Riviera demolition costs increases by $1.84 million

LAS VEGAS - Bad news for the demolition of the Riviera Hotel and Casino property. It is going to be a bigger job than originally thought. At least $1.84 million bigger.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority on Tuesday approved the $1.84 million amendment to its contract with its professional services representative, Sacramento, Calif.-based Cordell Corp.

The unanimous vote came after a meeting and recommendation earlier Tuesday by a committee that is overseeing the $2.3 billion project to update the Las Vegas Convention Center campus.

Cordell, originally hired in April to coordinate the overhaul of the Convention Center in two phases, was asked by the board in August also to oversee the demolition of the Riviera, acquired by the authority in February for $182.5 million.

The demolition of the Riviera next year is important because the LVCVA already has a commitment from the Con-Expo/ConAgg trade show to stage some of its March 7-11, 2017, event on the ground currently occupied by the shuttered hotel.