If you ever spent a night (or a whole weekend) in Las Vegas, chances are someone either pointed you to The Center Bar or you somehow ended up there anyway. It was that kind of place—right in the thick of it, with a view of the whole casino and energy buzzing around like a live wire. But with the old Hard Rock Hotel turning into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, the future of this iconic bar has been a bit up in the air. Well, now it’s sort of coming back—but not quite the way people remember it.
Let’s break down what’s going on.
Image source: https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/the-center-bar-or-circle-bar-favorite-las-vegas-hang-is-moving-forward-3344312/
Center Bar or Circle Bar? Even the name’s up for debate
One of the funnier parts of this story is that no one seems to agree on the name. Ask half the staff and guests, and they’ll swear it’s called Circle Bar. The other half? Die-hard Center Bar fans. Even Cliff Atkinson, president and CEO of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, admits he’s heard both from people who’ve been around since the ‘90s. So, while the bar is making a comeback, the name is still being hashed out.
“Half the people call it Circle Bar, and the other half call it The Center Bar,” Atkinson said. “We’ve had team members who’ve been here for 30 years who still call it Circle Bar.”
Honestly, it’s like trying to settle whether it’s “soda” or “pop.” Atkinson’s even floated the idea of a naming contest—or maybe letting KISS slap their name on it when they take over the hotel for a weekend this November (more on that in a sec).
A comeback wrapped in nostalgia—and business planning
Let’s rewind a bit. The Hard Rock Hotel was taken over by Virgin Hotels in 2021. The Center Bar had already been through a bit of a dodgy renovation back in 2019, and then got completely removed when Virgin took over. But now, with Virgin reclaiming full control of the casino from Mohegan Sun as of March 2025, the team’s ready to rebuild.
But here’s the catch: bars like this aren’t cheap. Like, really not cheap.
“I’ve got multiple renderings,” Atkinson says. “It’s really coming down to capital and timing.”
In other words, they know it matters—it’s a big emotional touchpoint for guests—but they’ve got to budget it out properly. There’s a chance it might return sometime around the second quarter of 2026, but no promises just yet.
Other things brewing at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
While we wait to see whether it’s a circle, a centre, or something totally different, Virgin’s not slowing down. There’s already a new bar and retail outlet planned to open by the end of 2025, and Atkinson is still juggling other parts of the property—like the old Magic Mike Live/Body English Nightclub venue.
And speaking of wild transformations, KISS and their army of fans are set to take over the hotel from November 14-16, 2025. Sounds like the perfect vibe for a rock-themed bar, right?
The Theater at Virgin Hotels is making waves too
Right across from the maybe-Center-Bar, The Theater (what used to be The Joint) is doing pretty well for itself. It’s one of the nominees for Casino of the Year – Theater at the Academy of Country Music Awards, which is kind of a big deal.
It’s the only Las Vegas venue up for the award, and it’s hosted country acts like Lainey Wilson, Midland, and Charley Crockett. The competition? Theaters in Deadwood, S.D., Connecticut, and California.
A few other fun Vegas moments
The article didn’t stop with the bar updates. Here’s a quick look at some of the other stuff happening in the city right now:
- Sebastian Bach from Skid Row crashed a bachelor party at One Steakhouse and ended up performing “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Iconic.
- Mark Shunock, former Top Rank Boxing announcer and long-time Vegas entertainer, has a new WWE gig. He’ll be announcing Friday Night SmackDown on April 18, just ahead of WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium.
- Torch Cigar & Music Festival is lighting up May 3, 2025, at the Clark County Government Amphitheater with live bands, DJs, food, merch—and, of course, cigars.
So, what’s next for The Center Bar?
Whether it ends up being called Center Bar, Circle Bar, or KISS Roundhouse™ (hey, weirder things have happened in Vegas), it’s clear that Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is listening to the crowd. This isn’t just about pouring drinks—it’s about bringing back the vibe. The nostalgia. The memory of accidentally bumping into someone famous (or thinking you did).
Sure, it’ll take time and money. But by the sound of things, it’s not a question of if, but when.
So next time you walk into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and see a circular bar glowing in the middle of the casino, you’ll know—it’s back. Even if no one can agree on what it’s called.
TL;DR:
- The old Center Bar from Hard Rock Hotel is coming back at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
- Name’s still undecided—some say Circle, others say Center.
- Construction depends on budget and planning, maybe done by mid-2026.
- Meanwhile, other bars and retail spaces are opening by the end of 2025.
- The venue’s also up for a big ACM award and hosting top events like WWE and KISS.
Vegas never really sleeps—it just changes outfits.
