Hard Rock Las Vegas Launches Auction of Mirage Artwork
Hard Rock Las Vegas has opened a 30-day online auction featuring more than 300 statues, sculptures, and artworks that once decorated The Mirage. The sale includes bronze mermaids, dolphin statues, a piece by glass artist Dale Chihuly, and numerous paintings from guest rooms and hallways of the former Strip property.
The auction began on Wednesday and runs through Sept. 19, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Los Angeles-based Prime Auctioneers Inc. is hosting the event on LiveAuctioneer.com.
The Mirage closed on July 17, 2024, having operated for 34 years, after being acquired by Hard Rock International in 2022 in a $1.075 billion sale. Since closing, staff have kept the artwork in storage on location, and some pieces have been kept for the auction.
Hard Rock Las Vegas President Joe Lupo said the collection defined the resort's character. "The Mirage stood as an iconic destination that featured an extensive collection of artwork that helped define the resort’s unique atmosphere throughout the years," he added.
Prime Auctioneers added that it felt privileged to manage the occasion in conjunction with Hard Rock. The amount raised from the auction has not been made public. The sale is happening while redevelopment of the property is ongoing, with the tri-tower building being refurbished.
Construction plans include building a 660-foot Guitar Hotel tower in place of the Mirage volcano, which has been long-closed. The Guitar Hotel Las Vegas and new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas are expected to debut in the second half of 2027.
Visitor decline concerns for Las Vegas
The auction comes at a difficult time for tourism in Las Vegas, as visitor levels have dipped below last summer's levels. The Convention and Visitors Authority in Las Vegas had approximately 3.1 million visitors in June, down by 11% from the same period last year, with international tourism especially soft. It's followed a trend that has held for the bulk of the year.
International travel dropped by 13% and combined hotel occupancy fell by around 15%.
Local officials pointed to international markets as the most affected. Mayor Shelley Berkley said visitor numbers from Canada, historically the largest source of international tourists to Nevada, had declined sharply.
Travel from Mexico has also contracted. Ted Pappageorge, leader of the Culinary Workers Union, attributed the losses to immigration policies and tariffs under the Trump administration, calling the trend the "Trump slump." He noted that even drive-in travel from Southern California was falling, particularly among Latino visitors deterred by immigration enforcement.
Tourism Economics, a forecasting firm, revised its US outlook earlier this month. Instead of the nearly 9% increase in international arrivals projected in December 2024, the company now expects a 9.4% decline this year.
Canada, which sent more than 20 million visitors to the US last year, is predicted to account for some of the steepest reductions. This national trend is being mirrored in Las Vegas, adding pressure to resorts and convention venues already facing a competitive market.
