The New
Nightclub
The mega-club model of the Vegas Strip is alive and kicking , but a trend has emerged toward smaller , more personalized spaces
By Marjorie Preston
Boogie Nights gathers multiple generations at one watering hole to dance to the music of the 1970s through today
In the first Golden Age of casinos , the 1940s and ’ 50s , nightclubs were relatively tame hangs where men wore ties , women wore pearls , and couples swayed to the cha-cha . Today , more often than not , nightclubs are sensory blitzes of pulsing lights , pounding electronica and twentysomethings whose night doesn ’ t start until Cinderella is long gone .
The ubiquitous scene , born of the house and techno music explosion of the late 1980s , is going strong : according to one estimate , the worldwide club industry is now worth more than $ 36 billion .
But the sector has yet to rebound to pre-Covid levels ($ 41.2 billion ) and has been further challenged by higher costs , lower discretionary income and the surge in online and mobile entertainment . Is the current model due for an update ?
Follow the Money
First , a few statistics . There are an estimated 50,000 nightclubs in the U . S ., charging an average $ 15 per cover — affordable for anyone , but it ’ s just the baseline .
At XS at Wynn Las Vegas , which routinely tops the city ’ s “ best-nightlife ” lists , a recent DJ set by Rufus Du Sol included a $ 200 general-admission cover , $ 300 for expedited entry . At Zouk at Resorts World Las Vegas , a table on the dance floor will set you back at least $ 5,000 . On Memorial Day weekend at Drai ’ s , ringside seating for 12 at a Cardi B concert cost $ 15,000 .
Booze is a big moneymaker . Top clubs can charge hundreds of dollars for a bottle that goes for 20 bucks at the corner store , and thousands for champagne ( less taxes , tips and other fees ). And some industry observers blame the high price of entertainment on superstar DJs . The highest earners , like Steve Aoki ,
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