Fremont Street Experience Canopy Getting An Upgrade

LAS VEGAS, NV - A $32.8 million improvement project for Fremont Street Experience was approved by Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday. The project will upgrade the LED canopy to "give the content library a complete overhaul and elevate the overall visitor experience," the city said.

According to the city, the upgrades will make the canopy seven times brighter and sharpen the resolution by up to four times, and include "visitor interactivity and social media engagement."

A 2016 study conducted by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority indicated a sharp increase in tourists visiting Downtown Las Vegas. In 2015, 32 percent of tourists went Downtown. One year later, in 2016, that number was up to 53 percent. Of those visitors, 59 percent said they went Downtown to see the Fremont Street Experience canopy.

"The canopy is the spine of Downtown visitation," Fremont Street Experience CEO Patrick Hughes said. Hughes said the project will be completed gradually so visitors can still enjoy the canopy. The project is expected to be completed in June 2019.

The $32.8 million cost will be paid by multiple sources. A grant from the LVCVA will cover $9.5 million of the project. The Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency will contribute $10.7 million. The Fremont Street Experience will cover the remaining $12.6 million - $1 million in cash and $11.6 million financed by the city's RDA over a 10-year bond.

Image via Lucas Thomas/Patch