International Hotel
What was the official name of Westgate Las Vegas from 1969 to 1971?
Westgate Las Vegas The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is a hotel , casino , and timeshare resort in Winchester , Nevada . Located near the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip , it is owned by Westgate Resorts and operated by Paragon Gaming . It opened in 1969 as the International Hotel , and was known for many years as the Las Vegas Hilton , then briefly as the LVH – Las Vegas Hotel and Casino , until taking its current name in 2014 . From 1981 to 1990 , it was the largest hotel in the world . Facilities . The Westgate is located on a site on the east side of Paradise Road , approximately east of Las Vegas Boulevard . It is adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center to the south and Las Vegas Country Club to the east . The hotel has 2,956 rooms . The hotel tower is tall , with 30 floors . The top floor consists of three Sky Villas geared towards high roller customers , each with a private swimming pool and at least of space . The casino has of gaming space as of 2017 , with 576 slot machines , 38 table games , 10 poker tables , and a race and sports book . The casinos sportsbook , the SuperBook , is billed as the largest in the world . The Westgate has various eateries , including fine dining restaurants , a buffet , and a food court . Benihana Village , opened in 1974 , is a Japanese-themed area with streams and gardens , with several restaurants centered around its namesake teppanyaki grill . The Westgates convention center has of event space , including the Paradise Event Center ( formerly the Hilton Center ) and the Pavilion ( formerly the Hilton Pavilion ) . Recreation amenities at the Westgate include a pool deck , a fitness center , a spa , and six tennis courts . The hotel also has several retail shops , a wedding chapel , and a business center . The Westgate station of the Las Vegas Monorail is located at the front of the property . History . International Hotel ( 1969–1971 ) . The hotel site was previously part of the grounds of Las Vegas Park , a defunct racetrack . In 1965 , the track site was purchased by National Equities , a real estate development firm chaired by Marvin Kratter . Kratter announced development plans for the site to include a 40-floor , 1,500-room hotel , as well as a golf course and private homes . Meanwhile , Kirk Kerkorian , the chairman of Trans International Airlines and landlord of Caesars Palace , began formulating plans to build a 1,000-room casino hotel in Las Vegas . After considering several potential locations , he selected the racetrack site , reasoning that it was natural to put a hotel next to the Convention Center . Kratter had decided not to build a hotel himself , and in 1967 , National Equities sold a portion of the site to Kerkorian for $5 million . Kerkorian announced that he would build a 30-story hotel with 1,510 rooms , at a cost of $50 million . Some believed it was very risky to build such a property away from the Strip , but Kerkorian believed that it would spark the development of a second Strip along Paradise Road . Kerkorians hotel would be named the International Hotel , matching the name of Kratters International Country Club ( now the Las Vegas Country Club ) . He hired airline executive Fred Benninger to oversee the development , and Martin Stern , Jr. , who had designed several noted Las Vegas high-rises , as the hotels architect . The general contractor selected to build the hotel was Taylor Construction Co . Construction began with an elaborate groundbreaking ceremony in February 1968 . With planning for the hotel underway , Kerkorian purchased the Flamingo casino , to serve as a training ground for the Internationals staff . Later , during the Internationals construction , Kerkorian formed the publicly traded company International Leisure to own the two casinos . Howard Hughes , the eccentric billionaire who had purchased several Las Vegas casinos , saw Kerkorian as a rival and the International as unwelcome competition . He attempted to deter Kerkorian from building the project , first by making a sham announcement of a major planned expansion of his Sands Hotel , and then by conveying false claims to Kerkorian about damage to buildings from nearby nuclear tests . When these ruses failed , Hughes schemed to buy the project from Kerkorian and halt its construction , but this plan came to nothing . Ultimately , Hughes decided to compete head-on with the International by purchasing the unfinished Landmark Hotel and Casino , located across the street . Hughes completed construction of the Landmark and opened it one day before Kerkorians hotel . The International Hotel opened on July 2 , 1969 . At the time , it was Nevadas tallest building and largest hotel . Entertainment director Bill Miller signed Barbra Streisand to open in the showroom , along with Peggy Lee performing in the hotels lounge . In keeping with the hotels name , rooms were furnished with different international decors , with each floor featuring either a Spanish , Italian , or French theme . There was also a complex of international restaurants , offering Bavarian , Italian , Japanese and Mexican cuisines . Employees were outfitted in costumes from different cultures , such as Scottish kilts , Slavic shirts , and French gendarme uniforms . On July 31 , 1969 , immediately following Streisands engagement , Elvis Presley performed the first show of what would become a seven-year run at the hotel , encompassing 636 consecutive sold-out shows . Presleys appearances became a major part of the hotels identity , and an iconic chapter in the history of Las Vegas entertainment . Late in 1969 , Kerkorian made plans to raise $29 million through a secondary offering of International Leisure stock . He needed the money to help pay off loans that he had taken out to purchase major stakes in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Western Airlines . The offering was rejected , however , by the Securities and Exchange Commission , because the company was unable to provide five years of financial history for the Flamingo . Short on cash , Kerkorian was forced to put International Leisure up for sale . Las Vegas Hilton ( 1971–2012 ) . In 1970 and 1971 , Kerkorian sold his shares of International Leisure to Hilton Hotels . The International was renamed in July 1971 as the Las Vegas Hilton . Hilton took complete ownership in 1972 , acquiring all outstanding shares of International Leisure . The hotel had performed unevenly in its early years as the International , but as the Hilton , it soon came to be regarded as the most successful hotel in Las Vegas . An east tower extension with 620 rooms was completed in 1975 at a cost of $20 million . In 1977 , the hotel opened the Hilton Pavilion , a $7.5-million venue for sports and entertainment events , with a seating capacity of up to 5,000 people . A $23-million expansion added another 644 rooms to the north tower . The general contractor selected to build the expansion was Del E . Webb Corporation . Ground was broken in 1977 and it was completed in 1979 . 1981 fire . On the night of February 10 , 1981 , a major fire occurred at the Hilton . Philip Bruce Cline , a hotel busboy who was under the influence of drugs , set fire to a curtain in an elevator lobby on the eighth floor of the east tower . The fire spread to the exterior of the tower and then traveled up to the top of the building within 25 minutes . Eight people were killed , and approximately 350 were injured , including 48 firefighters . Among the victims treated for smoke inhalation was singer Natalie Cole . The casino and hotel reopened nine days after the fire with 1,000 available rooms . The rest of the rooms were repaired over the following three months , at an estimated cost of $10 million . Cline was convicted in 1982 of arson and murder , and sentenced to life in prison without parole . Hilton and other companies involved in the hotel paid a $23 million settlement to victims . The tragedy , in combination with the MGM Grand fire that had occurred months earlier , inspired major changes to Nevadas fire safety regulations . 1981–2012 . Around the end of 1981 , another extension to the north tower was completed , adding 391 rooms at a cost of $21 million . This made the Las Vegas Hilton the largest hotel in the world , with a total of 3,174 rooms . ( The Rossiya Hotel in Moscow had more rooms , but was not deemed to be a larger hotel by the Guinness Book of World Records because many of its rooms were used as dormitories. ) It held this title until 1990 , when it was surpassed by the Flamingo . In 1984 , the hotel completed construction of the $10-million Hilton Center , a convention and event space at the southwest corner of the property , west of the Hilton Pavilion . In 1986 , amid growing popularity of sports betting in Nevada , the Hilton opened its race and sports book , the Superbook , at a cost of $17 million . In 1991 , the Hilton was at the center of the Tailhook scandal , in which numerous United States Navy officers were accused of acts of sexual assault during a convention at the hotel . One of the victims , Paula Coughlin , sued the Hilton for providing inadequate security for the convention , and eventually was paid a $5.2 million judgment . The lawsuit led Hilton to successfully lobby for the so-called Tailhook bill , a state law shielding hotels from liability for injuries to patrons caused by third parties . The hotel completed a new , $4-million marquee sign in 1994 . Later that year , however , it was partially destroyed by a windstorm . The sign was reconstructed in 1997 for $9 million with a reduced height of , making it the worlds tallest free-standing advertising sign . In 1994 , the hotel entered an arrangement with the Sahara Country Club , which was renamed as the Las Vegas Hilton Country Club . This lasted until 1997 , when the course became the Las Vegas National Golf Club . Hilton attempted to buy the neighboring Las Vegas Country Club the following year , but its $60-million offer was rejected . In 1995 , the Hilton completed a $40-million renovation of its penthouse floor to construct the Sky Villas . The hotel also spent $12 million on a new room for baccarat , a favorite game of Asian high rollers . The Hilton at the time was one of only four Las Vegas casinos able to compete for the business of the whales , the top tier of high rollers . In 1998 , Hilton spun off its casino properties , including the Las Vegas Hilton , as Park Place Entertainment . Hiltons timeshare arm , Hilton Grand Vacations , began construction of a complex at the northeast corner of the property in 1998 . It opened in 1999 with 230 suites . Around 1999 , Park Place began seeking a buyer for the Las Vegas Hilton , because the company hoped to concentrate on its properties on the Las Vegas Strip , especially the newly acquired Caesars Palace . In 2000 , Park Place agreed to sell the Hilton to Edward Roski Jr . for $365 million . Roski planned to transform the Hilton to shift its focus away from high rollers and toward convention attendees . The deal fell through , however , and the property was locked up in litigation between Park Place and Roski until 2003 , when they settled their claims against each other . The Las Vegas Monorail opened in 2004 , with one of its stations located at the Hilton . The system had been under construction since 2001 . Hilton had led the group of hotels that had promulgated the proposal for the monorail as early as 1996 . In June 2004 , Caesars Entertainment ( formerly Park Place ) sold the Las Vegas Hilton to Colony Capital for $280 million . Colony partnered in the purchase with Goldman Sachs , which also lent $200 million of the purchase price . In 2005 , the Hilton was placed under the banner of Colonys newly formed casino affiliate , Resorts International Holdings , which was headquartered at the property . The Hilton prospered in its first few years under Colonys management , but began losing money in the face of the Great Recession and an oversupply of hotel rooms in Las Vegas . In June 2011 , the Hilton began defaulting on payments to Goldman Sachs on the loan . The same month , Hilton Worldwide opted to terminate its franchise agreement with the property , effective at the end of the year , because the facilities had fallen below the standards of the Hilton brand . Goldman Sachs issued a foreclosure notice in September 2011 . At Goldmans request , a court appointed a receiver to take control of the property . LVH ( 2012–2014 ) . On January 3 , 2012 , the Las Vegas Hilton became the LVH – Las Vegas Hotel and Casino , as the contract to use the Hilton brand ended . Colony Capital initially tried to fight against foreclosure of the property , but ultimately concluded that its equity in the LVH was worthless , and agreed to let the foreclosure proceed . Goldman Sachs formed a joint venture with Gramercy Capital to acquire the property . They bought the property at its foreclosure auction in October 2012 , where they were the only bidder . The Navegante Group was retained to manage the LVH on their behalf . In 2013 , the LVH affiliated with the Leo Hotel Collection , a network of independent hotels newly created by Red Lion Hotels . Westgate Las Vegas ( 2014–present ) . On June 30 , 2014 , timeshare developer Westgate Resorts bought the LVH from Goldman and Gramercy for a price between $150 and $170 million . Westgate CEO David Siegel was hoisted to the top of the hotels sign the following day to begin removing the letters LVH to make way for the propertys new name , Westgate Las Vegas . Siegel stated that the company would spend at least $160 million on renovations , and that it would begin converting hotel rooms into timeshare units . According to Siegel , the timeshare conversion would take 15 to 20 years , and , even after its completion , at least 30 percent of the units would remain available as hotel rooms at any given time . Westgate retained Paragon Gaming to replace Navegante as the propertys manager in 2015 . Architecture . Martin Stern designed the hotel in the International Style of architecture . Architect Stefan Al described the buildings aesthetics as a milestone in the corporatization of Las Vegas : Characterized by its rectilinear forms and bare surfaces , stripped of ornamentation , this elite form of architecture stood miles away from the Mafia-tainted neon of existing casinos . Architecture critic Alan Hess also noted the simplicity of the International ( and the nearby Landmark Hotel ) in comparison to older casinos : As singular , self-contained forms , they showed none of the complexity of the different pieces and sequential additions that made the original Strip visually and urbanistically richer . The Y-shaped plan for the hotel tower was inspired by the UNESCO Headquarters building ; it was chosen to maximize the number of rooms that could be fit into a square plot while allowing each room to have a satisfactory view . This design was imitated by later Las Vegas hotels such as the Mirage , Mandalay Bay , and Venetian . The International has been cited as the first Las Vegas megaresort ( though that distinction is often instead credited to the Mirage , opened in 1989 ) . It was the first to house all of the hotels functions in a single large structure , whereas earlier casinos had housed them in separate buildings . The design of the property , along with the next Kerkorian/Stern project , the original MGM Grand Hotel and Casino , had a major influence on the development of the modern casino resort . As gaming historian David G . Schwartz describes it : Entertainment . International Theater . The propertys main entertainment venue is the 1,607-seat International Theater . Since 2018 , the theater hosts Barry Manilows residency show , The Hits Come Home . From the opening of the hotel in 1969 , the main showroom was a star policy venue , meaning that popular musical artists and comedians were booked to perform for two to four weeks at a time . The typical schedule comprised two shows per night : a dinner show at 8pm and a cocktail show at midnight . One of the most famous engagements at the hotel was that of singer and pianist Liberace . A longtime mainstay of Las Vegas showrooms , Liberace debuted at the Hilton in 1972 , and began appearing regularly in 1973 . He performed in the showroom for as many as 17 weeks out of the year , earning as much as $175,000 per week . Liberaces shows were known for his flamboyant costumes and for his being driven onstage in a Rolls Royce limousine . He appeared at the Hilton as late as 1982 . Hilton chairman Barron Hilton remembered Liberace as one of the most popular entertainers ever to grace the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton showroom . In 1982 , the production show Bal du Moulin Rouge opened in the theater , featuring a cast of acrobats , dancers , and variety acts . The show centered around a 45-minute slot for a headline performer , which was filled at times by Suzanne Somers , Charo , and others . Shifting to a production show was intended to reduce the Hiltons entertainment costs by avoiding the need to book bigger stars , whose salaries had been spiraling ever higher . The show closed in 1986 , and the theater returned to star policy . Singer Wayne Newton , another longtime Las Vegas star , headlined the Hilton showroom from 1987 to 1993 . By the end of his run , he was performing there twenty weeks out of the year , and was described as the highest-paid entertainer on the Las Vegas Strip . Newtons shows were known for beginning with him descending onto the stage in a spaceship amid a laser show . He made over 950 performances in total . In 1993 , the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Starlight Express opened in the main theater . The Hilton Showroom was renamed as the Hilton Theatre , and underwent a $12-million renovation to add bridges and embankments to accommodate the show , which features performers on roller skates . The opening of the show was cited as part of a trend in Las Vegas toward family-friendly attractions and away from individual headliner acts . The show was signed to a five-year contract , but closed early in 1997 amid lagging ticket sales . The hotel then adopted a limited star policy for the theater , booking headline acts for runs of less than a week at a time . In the early 2000s , the theater kept a rotating stable of headliners who each performed for ten weeks out of the year , including at times The Commodores , The Righteous Brothers , Sheena Easton , The Fab Four , Engelbert Humperdinck , and The Smothers Brothers . Manilow began an extended run at the Hilton in 2005 . His engagement was an early example of the trend of major recording artists establishing residency shows in Las Vegas , which was begun by Celine Dion at Caesars Palace in 2003 . His show began as Manilow : Music and Passion , and was then revamped in 2008 as Ultimate Manilow : The Hits . The show ended in 2009 . During the summer of 2006 , Reba McEntire performed her residency show , Reba : Key to the Heart , which ran for five non-consecutive weeks . The $250,000 Game Show Spectacular ran from October 2007 to April 2008 . The show rotated through three hosts : creator Bob Eubanks , Chuck Woolery , and Jamie Farr . A temporary American TV Game Show Hall of Fame opened and closed on site in conjunction with the show , inducting Peter Marshall , Hugh Downs , Wink Martindale , and Monty Hall . The concept was originated by entertainment publicist Jerry Digney . The logo was designed by Dan Acree . Recent long-running shows in the theater include the classic rock tribute show Raiding the Rock Vault , from 2013 to 2014 , and the Prince tribute show Purple Reign , from 2016 to 2017 . Westgate Cabaret . Smaller shows are hosted in the 400-seat Westgate Cabaret . This venue hosts the adult revue Sexxy , running since 2015 , and , since 2018 , comedian George Wallace and magician Jen Kramer . Starting in the 1990s , the venue was known as The NightClub . Combining elements of a dance club and a traditional Las Vegas lounge , it helped pave the way for dance clubs to open in many Las Vegas casinos . The NightClub was renamed as the Shimmer Cabaret in 2004 when the Hilton came under the ownership of Colony Capital . Long-running acts at the Shimmer Cabaret included comedian David Brenner ( 2004–05 ) , musical comedies Menopause the Musical ( 2006–09 ) and Nunsense ( 2010–13 ) , show band The Scintas ( 2007–09 ) , singer Lani Misalucha ( 2009–10 ) , topless revue Sin City Bad Girls ( 2009–10 ) , impressionists Greg London ( 2011–12 ) and Rich Little ( 2012–13 ) , a Rat Pack tribute show led by Sandy Hackett ( 2011–13 ) , Purple Reign ( 2014–16 ) , and the Icons of Comedy series ( 2011–12 ) , featuring comedians such as Gilbert Gottfried and Hal Sparks . In 2015 , after the hotel was purchased by Westgate , the room was given its current name . Previous headliners at the Westgate Cabaret include funk band Cameo and comedian Vinnie Favorito , both from 2016 to 2017 . Star Trek : The Experience . In January 1998 , Star Trek : The Experience opened , featuring a motion simulator ride , a museum , and Quarks Bar . A portion of the casino floor was transformed into the SpaceQuest Casino , a space-themed casino complete with high-tech table games , which served as the gateway to the Experience . In March 2004 , a new Borg Invasion 4D ride was added . The attraction closed in September 2008 , after the operator , Cedar Fair , could not agree on terms for a renewed lease with the Hilton . Elvis performances and legacy . Elvis Presley was signed for a four-week engagement in 1969 as the second performer to appear in the Internationals showroom , following Barbra Streisand . It would be his first public stage appearance in eight years . Presleys first show proved so popular that the hotel immediately signed him to a five-year contract for two month-long engagements per year . He would go on to perform a total of 636 shows at the hotel from 1969 to 1976 , with every show sold out . Presleys run of performances at the Hilton was cut short by his death in August 1977 . During his engagements at the hotel , Presley famously resided in the Imperial Suite on the 30th floor . Years after his death , the suite was renamed as the Elvis Presley Suite . It was demolished in 1994 to make way for the Sky Villas . Presleys manager , Colonel Tom Parker , lived at the Hilton for several years after Presleys death , and was a fixture at the hotel as an entertainment consultant for much of the remainder of his life . The hotel has recognized and capitalized on Presleys legacy in assorted ways through the years . A year after his death , a bronze statute of Presley was unveiled at the hotel ; it has since occupied various spots around the property . Various festivals and conventions for Elvis fans and impersonators have been held at the hotel . Elvis : An American Musical , a multimedia production incorporating archival footage with live songs and re-enactments , premiered at the Hilton showroom in 1988 , where it ran for two months before going on a national tour . Elvis impersonator Trent Carlini performed at the Hilton in various runs , both on the main stage and in the cabaret , from 2000 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2015 . Elvis : The Exhibition opened at the Westgate in April 2015 in the former Star Trek attraction space . The exhibit , developed in association with Elvis Presley Enterprises , featured of artifacts and memorabilia from the singers life . In conjunction with the opening of the exhibit , the hotels theater was renamed as the Elvis Presley International Showroom , and was set to feature rotating shows inspired by Presley , starting with The Elvis Experience . The show fared poorly in its two-month run , however , and the plans for further shows did not materialize . The exhibition closed suddenly in February 2016 , leading to a protracted legal dispute . In 2016 , the Westgate successfully petitioned to rename the street leading from the hotel to Las Vegas Boulevard as Elvis Presley Boulevard . Popular culture . Television . - Ann-Margret – When Youre Smiling , a 1973 NBC television special starring actress and singer Ann-Margret , was recorded mainly in the Hilton showroom . - Perry Como , Las Vegas Style , a 1976 NBC special starring singer Perry Como , was recorded at the Hilton . - The game show Lets Make a Deal filmed its 1976–77 season in the Hilton showroom . - The Mrs . America Pageant was televised from the hotel annually from 1977 to 1983 , in 1986 , 1987 , 1996 , and 1997 , and from 2015 to 2018 . - Liberace recorded parts of two CBS specials , 1978s Leapin Lizards , Its Liberace and 1979s Liberace – A Valentines Special , and the 1980 Showtime special , Liberace in Las Vegas , at the Hilton . - The CBS New Years Eve special , Happy New Year , America , was anchored at the Hiltons Grand Ballroom in 1979 and 1980 , and included segments at the Hilton in 1981 and 1982 . - In 1980 , singer Lou Rawls starred in two specials recorded at the Hilton , An Evening with Lou Rawls on HBO and The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars on CBS . - On May 2 , 1982 the National Cable Television Association held its annual convention in the ballroom of the Hilton for the inaugural telecast of The Weather Channel . - Wayne Newton Live in Concert , a 1989 pay-per-view special , was aired live from the Hilton showroom . - Two episodes of Roseanne were taped here in 1991 . - Prime Time Country , a nightly talk show on The Nashville Network , came to the Hilton theater four times between 1997 and 1999 , recording a weeks worth of episodes on each occasion . - The Oak Ridge Boys Live , a variety show starring country music group The Oak Ridge Boys that ran for one season on the Nashville Network , was taped over the span of two weeks in the Hilton Theatre in 1998 . - Penn & Tellers Sin City Spectacular , an FX variety show that ran for one season starting in 1998 , recorded some of its episodes at the Hilton theater . - Two live pay-per-view concert specials were televised from the Hilton theater under the name For the Record in 1998 and 1999 , starring , respectively , Alabama and Merle Haggard . - The syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune came to the Hilton four times , taping two or three weeks of episodes on each occasion . The show was aired from the Hilton Center in 1998 , and from the theater in 1999 , 2002 , and 2005 . - The Mrs . World pageant was recorded at the Hilton in 2000 , 2001 , and 2003 , to be aired on Pax TV . - In 2001 , the game show Jeopardy ! taped two weeks of episodes in the Hilton theater , comprising one week of Celebrity Jeopardy ! and one week of International Jeopardy ! - The Entertainer , a 2005 reality competition series on the E ! network starring Wayne Newton , was set primarily at the Hilton , with contestants living in the Sky Villas . - The 2006 PBS special Barry Manilow : Music and Passion was filmed during one of the singers shows at the Hilton . - World Series of Blackjack , a Game Show Network series , recorded its 2006 and 2007 seasons at the Hilton . - , a 2007 BBC documentary , was filmed mainly at the Hilton , where it follows several of the casinos regulars and employees . - The 37th and 38th Daytime Emmy Awards ceremonies were held in the Hiltons theater in 2010 and 2011 . Film . - The 1970 documentary primarily covers several of Presleys concerts at the hotel . - In the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever , the hotels exterior is depicted as the Whyte House casino . - Over the Top , a 1987 Sylvester Stallone drama , depicts an arm wrestling tournament at the Hilton , incorporating footage from an actual tournament that was held there . - The Hilton appears in the 1993 film Indecent Proposal as the hotel where Robert Redford stays and makes the titular proposition to Demi Moore . Sporting events . Boxing . The hotel has a history as a prominent professional boxing venue . In 1969 , the showroom hosted the first major boxing match held at a Las Vegas hotel , Sonny Liston vs . Leotis Martin ( previous fights had been held at the Convention Center ) . The Hilton Pavilion was the site in 1978 of Leon Spinkss victory over Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight championship , which is remembered as one of the biggest upsets in the sports history . The hotel then took a seven-year hiatus from hosting boxing matches . In 1985 , Donald Curry defeated Milton McCrory at the Hilton Center to unify and become the undisputed welterweight champion . The success of the Curry–McCrory fight led the Hilton to begin pursuing more major matches , to challenge Caesars Palace as the premier boxing venue in Las Vegas . The hotel struck a deal to host several fights in the heavyweight unification series , a tournament to establish an undisputed heavyweight champion . A 14,600-seat outdoor arena was temporarily erected in the Hiltons parking lot for some of the fights . The series culminated in Mike Tysons defeat of Tony Tucker at the Hilton Center in 1987 to unify and become the undisputed champion . By 1995 , the Hilton had reportedly backed away from seeking to host the biggest fights , because of escalating costs . The hotel hosted no boxing matches between 2002 and 2008 ; since then , it has occasionally hosted minor fights . Other sports . The Hilton Pavilion hosted two nationally televised tennis events in 1978 : the WCT Tournament of Champions and the World Team Tennis All-Star Match . The hotel was the venue for Evo 2014 , a major competitive video gaming tournament .