Mandalay Bay is a 43-story luxury resort and casino at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.

Other features include a House of Blues club, the Shark Reef aquatic attraction, and an events center known as Michelob Ultra Arena.

In 2017, gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire from the hotel's 32nd floor, killing 60 people in attendance at an outdoor music festival nearby.

Mandalay Bay was built on the former site of the Hacienda hotel and casino at the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip.

[3][4] Details about its replacement were unveiled on the same day; the tropical-themed resort, now known under the working title "Project Paradise", had an estimated budget of $800 million to $1 billion, with completion expected by the end of 1998.

[24] The company expected to spend more than $10 million on a print and television advertising campaign in the months leading up to the resort's opening.

[26][27][28] Grand opening festivities included the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi, and John Goodman) leading a procession of 200 motorcycles to Mandalay Bay's front doors.

[31] In 2002, Mandalay Bay sought approval from the U.S. and Chinese governments to import two panda bears for exhibit at the resort.

[32][33][34] The property would build a glass-domed structure for the animals, next to the resort's Shark Reef aquatic attraction and away from the casino floor.

[41] In 2006, Mandalay Bay was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice over complaints that the resort failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

[46][47] In January 2020, Mandalay Bay was named the pre- and post-game venue for the Las Vegas Raiders, a football team which plays at the Allegiant Stadium directly west of the resort.

[63] Resort security was increased as a result of the shooting,[61][64] while MGM announced that it had no plans to rent Paddock's suite out to future guests.

[67][68] Numerous lawsuits were filed against MGM by the shooting survivors, alleging inadequate preventative measures at Mandalay Bay.

[45][61] When it opened, the resort included the Treasures of Mandalay Bay Museum, which had a rare currencies exhibit worth more than $40 million.

[129][128] The Las Vegas Aureole was designed by Adam Tihany and included a four-story wine tower made of glass and steel.

[136] Retro features a 1980s and 1990s theme,[137] and Aureole's wine tower was retained, serving as an exhibit space for various pop culture items.

[100] The entrance to another restaurant, China Grill, featured a moat and working drawbridge, which could be lifted to provide privacy for reserved parties.

[45] Two decades after Mandalay Bay's opening, four of its original restaurants remained in operation, including Aureole, Lupo, and Border Grill.

[175] Mandalay Bay opened with a House of Blues music venue and restaurant, marking the chain's seventh location.

[186] House of Blues also operates the Foundation Room, an upscale private bar and dining club on the hotel's top floor.

[28][93][176] In 2014, MGM agreed to pay a $500,000 fine after undercover police officers, during a sting operation, were provided with drugs and prostitutes at the Foundation Room by its employees.

[221][222] The resort includes an 11-acre pool area known as Mandalay Bay Beach,[223] which features 2,700 tons of sand imported from California.

[126] The pool area also features a lazy river,[225] and includes a stage for summer concerts, a stable since the resort's opening.

[139] In 2013, The Light Group took over a 50,000 sq ft (4,600 m2) area of the pool space and converted it into a dayclub and nightclub, known as Daylight Beach Club and Eclipse respectively.

[232][233] A production of the classic Broadway musical Chicago debuted at Mandalay Bay's 1999 grand opening and ran for one year.

[234][235] Storm, an original production show featuring Latin music, weather effects, and aerialists,[236] ran from April 2001 to July 2002.

Schaeffer acknowledged that the resort needed "a more forceful and exciting show", prompting the addition of the Broadway musical Mamma Mia!

[230][245] During that time, resort executives realized that the property needed an A-list show, as many guests would travel elsewhere to see live entertainment.

In response, Mandalay Bay partnered with Cirque du Soleil to create Michael Jackson: One,[45][230] which eventually opened in May 2013.

[247][248] The first season of Las Vegas (2003) was also filmed partially at Mandalay Bay, which stood in as the fictional Montecito resort.