Thank you to Vegas Legal Magazine for allowing me the opportunity to share updates about the Smith Center through the last few years. Looking back, I’ve been able to keep you apprised of changes to secondary ticketing laws, and given you updates about upcoming shows and other significant milestones.

In the eleven years since the Smith Center opened on March 10, 2012, a lot has changed. The Symphony Park area is becoming a neighborhood with residential, retail, and restaurants. Our neighbors at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health are doing great work on the front line of Alzheimer’s research. The residential offerings are growing tremendously in the neighborhood with the folks at Auric adding not only an additional 5 story apartment building but a midrise residential building as well. We’re hearing lots of stories about potential food and beverage offerings, and even a boutique hotel in the works.

Looking back, the pandemic was hard on all of us. I agree with those who say that we will never get back to what we had before, or we will never get back to “normal”. We will, however, get to a new place where we celebrate the “new now.” A place where people once again respect each other, where Karen’s no longer rule the world, and where people look forward to going to work (remember back when people went to their place of employment and took care of business with the help of their colleagues who offered help at the water cooler?).  The Smith Center was challenged like other businesses but followed the rules at every turn. We still have some people who are mad at us for practicing policies recommended by the Governor and the CDC, but most people know that we had not only our guests, but our performers and our employees on the top of our minds as we made the difficult decisions to close. When we were able to reopen, we did so using the best scientific advice which included requiring vaccine cards and masks. We were so happy to open our doors that we didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize our future. While we were thrilled to be able to welcome our team back, and then as a group to welcome back our guests, we were more than a little bit nervous about the process. While in some ways it seems like this was years ago, we will never forget the challenges created by the pandemic.

More importantly, I will never forget the overwhelming public and private support The Smith Center received. This support made it possible for us to reopen successfully.

And I was totally moved by the joyous crowds that showed up night after night once we were open. It was touching to see so many happy faces on people who missed having shared experiences at The Smith Center.  People were enthusiastic and inspired. Yes, there were a few Karen’s along the way. But nearly everyone was thankful, joyous, and on their best behavior.

Why am I taking the time to acknowledge this period in our history? Because I hope that we all can learn from it. Looking back to a time when we were all locked down, it is easy to see why everyone was so grateful to be able to get out again. People, who may have taken live entertainment experiences for granted, were thrilled to be inspired once again by live music. Patrons, who wrongly assumed that there would always be plenty of people to keep restaurants and other public assembly facilities working were so happy to see their favorite bartenders from the Culinary Training Academy making their favorites at The Smith Center. All of these people are thanking ushers, ticket takers, and parking attendants. They are taking the moment to say that they we missed and appreciated. I think we are all thankful to get back to our favorite music, theater, sports, dining venues.

As we recall the past, and think about our most recent days, I want to say thank you to everyone who made The Smith Center part of their return to public life. We missed you so much and could not be happier about having houses full of cheerful people. This may not be “back to normal” but our new reality may be even better. Let’s all take a moment to be thankful for the good things that are part of our “new now”. Our city is amazing. Since we can’t live in the past, and since tomorrow is not promised, our now is the best thing we’ve got. Enjoy the moment. And if haven’t been here lately, come join us. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating the delights of live entertainment. Life is good!