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Workers at the Mirage Hotel and Casino will receive more than $80million in severance pay when the legendary casino closes its doors in July this year.
The iconic hotel, which opened in 1989, is shutting down after over three decades as a Las Vegas strip hallmark.
Opened by Steve Wynn, the Mirage has become an infamous destination for Vegas visitors thanks to its volcano feature and staggering 3,000 rooms. It will close for three years in which all ‘Mirage’ branding will be removed before a planned reopening in 2027 as Hard Rock Las Vegas.
With a ratio of more or less one worker per room, The Hard Rock will lay off more than 3,000 workers from July, and shell out over $80million in severance pay.
Over half of the Mirage’s current staff are represented by The Culinary Workers Union. In a statement, the union said those affected will cash in on $2,000 for every year they have been employed at the Vegas institution, plus around six months of pension and health benefits.
Moreover, the jackpot is sweetened for unionized workers who are entitled to priority access to any jobs when Hard Rock Las Vegas opens in 36 months.
They will also have access to free job training, indicating an opportunity to reskill into a new role when the 700-hundred-foot, guitar-shaped building reopens.
Culinary Union says it will also “host multiple Rapid Response events for The Mirage workers at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas to connect workers to unemployment, job fairs, union benefits, and other resources.”
“We look forward to the beginning of an exciting journey into a new era as Hard Rock Las Vegas will ignite the Strip with entertainment, innovation and world-class hospitality,” the Mirage has stated on its Facebook page.
Hard Rock International earlier acquired the Mirage from MGM Resorts in 2022 in a deal worth over $1billion.
