MSG Entertainment Considering Sale of Tao Restaurant Chain to Fund Las Vegas Sphere Development
LAS VEGAS, NV – Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) is currently mulling over the possibility of selling their high-end Tao restaurant and nightclub chain in order to help fund the construction of their ongoing MSG Sphere entertainment venue in Las Vegas, as construction costs have continued spiraling ever-higher as the long-gestating project finally nears completion.
MSGE has reportedly engaged the services of multinational investment bank and financial services company Goldman Sachs to assist with the potential sale of Tao Group, which would include 17 restaurants, nightclubs, day clubs and pool lounges in Las Vegas. Among the local venues that would be part of the proposed sale would include Tao Nightclub and Tao Asian Bistro at The Venetian, Hakkasan at MGM Grand, and Beauty & Essex at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
In addition, Tao also operates venues in London, Singapore, Dubai, and New York City.
The potential Tao Group sale comes amid the skyrocketing budget of the MSG Sphere project, which has currently swelled to $2.17 billion, surpassing Allegiant Stadium as the Las Vegas’ priciest entertainment venue ever.
When completed, the 17,500-seat MSG Sphere will be a 400,000-square-foot, 18,000-seat, 360-foot-tall globe-shaped arena on 63 acres of property located behind the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
The exterior of the sphere will feature 36 miles of variable intensity LED lighting – known as an exosphere – enabling the structure to allow outside spectators to peer through a transparent façade to watch the concert within; at higher lighting intensities, outside vision will be obscured.
The venue will cater to musical performances and concerts; however, the occasional boxing or MMA contest could be held there as well, according to Madison Square Garden Co.
The MSG Sphere was initially scheduled to open in 2021, although it was later delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it is now slated to open in the second half of 2023.
Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.