by Danelle Dodds
Have you ever wanted to ride a spaceship? While the question is a little dramatic, once you’ve been transported in the LVCC Vegas Loop, it’s easy to see why this description is fitting.
The Loop is the brainchild of The Boring Company. They have long held a goal of helping transform cities through rapid point-to-point transportation. The LVCC Loop is its first application of this vision.
A short description of the Loop is that it is a zero-emissions, all-electric, underground public transport system. It is a tunnel traversed by Teslas, which provide a quick and convenient connection of Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall to the North, Central, and South Halls.
A longer answer would be to say that – much like everything in Las Vegas – it is an experience.
Guests will know they’re in for something special the moment they glide down in elevator to the ground below. Unlike the stagnant, exhaust-filled tour bus lobbies the average convention attendee is familiar with, the LVCC Loop offers a very different environment. There, guests will be welcomed into a slick and ultra-modern vestibule. The cool, underground transportation lobby is awash in a neon glow, feeling more like the foyer of a nightclub than a vehicle station. A waiting fleet of sleek and silent Teslas stand at the ready.
Vehicle sizing is currently capped at no more than three guests, though larger vehicles are planned for the future. The intimacy of the cars adds to the futuristic take-away. If you’ve ever ridden Space Mountain, traveling via the Loop will feel a little nostalgic. While your travel speeds won’t top more than 35 miles per hour, the ride will certainly feel like a launch. In true minimalistic fashion, the neon walls don’t sprawl but instead hug close to the sides of your vehicle. The resulting effect feels like you’re travelling at light speed. It’s night and day when compared to mass transit on an oversized bus.
This experience, which is fascinating, is actually provided as a convenience for convention attendees at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The behemoth of a campus can require many, many steps to get to your location. What would normally take up to 25 minutes to traverse on foot, the Tesla trip trims to only minutes. In fact, before you know it, you’re exiting the tunnel topside and reaching your destination.
And until just recently, this exceptional mode of travel only connected the Halls noted above. However, the long-awaited Loop’s 4th stop was just opened. The highly anticipated Resorts World Las Vegas station is the first of the projected 55 stops to be open and operational.
It’s almost symbolic that Resorts World Las Vegas is the first to open, considering that it is home to some of the city’s most futuristic technology. Known for its advancements in cashless gaming, digital check-in, and one of the most stunning LED displays in the valley, it seems an obvious choice for this sophisticated travel system.
The station opening is a huge and welcomed development, as this is the first time that a major resort is connected via the tunnel. It is the domino that will usher in the Vegas Loop. It will eventually encompass a 29-mile city-wide loop connecting the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Strip, Harry Reid International Airport, Allegiant Stadium, and Downtown.
“Today marks a monumental moment not only for our resort, but for Las Vegas,” said Scott Sibella, president of Resorts World Las Vegas. “Our passenger station will make a visit to our resort from the Las Vegas Convention Center easier than ever, and eventually connect us to key destinations throughout the city. Resorts World Las Vegas strives to transform the way people experience Las Vegas, and this offering does just that. We are proud to partner with The Boring Company on what we believe to be the future of travel.”
The Resorts World Las Vegas stop marks an exciting new chapter in the story of futuristic travel for Las Vegas convention attendees and locals alike. The promise of smooth sailing with a low carbon footprint will offer guests the ability to travel the city with ease. The added benefit of a neon, stylized environment is what makes the experience truly Las Vegas
