Elevation changing for fireworks show - News

PRINT THIS Popular

Dec. 17, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Elevation changing for fireworks show

By ALAN CHOATE *
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

This year's New Year's Eve theme for "America's Party," as organizers have dubbed Las Vegas' celebration, is "Takin' It to the Streets."

And they mean it literally.

Most Popular Stories

Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer

FATAL SHOOTING: Police again mourn comrade

NORM: Biden finds rank has its privileges

U.S. HIGHWAY 95 CRASH: Longtime LV officer mourned

Two suspects in officer's slaying could face death penalty

Corrections officer dies in collision on U.S. 95

Two of three suspects in slaying of officer could face death penalty

DEADLY HOME INVASION: Police suspect link to family

NORM: At last, Ripa gets her wedding cake

ANOTHER SOMBER DAY: Fourth officer in short span dies

Because of a regulatory change sparked by a fire at the Monte Carlo resort earlier this year, the massive New Year's fireworks show will be launched from parking lots and parking garages, not the roofs of towering casino-resorts on the Strip.

"The issue with us changing the location was the new regulations that were put on firing the show from the rooftops," said Michael Mack, director of marketing for Las Vegas Events.

In January, workers using a torch to cut corrugated steel started a fire on the roof of the Monte Carlo resort that ignited a type of decorative foam found on several other Strip casinos.

The fire forced the evacuation of the hotel's guests and damaged rooms on the hotel's top five floors.

Clark County officials "took another look at our policies and procedures to make sure everything was as it should be," county spokesman Dan Kulin said.

That resulted in a new rule: "To have a fireworks launching site on a rooftop, they would have to hire a fire safety engineering firm to inspect the area," he said. "It still is allowed. There's just another step that they have to take."

Event organizers did not mention the regulatory change at an event announcing New Year's Eve plans Tuesday. Instead, they played up the fact that the fireworks will be closer to the audience.

"If you're on the Strip in the right locations, you're going to get a much better view of the individual fireworks than you have in the past," said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events.

Felix J. Grucci, vice president and chief financial officer of Fireworks by Grucci, put it this way: "When they're on top of the roofs, they're spectacular and it's a wonderful panoramic view. ... But this year we said, 'Maybe it's time we brought the fireworks closer to the people so that we can make it part of the Strip, part of where the action is happening.'"

Viewing locations have been mapped out for the launch locations, which are the Mandalay Bay convention center lot, the Luxor's parking lot, the parking garages at the MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, the Stratosphere and Treasure Island, and the Gold parking lot at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

And there will be a fireworks show under the canopy of the Fremont Street Experience downtown.

About 250,000 people are expected to ring in the New Year on the Strip, with another 30,000 flocking to Fremont Street's stages and light shows.

"People are yearning for the opportunity to escape and to have a fantasy, and what better place to come to than Las Vegas, and what better time than New Year's Eve?" Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said.

"I believe that this is going to be the start of a great year for Las Vegas. I believe that this is going to be the start of a comeback, as far as our economy is concerned," he said.

Vince Alberta of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority ticked off a list of entertainers lined up for New Year's Eve, including Kid Rock, Pink, Stone Temple Pilots, Carmen Electra, Usher, New Kids on the Block, the Kardashian sisters and Fergie.

There will be motorcycle stunts too: Robbie Knievel is set to attempt to jump the refurbished volcano at The Mirage, and Robbie Maddison will try to land his bike on top of the 96-foot-high L'Arc de Triomphe replica at Paris Las Vegas.

At the Rio, motor sports star Rhys Millen will try to be the first person to back flip a trophy truck, a goal that was derailed last year by a training injury.

The Fremont Street Experience is featuring a host of tribute groups on New Year's Eve, including acts dedicated to the music of the Eagles, Billy Joel, David Bowie, KISS, Queen, the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith.

Admission is free for people 21 and older with a valid Nevada ID. Otherwise, tickets are $20.

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.

Share & Save

Leave Your Comment	9 Reader Comments
Terms & Conditions The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor. Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Vegas Vic wrote on December 30, 2008 04:08 AM: I wonder what difference the new regulations will make on the appearance of the fireworks from Henderson? I usually visit my parents on New Year's Eve and then drive over to a street that has a bird's eye view of the Strip hotels to take photos of the fireworks displays. I NEVER go near the Strip and the "million drunk march" that occurs there. I prefer to remain where I won't get puked on by some drunken partier who can't hold his/her liquor. Jane Avenue wrote on December 29, 2008 10:05 PM: Champion Drifter Releases New DVD On Eve of Historic Stunt Drifting World Champion Rhys Millen to Release Special Edition DVD to Coincide With Highly Anticipated New Years Eve Truck Backflip Stunt FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Press Release) – Dec 29, 2008 – Los Angeles, Calif. -- On the eve of his second attempt to become the first person to complete and land a backflip in an off-road truck, motorsports phenom and professional stunt driver Rhys Millen, winner of the 2005 Formula D Championship and the 2008 Red Bull Drifting World Championship will release the Special Edition DVD Mad Skills: Rhys Millen Is the Kiwi Drifter. A documentary chronicling the final week leading up to Millen’s 2005 victory in the early days of professional drifting in the US, the film explores the personalities, friendships and competitive rivalries between Millen and top drivers Tanner Foust and Samuel Hubinette. Featuring appearances by Rhys’ father, legendary stock car driver Rod Millen, KTLA reporter Gayle Anderson and an All-Star lineup of professional drifters from across the globe, the film is a must-own for any action sports enthusiast. “I encourage all my fans to get a copy of my new DVD Mad Skills. It’s great to see the GTO in action and the behind scenes drama that led up to my Formula Drift championship” said Millen. Mad Skills is produced by NoCo Media Group and directed by award winning filmmaker Carolyn Coal. For more information and to order a copy of the DVD visit www.madskillsdvd.com BUZZLYTYEAR wrote on December 17, 2008 12:20 PM: SORRY KEN, TEND TO GET SLOPPY WITH THE SPELLING AND GRAMMER WHEN DEALING WITH "TARDS" LIKE FRED...I WILL WORK ON IT TEACH. Ken wrote on December 17, 2008 10:13 AM: Buzz -- read this sentence you wrote and tell the class what is wrong with it. "YOUR A COMPLETE MORON!" Doctor, heal thyself. IRENE wrote on December 17, 2008 10:03 AM: I have lived in Las Vegas for enough years to understand why it is nesecary to do this. I just wonder why it took so long? Lets just see what happens this year. BUZZLYTYEAR wrote on December 17, 2008 09:20 AM: YOUR RIGHT FRED, FIRE CODES ARE A WASTE OF TIME, IN FACT FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. WHAT COULD BE MORE OF A CROUD PLEASER THAN THE TOP FLOORS OF A SKY SCRAPER ON FIRE? DEATH AND DISTRUCTION..NOW THATS THE WAY TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR RIGHT FRED? YOUR A COMPLETE MORON! The Real Reason... wrote on December 17, 2008 09:09 AM: Is they want to bring revenue to the strip, face it now the only way to check out the show is to drive down there.. You get there early with nothing to do for a few hours so to kill time you burn your money on the slots and buying overpriced drinks. You couldnt drag me down there with a gun held to my head. I just dont see the fun in being around a bunch of drunk, immature and rowdy tourist with huge chips their shoulders who cant handle their liquor. Nope I think I will stay home with the wife, keep my money in my pocket and invite some friends over for a BBQ, cheers! Fair and Balanced Fred wrote on December 17, 2008 08:07 AM: Oh the horrors of regulation so often decried by the R-J editors: "'To have a fireworks launching site on a rooftop, they would have to hire a fire safety engineering firm to inspect the area.' 'It still is allowed. There's just another step that they have to take.'" Like the R-J, I, for one, am so tired of the nanny state and its fire safety engineering firm puppets. Let's face it: if you stay in a hotel there is a possibility of a fire. As a matter of fact, I'm sick of paying the fire departments around town that make a disproportionate number of calls to the hotels and blah, blah, blah, nanny state blah. So, where does the "nanny state" end and good common sense begin, eh R-J? Boycott Las Vegas!!! wrote on December 17, 2008 04:03 AM: That's the Last Straw! Shootin em off the ground? Are you kiddin me? You won't even be able to see them when they explode. How are we supposed to enjoy the Fireworks with all those Billboards and Stop Signs in the Way?? Those County Officials have DESTROYED our New Years plans. Now we have to go looking up in the sky, instead of our normal looking WAY up in the sky. That ain't no fun. It's kinda like going half-mast on a flag instead of way up at the TOP. I will protest this decision by staying home and lightin off a few books of matches. We might even let the Goat loose and scare the kitty some more. See you on Route 160 in Pahrump. Have a horrible New Year. You bunch of CRY BABY'S.