Honestly, if you missed the memo, Las Vegas just finished one of its most schizophrenic years in history. 2025 wasn't just about gambling or some new fountain show. It was the year the city basically decided to become the sports capital of the planet while simultaneously leaning into "emo nostalgia" and AI-driven tech.
People always ask what happened in las vegas 2025 like there’s one big headline. There isn't. It was a massive pileup of events. From the dirt flying at the old Tropicana site to Max Verstappen dodging disqualifications on the Strip, the city felt less like a vacation spot and more like a 24/7 construction zone and stadium.
The Dirt, the Diamonds, and the Diamond: Baseball Hits the Strip
The biggest physical shift in 2025 started with a literal hole in the ground. In February 2025, construction officially kicked off on the new Oakland A’s (well, soon-to-be Las Vegas A’s) ballpark.
It’s sitting on the 49-acre graveyard of the Tropicana. If you’ve walked that corner of Tropicana Avenue recently, you know it’s a mess of cranes and orange cones. This $1.5 billion project is slated for 30,000 seats and a retractable roof, which is kinda necessary when it’s 115 degrees outside and you're trying to watch a fly ball.
But baseball wasn't the only thing taking up space.
The "LVXP" project—that massive unnamed resort between the Sahara and Fontainebleau—finally got the green light. We’re talking a 752-foot tower and an 18,000-seat arena specifically designed for an NBA team. Vegas is clearly manifest-destinying a basketball franchise into existence.
Verstappen, Legos, and a Whole Lot of Drama
If you weren't there for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, you missed a soap opera on wheels.
Max Verstappen won. Again. That’s not the story.
The story was the post-race chaos. Both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were disqualified after the race. It turned the podium into a game of musical chairs. George Russell and the young phenom Kimi Antonelli ended up snagging a double podium for Mercedes because of it.
Why the 2025 Race Felt Different
- The Lego Cadillac: They actually drove the top three drivers to the podium in a full-scale, drivable 1950s Cadillac made of 418,000 Lego bricks. Actor Terry Crews was the one driving it. Yes, really.
- F1 Academy Finale: For the first time, the all-female F1 Academy season ended in Vegas. Doriane Pin took the championship under the lights, which was a huge win for the sport’s visibility.
- Disney Takeover: Mickey and Minnie were everywhere. Disney and F1 did a massive collab that included a "Fantasmic" fountain show at the Bellagio.
Honestly, the city felt more like a racetrack than a resort for those three days. Top speeds hit 222 mph on the Strip. Think about that next time you're stuck in Uber traffic near Caesars Palace.
That Emo Nostalgia Peak
October 2025 was basically "Christmas in October" for anyone who owned a pair of checkered Vans in 2005.
The When We Were Young Festival returned to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and it was absolute pandemonium. Panic! At The Disco came out of retirement for a one-time-only performance of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out in its entirety. Celebrating 20 years of that album in their hometown? You could hear the screaming from Summerlin.
Blink-182 headlined too, wrapping up their "Missionary Impossible" tour. It’s wild how Vegas has become the global headquarters for nostalgia. You have these massive tech spheres on one end of the Strip and 85,000 people screaming lyrics from 2005 on the other.
The Sphere’s New Tricks
Speaking of the Sphere, it didn't just sit there looking like a giant emoji.
In 2025, they finally moved beyond the initial U2 and Phish hype. They launched a "reimagined" version of The Wizard of Oz using Google AI to stretch the original 1939 film across that massive curved screen. It wasn't just a movie; it had 4D effects—scents, wind, haptic seats.
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They also leaned hard into EDM. Anyma (part of Tale of Us) had a residency there that basically turned the entire building into a hallucinogenic experience. If you haven't seen 160,000 square feet of LED screen reacting to techno, you haven't really seen what happened in las vegas 2025.
Tech, AI, and the "Boring" Expansion
Let's talk about the nerdier side of things. CES 2025 in January set the tone for the whole year.
AI was the only word anyone said for four days. Nvidia dropped the RTX 50-series (the 5090 is a beast, and a $2,000 one at that). Lenovo showed off a "rollable" laptop that expands with hand gestures.
But the real "Vegas" tech story was the Loop.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company finally opened the Westgate Station. You can now hop in a Tesla and zip from the Westgate to the Convention Center in seconds. It’s slowly spider-webbing its way under the whole city.
Major Hotel Shifts
The hotel landscape is unrecognizable from two years ago:
- The Mirage is Gone: It’s being gutted to become the Hard Rock, complete with a giant guitar-shaped tower.
- The Delano Rebrand: It’s officially becoming a W Hotel.
- MGM Grand Remodel: They just finished a $300 million refresh of nearly 4,000 rooms. They went with a "disco glam" vibe which is actually pretty cool in person.
- The Cromwell / Vanderpump: This was the shocker. The Cromwell is being rebranded as The Vanderpump Hotel. Lisa Vanderpump is basically taking over the Strip at this point.
What Most People Get Wrong About 2025
The biggest misconception is that Vegas is getting "too expensive" for the average person.
While the $1,000 F1 tickets suggest that, 2025 actually saw a boom in "off-Strip" value. Places like the Durango Resort (which just expanded) and the Green Valley Ranch renovation provided a sanctuary for people who didn't want to pay $25 for a watered-down gin and tonic.
The Arts District also exploded. It’s the one place where you can find "Audio Bars" that serve craft coffee by day and world-class EDM by night without a dress code or a $50 cover.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Trip
If you're planning to see the aftermath of 2025, here is how you do it right.
Skip the Strip transport. Use the Loop whenever possible if you're near the Convention Center. It’s faster than any Uber.
Book the "New" Rooms. If you’re staying at MGM Grand or the Venetian, make sure you’re requesting the 2025 renovated suites. The difference in tech (smart mirrors, USB-C everywhere) is massive compared to the old rooms.
Watch the A's Site. You can get a great view of the stadium progress from the pedestrian bridge between New York-New York and the MGM Grand. It’s the best "free" show in town right now.
Check the Arts District. If the Strip feels like a corporate theme park, take a 10-minute ride to the Arts District. It’s where the actual soul of the city has moved.
Vegas in 2025 was a year of transition. The city is clearly betting on being a "sports city" first and a "gambling city" second. Whether that pays off or not, the skyline has changed forever.
Next Steps for You
- Check the current construction schedules if you're planning a trip near the Tropicana/A's stadium site to avoid traffic.
- Look for residency extensions at the Sphere; shows are often added last minute based on "demand-sensing" AI.
- Verify the rebranding status of The Cromwell before booking, as some amenities may be limited during the Vanderpump transition.