Category:Utopia (Las Vegas)

Opening February 3, 1996, Utopia was the first freestanding Vegas nightclub to incorporate indoor pyrotechnics, a high-wattage sound system and an “anything goes” mentality. Strongly regarded as the last Vegas nightclub of that pre-casino club era, and the last to feature a colorful pantheon of club kids, before it closed in 2001, Utopia proudly helped launch the careers of many of Vegas’ most successful club-industry members, including current N9NE Group Vice President Michael Fuller.

Starting life over again in September of 2005, a completely redesigned Empire Ballroom eventually picked up where Utopia left off, and quickly gained a reputation for attracting world-renowned DJ talent, for its Late Night Empire afterhours and for its unique ability to transform from a nightclub to a concert venue. In later years, Empire Ballroom, amidst long-standing rumors of not paying their bills and rent delinquency on the part of the leaseholder, was finally evicted on May 23, 2008, for owing $402,697 in back rent, just hours before headliners Scooter and Lavelle were scheduled to give their Memorial Day weekend performance. Empire Ballroom (née Utopia) leaves behind an empty building and partner Gino LoPinto, who is carrying on his Late Night afterhours operations at MGM Grand’s Studio 54.
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