Tropicana joins New Year’s fireworks show on Strip

The confetti will fall. The crowd will count down.The explosions will begin.

At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day, Las Vegas skies will shine brighter than ever as fireworks flare up from eight Strip hotel rooftops.

Fireworks by Grucci will shoot off about half a million dollars in fireworks displays from the Tropicana, MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, The Venetian and the Stratosphere.

More than 60 pyrotechnicians will spend a week setting up the eight-minute show beginning Dec. 27. About 10,000 circuits will be initiated to set off the fireworks while "Viva Las Vegas" plays in the background.

Details of the show were announced to media outlets and shoppers at a Fashion Show mall news conference Wednesday.

"The addition of this eighth property truly makes this the eighth wonder of the world," said Felix Grucci, executive vice president, of the newly added Tropicana rooftop. "It's going to be a spectacular evening of fireworks and good cheer."

While hundreds of thousands of revelers ring in the new year with kisses, toasts and resolutions to improve their lives, they also will be boosting the local economy.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is estimating America's Party will bring in 314,000 visitors, up 5,000 from the previous year, to the Strip and the Fremont Street Experience. And those visitors will spend about $192 million on hotel rooms, shopping and nightclub purchases, a 1.6 percent increase from last year's spending. That figure does not include any gaming revenues.

"This is the greatest place to be in the world for New Year's Eve," said Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins, who chairs the convention authority. "We fill up the Strip, and it's so unique. At midnight, the fireworks go off, and people are so excited and happy, toasting and having a great time. We always expect something exciting."

Entertainment includes Stevie Wonder, who will headline at The Cosmopolitan, Guns N' Roses at the Hard Rock and John Legend at the Palms, among others. There will be nightclub appearances by Kim Kardashian at Tao in The Venetian, Fergie at 10AK at The Mirage and LMFAO at Haze in Aria, among others.

With martini in hand and showgirls on each arm, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman told shoppers Wednesday that economically speaking, "Vegas has returned."

After serving 12 years as mayor, Goodman is now chairman of the convention authority's host committee, composed of a dozen community leaders from different Las Vegas businesses. He is known as the official ambassador of Las Vegas.

"There will be more people, another venue, and I think the economy has come back," Goodman said. "It will be really exciting and a big day for us."

Goodman said he hasn't made a New Year's resolution yet but plans to head downtown to celebrate.

"We're downtown people," Goodman said. "There's something very cozy for us, walking amongst the crowd. There will be 20,000 people down there, so we'll shake 20,000 hands and drink 20,000 martinis."

Thirteen tribute bands will be on hand on Fremont Street to ring in 2012 during TributePalooza.

This year marks the first time Carolyn Goodman will be mayor during the New Year's celebrations. She is no stranger to the Fremont Street events, though, as she stood by her husband for 12 years when he was mayor.

"We welcome all tourists and the people that live here to come and squeeze into the Fremont Street Experience," Carolyn Goodman said.

"I love walking through the crowds, they're so receptive and so excited. There's no better place than downtown. Hopefully, we are on a turnaround from the recession that has affected our entire community."

As for her resolution?

"To be careful and stay alive," she said, laughing. "Life is great, and we're so lucky. We're in good health, and we're lucky to be here among all the people in this great community."

Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.