Rock in Rio USA

Rock in Rio USA reached a short-term deal to host the event in Las Vegas biennially from 2015 through at least 2019, and planned to expand to a three-day format in 2017.

[3][4] In April 2014, further details were announced; on April 22, 2014, it was announced that Rock in Rio would partner with MGM Resorts International, Cirque du Soleil, and Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Companies to construct a 33-acre open-air multi-purpose venue on the Strip near Circus Circus as its site.

Additionally, Yucaipa Companies and Cirque each acquired a 20% equity stake in a subsidiary that would own Rock in Rio USA; Rock in Rio CEO Louis Justo explained that the involvement of Cirque du Soleil was oriented more towards their knowledge of the Las Vegas market and its consumers, rather than their creative works.

Rock in Rio organizers collaborated with MGM and Yucaipa on the design of the venue to ensure a "very premium festival experience", stating that it would have an amusement park-inspired layout with five stages (including dedicated stages for indie and electronic music acts), rides (such as a roulette-themed ferris wheel and a zipline), shopping, and themed food courts.

[5][3][1] The first artists for the 2015 lineup were revealed on September 26, 2014, at an event in New York City, including the Deftones, Jessie J, John Legend, Linkin Park, No Doubt, Metallica, and Taylor Swift.

[11][12][13] In May 2018, Live Nation Entertainment acquired a majority stake in Rock in Rio, including from SFX's creditor committee.