DESERT DEGENS WEEKLY BRIEF • JUNE 25, 2026
This Week in Vegas: Is Sphere Bigger Than Concerts?
Vegas had another week that showed how much the city is changing beyond the casino floor. Sphere announced Rocky Horror for 2027 after The Wizard of Oz cleared $400 million, a new dual-brand Marriott broke ground across from the Las Vegas Convention Center, and Nevada is still fighting prediction-market operators in court.
The big question this week: is Vegas just booking bigger events, or building a whole new version of itself?
TL;DR (60-Second Version)
Rocky Horror is coming to Sphere — The Rocky Horror Picture Show will become the next immersive Sphere Experience in 2027.
Wizard of Oz is a monster hit — Sphere said The Wizard of Oz has cleared $400 million in revenue and 3 million tickets sold since its August 2025 debut.
LVCC gets more hotel supply — Mortenson broke ground on a 397-room AC Hotel + Residence Inn by Marriott across from the Convention Center.
Convention demand is the bet — LVCVA projects 1.23 million LVCC attendees in 2026, up from 1.06 million in 2025.
More Vegas notes — Nevada is pushing back against prediction markets, MGM Grand is adding new magic shows, and Nevada was named the fastest-growing state over the last 55 years.
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Sphere Turns Movies Into a Money Machine
Sphere announced The Rocky Horror Picture Show will be its next immersive Sphere Experience, opening in 2027.
The bigger number: The Wizard of Oz has now cleared $400 million in revenue and 3 million tickets sold since debuting in August 2025.
That matters because Sphere is proving it can make serious money beyond concerts and residencies. If Experience films keep working, Sphere becomes more than a venue — it becomes a year-round trip-planning attraction.
A New Marriott Is Coming to the LVCC Corridor
Mortenson broke ground on a dual-brand AC Hotel + Residence Inn by Marriott at 2989 Paradise Road, directly across from the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The project is 397 rooms and about 233,330 square feet, built for convention travelers who want to stay near the show floor instead of commuting from the Strip.
With LVCVA projecting 1.23 million LVCC attendees in 2026, this is a clear bet on business travel and convention demand.
More Vegas News This Week
A new study named Nevada the fastest-growing state in America from 1970 to 2025, with population up 572% over 55 years.
MGM Grand also had a busy magic week: Steve Falcon’s Comedy Hypnosis Hour is debuting at the Underground Theater, while Now You See Me Live is set to replace David Copperfield’s longtime slot at MGM Grand Theater.
The takeaway: Vegas is still building, still booking, and still reinventing what counts as entertainment.
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