America's Party
{{Short description|New Year's Eve events on the Las Vegas Strip}}
{{Primary sources|date=December 2018}}
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America's Party is the blanket branding for official New Year's Eve events held on the Las Vegas Strip, organized by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and Las Vegas Events.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegas2005.org/mediacenter/releases/nye-1130.html|title=VEGAS SIZZLES WITH PARTY OF THE CENTURY|access-date=2009-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227143232/http://www.lasvegas2005.org/mediacenter/releases/nye-1130.html|archive-date=2010-12-27|url-status=dead}}
The event encompasses the ticketed "America's Party Downtown" concert held at the Fremont Street Experience, and a major public fireworks display—produced by Fireworks by Grucci—which is traditionally launched across the rooftops of various resort buildings on the Strip.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/new-years-eve-in-vegas/las-vegas-new-years-celebration-will-be-americas-party/|title=Las Vegas New Year's celebration will be 'America's Party'|date=2017-12-21|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=http://news3lv.com/news/videos/americas-party-downtown-featuring-non-stop-entertainment-on-nye|title='America's Party Downtown' featuring non-stop entertainment on NYE|publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group|date=2017-12-26|website=News3LV.com|access-date=2018-12-27}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/new-years-eve-in-vegas/cleaning-up-after-americas-party-on-the-las-vegas-strip/|title=Cleaning up after America's Party on the Las Vegas Strip|date=2018-01-01|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-US}}
History
2005 celebrated the 100th anniversary of Las Vegas and began with a B-1 bomber flyover of the Strip. Fireworks were launched from the Excalibur, MGM Grand, Monte Carlo, Bally's, Flamingo, Venetian, Treasure Island, Stardust, Circus-Circus and Stratosphere.
America's Party 2008. The Best is Yet to Come, was launched from the MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Flamingo Las Vegas, Venetian, Treasure Island (TI), Circus-Circus and Stratosphere.{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegasfocus.com/news/2007/12/las-vegas-new-years-eve-celebration-americas-party/ |title= Las Vegas New Years Eve Celebration: "America's Party"|date=2007-12-19 |accessdate=2009-12-16}}
For America's Party 2009, the traditional rooftop fireworks display was replaced by a ground-based show due to additional fire department requirements that were put in place following the Monte Carlo Hotel fire, being launched from the grounds of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Luxor Hotel, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Las Vegas Convention Center and the Stratosphere Casino.{{cite web |url=http://www.finehomeslv.com/blog/americas-party-las-vegas-new-year-2009-is-takin-it-to-the-streets/ |title= Americas Party Las Vegas New Year 2009 Is "Takin; It To The Streets"|accessdate=2009-12-16}}
The fireworks returned to the rooftops for the 2010, using the MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood Resort, Caesar's Palace, Venetian Resort, Treasure Island and the Stratosphere.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegasevents.com/pdf/sigevents-2010-amparty-firinglocations.pdf |title=untitled |publisher=Las Vegas Events |access-date=2009-12-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610210154/http://www.lasvegasevents.com/pdf/sigevents-2010-amparty-firinglocations.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2011 }}
The 2011 version launches an 8-minute 6 second show by Fireworks by Grucci from MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesar's Palace, The Venetian, Treasure Island and the Stratosphere Tower.{{cite web|url=http://prvegas.com/2010/12/america%E2%80%99s-party-las-vegas-new-year-2011/ |title=America's Party: Las Vegas New Year 2011 |publisher=PRVegas News and Information Blog |access-date=December 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715125053/http://prvegas.com/2010/12/america%E2%80%99s-party-las-vegas-new-year-2011/ |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}{{cite news |title=America's Party Fireworks to remain on rooftops |url=http://www.ktnv.com/story/13286897/americas-party-fireworks-display-to-remain-on-the-rooftops?redirected=true |newspaper=KTNV |date=December 31, 2010 |accessdate=December 31, 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2013}} Grucci also provides a separate fireworks show for the Fremont street experience.{{cite web|url=http://www.grucci.com/indexbravo.html?page=51|title=National Events Schedule|publisher=Fireworks by Grucci|access-date=December 30, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217114336/http://grucci.com/indexbravo.html?page=51|archive-date=17 December 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
For 2012 the show was launched from the Tropicana, MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian and the Stratosphere.{{cite web |url=http://www.vegas.com/newyears/ |title=Celebrate New Year's Eve in Vegas in 2011 - 2012! |accessdate=December 14, 2011}} The show is being produced by Fireworks by Grucci.{{cite web|url=http://grucci.com/indexbravo.html?page=51|title=National Events Schedule|publisher=Fireworks by Grucci|access-date=December 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217114336/http://grucci.com/indexbravo.html?page=51|archive-date=2010-12-17|url-status=dead}}
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada, both the fireworks show and America's Party Downtown festivities were cancelled for 2021.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-03|title=Downtown will still have fireworks show after Strip show canceled|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/downtown-will-still-have-fireworks-show-after-strip-show-canceled-2172460/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-12-04|title=New Year's Eve party plans for downtown Las Vegas blocked|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/new-years-eve-party-plans-for-downtown-las-vegas-blocked-2202325/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|language=en-US}} The Plaza still held its own fireworks show on the Strip,{{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title=CBS lines up Circa's Stadium Swim, Legacy, Plaza for NYE|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/cbs-lines-up-circas-stadium-swim-legacy-plaza-for-nye-2227824/|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|language=en-US}} while The Strat's SkyJump Las Vegas ride held a drop using a contest winner dressed in a disco ball costume.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-28 |title=Strat to welcome 2021 with midnight SkyJump |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/new-years-eve-in-vegas/strat-to-welcome-2021-with-midnight-skyjump-2234522/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}
Media coverage
The America's Party festivities have been used as a backdrop of New Year's Eve television specials, although sometimes in conjunction with coverage of other events (such as those of New York City's Times Square). In 2002–03 and 2003–04, Fox broadcast its New Year's Eve special from Las Vegas—America's Party: Live from Las Vegas—which was hosted from The Venetian by Ryan Seacrest of Fox's music competition series American Idol.{{Cite web |title=Advertisers Make New Year's Plans |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/advertisers-make-new-years-plans-69029/ |access-date=2018-12-27 |website=Adweek |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Catlin |first=Roger |title=DICK CLARK (AND OTHERS, TOO) RING IN THE NEW YEAR |url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-12-31-0212310471-story.html |access-date=2018-12-27 |website=courant.com |language=en-US}} The special would move to Times Square the following year.{{Cite web |title=Usher to debut mini-movie |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2004/12/26/Usher-to-debut-mini-movie/60951104092946/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=2005-02-17 |title=Usher Heads To The Movies, Preps CD/DVD |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/usher-heads-to-the-movies-preps-cddvd-64064/ |access-date=2022-10-12 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}
For 2006–07, CD USA on The 101 Network broadcast a live concert special from America's Party, which featured performances by The All-American Rejects, Five for Fighting, Smash Mouth, and Rock Star Supernova among others.{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=Report: CD USA Co-Host Girds Self For Live TV With TOMMY LEE |url=https://bravewords.com/news/report-cd-usa-co-host-girds-self-for-live-tv-with-tommy-lee |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=bravewords.com |language=en}}
KLAS-TV has produced local coverage of the event, which is syndicated to other stations via parent company Nexstar Media Group.{{cite web |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Nexstar To Broadcast New Year’s Eve Special |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/nexstar-to-broadcast-new-years-eve-special/ |access-date=December 24, 2023 |website=TVNewsCheck}} In December 2024, Nexstar announced that its coverage for 2024–25, branded as the Coast-to-Coast Countdown, would air nationally in syndication across 70 of its stations, and incorporate coverage of New Year's Eve celebrations in other parts of the country (including Times Square, Dallas, and Denver) via the local news departments of its stations.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=2024-12-19 |title=Nexstar To Televise New Year’s Eve Special ‘Coast-To-Coast Countdown To 2025’ |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/nexstar-to-televise-new-years-eve-special-coast-to-coast-countdown-to-2025/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=TV News Check |language=en-US}}