Posted on: September 27, 2023, 03:38h.
Last updated on: September 27, 2023, 03:38h.
A major Las Vegas race, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, is just 50 days away. However, Gilley’s, a popular saloon at Treasure Island, has been temporarily closed by the Southern Nevada Health District due to an “imminent health hazard.” This closure comes at an unfortunate time for Gilley’s, as it is located only 30 feet from the racetrack and has likely paid a substantial fee to be a licensed race venue.
The closure was a result of health officials observing food being prepared in the kitchen while construction was underway. The saloon will be allowed to reopen once corrective action has been taken, but this process is not immediate. Despite the closure, Gilley’s is still promoting a three-night viewing package for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Priced at $2,500, the package includes VIP credentials, reserved table or bar seating, food stations, free drinks, and private restroom access from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on November 16-18.
An Expensive Mistake
Initially, F1 was selling Grand Prix licenses to restaurants and bars along the racetrack for $1,500 per head based on maximum fire-code occupancy. With a reported capacity of 1,050, Gilley’s fee would have exceeded $1.5 million. However, F1 later lowered the licensing cost to a flat fee of around $50,000 per venue under pressure from casino and nightclub owners. If Gilley’s fails to rectify this issue in time, it could still be the costliest closure in the franchise’s history.
A Brief History of Gilley’s
Gilley’s originally opened in Pasadena, Texas in 1971 by country singer Mickey Gilley and entrepreneur Sherwood Cryer. It gained global recognition as the iconic setting for the 1980 movie “Urban Cowboy” starring John Travolta. The saloon closed in 1989 due to a falling-out between Gilley and Cryer.
However, in 2007, casino owner Phil Ruffin revived the Gilley’s brand at the New Frontier Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, complete with the famous mechanical bull. When the New Frontier closed in 2007, Gilley’s shut down as well. Nevertheless, Ruffin brought back Gilley’s in 2010 at Treasure Island, where it remains today after Ruffin purchased the property from MGM.