The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas burst onto the Strip on December 15, 2010, a $3.9 billion marvel that redefined luxury gaming with a daring, urban-chic twist, standing tall at 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard in Paradise, Nevada. Conceived by developer Ian Bruce Eichner and backed by Deutsche Bank, this 8.7-acre resort rose from the ashes of a failed condo-hotel dream, its two 50-story towers—Boulevard and Chelsea—housing 3,027 rooms with private terraces overlooking the glittering chaos of Sin City. Unlike the themed giants of Vegas’s past, The Cosmopolitan embraced a cosmopolitan ethos, blending sleek design with a 100,000-square-foot casino that hums with 1,500 slot machines and 83 table games, from blackjack to baccarat. Opening amid the Great Recession, it defied odds, drawing 5 million visitors in its first year with a three-story Chandelier bar dripping with 2 million crystals and a rooftop Marquee Nightclub that pulsed with 2,500 revelers nightly. Now operated by MGM Resorts International after a $1.625 billion acquisition from Blackstone in 2022, it generates $1.2 billion annually, cementing its status as a legendary casino in the Americas. Its vertical layout—casino below, pools and nightlife above—offers a fresh take on Vegas excess, a beacon for a younger, style-savvy crowd seeking more than just a roll of the dice.
The Cosmopolitan’s allure lies in its fusion of sophistication and rebellion, a resort that dares to be different in a city of imitation. Its 26 dining options, from Momofuku’s bold Asian fusion to STK’s modern steakhouse vibes, serve 4 million meals yearly, while 110,000 square feet of retail—think Gucci and Cartier—rake in $120 million. The Chelsea theater, a 3,200-seat venue, has hosted icons like Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, pulling 500,000 fans annually, while three distinct pool decks—Boulevard, Marquee, and Bamboo—offer 8 acres of aquatic escape, drawing 1 million swimmers. Employing 6,000, it pumps $350 million in wages into Nevada, its $250 million in taxes a lifeline for Clark County. The 2018 tower renovation, a $100 million glow-up with LED-lit façades, and the 2023 integration into MGM Rewards boosted its draw—6 million visitors now flock yearly, 30% from abroad. Once a financial underdog, it turned its first profit in 2015 under Blackstone, a turnaround tale of grit and glamour. For the Americas and beyond, The Cosmopolitan stands as a testament to reinvention, a luxurious outlier that thrives by breaking Vegas’s mold.
The Cornerstones of The Cosmopolitan’s Legendary Appeal
The Cosmopolitan’s rise to iconic status rests on a blend of innovative design, eclectic offerings, and a vibe that captures the pulse of modern Las Vegas. Here are the key elements that define its prestige:
- Architectural Innovation: Two 50-story towers—Boulevard and Chelsea—rise 600 feet, their vertical layout stacking 100,000 square feet of gaming below 3,027 rooms with 6-foot terraces, a first for Strip hotels.
- Gaming Modernity: A 100,000-square-foot casino offers 1,500 slots—penny spinners to $1,000 jackpots—and 83 tables, plus cabanas with private gaming, pulling $400 million yearly.
- Culinary Diversity: Twenty-six eateries, including Blue Ribbon Sushi and Wicked Spoon’s buffet, serve 4 million meals, with $150 million in revenue from 10,000 daily diners.
- Nightlife Prowess: The Marquee Nightclub, atop the Boulevard Tower, hosts 2,500 nightly, while The Chandelier’s 2 million crystals frame three floors of cocktails, adding $50 million annually.
- Cultural Cachet: The Chelsea’s 3,200 seats draw 500,000 for acts like Adele, while 110,000 square feet of retail and a Sahra Spa with 43 rooms net $150 million combined.
These cornerstones make The Cosmopolitan a standout. The casino floor, sleek and open, buzzes with 50,000 bets daily—slots dominate at 70% of play—while the Marquee’s 60,000-square-foot sprawl, with its poolside dayclub, pulls $30 million in summer alone. The 2010 debut’s $3.9 billion price tag dwarfed peers, yet its 6 million annual visitors—1.8 million international—spend $700 million on gaming and dining, a testament to its draw. From Wicked Spoon’s 1 million buffet-goers to STK’s 500,000 steak lovers, it’s a foodie haven; the spa’s $20 million haul pampers 40,000 guests. A magnet for the Americas’ trendsetters, it’s Vegas reimagined—bold, vertical, and unapologetic.
The Cosmopolitan by the Numbers
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening Date | December 15, 2010 |
| Casino Floor Size | 100,000 square feet |
| Total Rooms | 3,027 across two towers |
| Annual Revenue | $1.2 billion |
| Slot Machines | 1,500+ |
| Table Games | 83 |
| Restaurants | 26 |
| Annual Visitors | 6 million |
| Construction Cost | $3.9 billion |
The Cosmopolitan’s Evolution and Global Resonance
The Cosmopolitan’s saga began in 2004, when Ian Bruce Eichner’s 3700 Associates—backed by David Friedman and Soros Fund Management—snagged an 8.7-acre U-shaped plot hugging the Jockey Club for $90 million, dreaming of a condo-hotel hybrid. Ground broke in October 2005, with Arquitectonica’s sleek towers rising beside CityCenter, but by 2008, the $1.8 billion plan crumbled—Eichner defaulted on a Deutsche Bank loan amid the recession, and the bank seized it, sinking $3.9 billion into completion by 2010. Opening night dazzled 10,000 with $10 million in bets—slots spun $6 million, tables $4 million—and a Chandelier bar that cost $20 million alone. The 2014 sale to Blackstone for $1.7 billion sparked a $200 million overhaul—casino floor tweaks, new eateries like Momofuku—turning a 2015 profit after years of red ink. MGM’s 2022 $1.625 billion buyout, with Blackstone retaining real estate alongside Cherng Family Trust and Stonepeak, fused it into MGM Rewards by 2023, boosting loyalty play 20%. Today, 6 million visitors—30% overseas—spend $700 million on gaming, $500 million on extras, a $1.2 billion juggernaut.
The Cosmopolitan’s influence reshaped the Strip. Its 100,000-square-foot casino, once mocked for its second-floor perch, set a trend—ARIA and Resorts World followed with elevated gaming. Slots and tables churn $400 million yearly—70% from 1,500 machines—while Marquee’s 2,500 nightly revelers and $50 million haul inspired Vegas’s rooftop boom. Dining’s 26 venues, from Scarpetta’s Italian to Superfrico’s psychedelic flair, serve 4 million meals—Wicked Spoon’s 1 million buffet-goers, STK’s $25 million in steaks—outpacing peers. The Chelsea’s 500,000 fans yearly—Bruno Mars to Adele—net $40 million; retail’s 110,000 square feet, with $120 million in sales, draw 2 million shoppers. Jobs—6,000 strong—fuel $350 million in wages, $250 million in taxes for Nevada, echoing from Sun City’s sprawl to Crown’s luxe. The 2018 $100 million tower upgrade—LED façades, in-room iPads—lifted occupancy to 85%; 2024’s F1 tie-in, with $15 million in suites, rippled globally.
The Cosmopolitan adapts with flair. The 2020 COVID closure slashed revenue 60%, but 2021’s rebound hit 85% occupancy—$200-$450 rooms—while 2022’s Superfrico debut added $10 million in dining. The 2023 pool deck revamp—8 acres, three vibes—drew 1 million swimmers, $20 million in cabana sales; the spa’s 43 rooms, at $150 a session, net $20 million for 40,000 guests. Gaming evolves—2022’s 200 new slots boosted play 10%, $15 million more; Marquee’s summer dayclub pulls $30 million. Sustainability nods—2024’s 15% energy cut, 50 million gallons saved—meet excess: $5 million in caviar, 10,000 daily meals. The 2025 plan—a $50 million Chelsea expansion—eyes 500 more seats, $10 million in tickets. From 2010’s 3,027 rooms to 6 million visitors, from $3.9 billion to $1.2 billion yearly, it’s a Vegas phoenix.
Here’s what keeps it legendary:
- Vertical Vision: Towers stack gaming, living, and leisure, a Strip first.
- Dining Dominance: Twenty-six eateries outshine rivals in variety.
- Nightlife Nexus: Marquee and Chandelier redefine Vegas after-dark.
- Cultural Core: Chelsea and art tie luxury to creativity.
The Cosmopolitan’s journey is reinvention writ large. The 2008 bust—Eichner’s $1 billion loss—birthed a $3.9 billion gamble that paid off; Blackstone’s $200 million fix flipped losses to gains by 2015. Competition—Bellagio’s fountains, Venetian’s canals—spurred innovation; it holds 10% of Strip gaming share. The 2022 MGM shift added 500,000 loyalty players; 2024’s F1 buzz—$15 million—hints at more. From a 2004 plot to a 2025 titan, it’s a global echo of the Americas’ casino might.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas shines as a star in “Legendary Casinos of the Americas and Beyond,” its $3.9 billion debut in 2010 forging a legacy of bold luxury across 3,027 rooms, 6 million visitors, and $1.2 billion yearly. From a recession-born underdog to a Strip trailblazer—$700 million in gaming, $250 million in taxes—it melds urban chic with Vegas flair, a testament to resilience and reinvention. For the Americas and beyond, it’s a dazzling outlier, proving casinos can thrive by daring to defy the odds.