Las vegas is more than slot machines and roulette wheels | members only

Celine Dion's residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace gave Las Vegas' entertainment scene a big boost. Denise Truscello/WireImage DON’T MISS THE SUPERSTARS Las Vegas has

always been about big-name entertainment. Literally. Performers’ monikers are emblazoned in gigantic letters on marquees. But it was Cirque du Soleil and Celine Dion who propelled the

entertainment scene forward. Dion planted herself in Vegas from 2011 to 2019, while in the prime of her career. Caesars Palace even built her a custom 4,000-plus-seat venue. “The reason the

residency business works so well in Las Vegas is because of the number of times the city turns over on a weekly basis,” says Bobby Reynolds, senior vice president of promoter AEG Presents

Las Vegas. Now artists of all ages and genres enjoy successful Vegas residencies, including U2, who last year opened Sphere — a one-of-a-kind concert venue in a giant orb covered inside

and out with LED light screens.  AREA15 is an immersive entertainment venue offering art shows, virtual-reality experiences, axe throwing and a flight simulator. Courtesy AREA15 EXPERIENCE

SENSORY OVERLOAD In addition to concerts by the world’s biggest bands, Sphere offers guests other experiences, such as director Darren Aronofsky’s _Postcard From Earth_, an immersive film

that takes audiences on a voyage spanning all seven continents. That’s not the only immersive experience in town. At the entertainment venue AREA 15, head for Omega Mart, a permanent

exhibition that looks like a supermarket at first glance, but surprises exist around every aisle. Pop through a fridge door to enter passageways, and follow clues to solve a mystery. Or

visit Illuminarium, with corridors covered in moving images. Depending on the show, you’ll come face-to-face with animals or walk on the moon.  Others include Flyover, an experience creating

the sensation of flying over spectacular landscapes, and Arte Museum, where you’ll encounter gardens and crashing waves. In November 2023, Las Vegas hosted its first Formula 1 race in more

than four decades. Los Angeles Times/Getty Images TAKE IN A GAME For decades, major sports leagues shunned the city because of concerns over sports betting. In 2003, the NFL rejected a

Super Bowl ad from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) to avoid linking itself to gambling. All that has changed. As legal sports betting has spread across the nation in

recent years — to the point that leagues have partnerships with gambling websites — Vegas no longer holds some poisonous distinction. And pro teams have flocked here. Now you can attend

home games of the Vegas Golden Knights (hockey), Las Vegas Aces (women’s basketball), Las Vegas Raiders (football) and, anticipated in 2028, the A’s (baseball). The NFL even staged the Super

Bowl, America’s ultimate sporting event, here for the first time earlier this year, and a Formula 1 auto race late last year. “The last few months have been a whirlwind for the city,” says

Kate Wik, chief marketing officer for the LVCVA.