page_title: The Mirage
section_title: Early years
hierarchical_section_title: The Mirage / History / Early years
caption_attribution_description: English: A white tiger at The Mirage hotel habitat in Las Vegas.
context_page_description: The Mirage is a 3,044 room Polynesian-themed casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The resort was built by developer Steve Wynn and is currently owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.
  The original marquee sign in front of the Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world. The resort is connected by a free tram to the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino neighboring the hotel's property to the north.
context_section_description: The Mirage, initially scheduled for an opening in early December 1989, was opened early on November 22, 1989. At the time of its opening, The Mirage was the largest hotel in the world, with 3,044 rooms. The hotel tower, standing 29 stories, was built out in a Y-shape design, a concept that was later copied by Las Vegas' Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, and Mandalay Bay resorts. The hotel's top five floors were used exclusively for high roller rooms and penthouse suites. The Mirage was the first new resort to be built on the Las Vegas Strip in 16 years, after the completion of the MGM Grand in 1973. When it opened, The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games.
  Starting in February 1990, The Mirage was the venue for the Siegfried & Roy show, held in the resort's 1,500-seat showroom. The two headliners combined magic and the use of wild animals. The show closed in 2003 after performer Roy Horn was critically injured by Montecore, one of the 650-pound white tigers used in the show.
  In 1993, The Mirage hosted an extended run of the Cirque du Soleil show Nouvelle Expérience in a tent in The Mirage parking lot. It was during this time that Steve Wynn decided to invite Cirque to create Mystère for the soon-to-be-built Treasure Island resort next door.  Finally returning to where they began in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil has a permanent production at The Mirage, Love.
  As of 1999, The Mirage had 6,000 employees. At the time, Wynn was investing $100 million into the resort to build two theaters and to add 130,000 sq ft (12,000 m²) of convention space. On March 7, 2000, MGM Grand Inc. acquired Wynn's company, Mirage Resorts, for $4.4 billion.
  In March 2000, Danny Gans started performing at the resort. Prior to that time, Gans performed at the Rio Hotel and Casino.  Gans took over the marquee in 2004, becoming the resort's main entertainment attraction. In December 2006, the Beatles-themed REVOLUTION ultra-lounge opened. It was the first time Cirque du Soleil was involved in the development of a nightlife venue, operated by The Light Group.
caption: A white tiger in the Mirage habitat.
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