LAS VEGAS — Seven months after opening to great fanfare in April (including a PLSN cover story in June), Palms Casino owner Red Rock Resorts announced the closure of KAOS, one of the most ambitious nightclub/dayclubs ever launched in Las Vegas.
Although there were indications that not all was going to plan — including the early termination of DJ Marshmello’s reported two-year, $60 million contract — the abrupt closure on Nov. 5 still took many by surprise. The club had just reopened on Halloween following a two-week closure to install an all-weather dome.
“The expense side of the business has been challenging to date, due in large part to the entertainment and fixed cost structure associated with KAOS,” said Michael Britt, senior vice president of government relations and corporate communications at Red Rock Resorts Inc., in a statement.
Along with Marshmello, other top artists had performed at the club, including J Balvin, G-Eazy and Cardi B during the April grand opening festivities. (Cardi B returned on Halloween to keep the party going under the venue’s new dome.)
In a Q&A with PLSN for the June cover story, LD Steve Liebermann described KAOS as “one of the most ambitious projects we’ve ever worked on.” The sprawling club was comprised of a 73,000-square-foot day club that could accommodate 4,000 guests and 29,000-square foot, 2,200-capacity nightclub, with one-of-a-kind features including mirror ball Tesla coil elements and a 60-foot-tall headless Damian Hirst sculpture, Demon with Bowl along with a seamless interplay of lighting, video and special effects.
While serving as the centerpiece of the reported $690 million spent renovating the property that was purchased for $313 million in 2016, KAOS’ amenities will still be put to use for private events and hotel guests.
In addition to The Palms, Red Rock Resorts is parent company to Station Casinos, which operates 10 casinos in the Las Vegas area. The company also owns two Fiesta Casinos and eight smaller Wildfire Gaming locations along with the Graton Casino in Rohnert Park, CA.
