBA Expansion Vote This Week, Guy Fieri Out at Rio & A Canada Plan!

Author: Miles to Memories | Shawn Coomer and Mark Ostermann March 24, 2026 Duration: 16:59

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Joker's Wild is officially closed after 33 years — and a brand new Boyd Gaming casino opens just feet away this Wednesday. Plus, the NBA expansion vote is this week and Las Vegas is at the top of the list. Also: dining shakeups, Canadian tourism struggles, and Caesars' giant new digital sign.

In this episode:

  • Joker's Wild closes Sunday night after 33 years — Cadence Crossing opens Wednesday at noon on the same site
  • NBA expansion vote March 24-25 — Vegas expected to land a team starting 2028-29; $7-10B fee; Bill Foley, Magic Johnson, Oakview competing for ownership
  • March Madness viewing parties across Vegas — $500 Cosmo events to $1 coffee at South Point
  • Canadian tourism down 24% in 2025; Circa/Golden Gate drew 15,000 Canadians with their Vegas on Par promo; LVCVA approves $3.5M campaign starting July 2026
  • Guy Fieri out at Rio (Burro Borracho closes); Giada staying through Vanderpump Hotel transition at Cromwell
  • Caesars Palace's giant new digital sign — are Vegas signs losing their unique character?
  • CBRE analysts: no major drag on Vegas tourism yet — 60-90 days is the warning zone

Episode Guide:

  • 0:00 Welcome to MTM Vegas
  • 0:14 March Madness Viewing Parties Across Las Vegas
  • 0:50 Circus Circus Pop-Up & South Point's Value Prices
  • 1:48 Vegas Sports History: From UNLV to the Golden Knights
  • 2:47 NBA Expansion Vote — Las Vegas Expected to Land a Team
  • 3:51 Ownership Groups, Arena Sites & the North Strip Debate
  • 7:06 Guy Fieri Out at Rio — Burro Borracho Closes
  • 7:56 Vanderpump Hotel Transition Begins at Cromwell
  • 9:02 Canadian Tourism Down 24% — Vegas Fights Back
  • 10:43 Caesars' New Giant Sign & Are We Losing Vegas' Identity?
  • 12:35 Economic Uncertainty: Is Vegas Feeling It Yet?
  • 14:36 Joker's Wild Is Closed — History & Cadence Crossing Opens

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There’s a particular energy to Las Vegas that goes far beyond the postcards, and MTM Vegas-Fun, Interesting & Absurd Sides of Vegas! captures it all through a uniquely balanced conversation. Hosts Shawn Coomer and Mark Ostermann don’t just report on the city; they live it from two essential angles. Shawn offers the grounded view of a thirty-year local, while Mark provides the keen, regular tourist perspective, having visited multiple times a year for decades. Together, they dig into everything from breaking news and major developments to the wonderfully strange and humorous stories that define the real Vegas experience. This isn't a dry travel guide. Instead, each episode feels like pulling up a chair with two friends who are deeply passionate about the city's constant evolution, its hidden corners, and its outright absurdities. They discuss cultural shifts, interview interesting people connected to the scene, and analyze what new projects or closures mean for the vibe of the Strip and beyond. The podcast releases fresh episodes twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday, making it a reliable source for staying current. Whether you're planning a trip, you're a longtime resident, or you simply find the sociology of such a singular place fascinating, their dynamic offers a rich, entertaining, and insightful look at what makes Las Vegas endlessly compelling.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

MTM Vegas - Fun, Interesting & Absurd Sides of Vegas!
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