Las Vegas Weekly

April 15, 2009 · 5 AM

Photo Gallery: Carlos Santana and mayor get the new Joint jumpin’

By Robin Leach

Patrick Berge, John Meglen, Carlos Santana, Mayor Oscar Goodman and Randy Kwasniewski at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on April 14.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

The new $70 million Joint concert venue representing 10 percent of the budget costs for the expanded Hard Rock Hotel was declared officially open yesterday afternoon when guitar great Carlos Santana used a giant pair of scissors with our Merry Mayor of Mirth Oscar Goodman to cut the ribbon.

Vegas DeLuxe will have our contributing photographers’ shots later, along with the brief speech that Carlos made to the assembled media and staff who’d worked on the construction of the beautiful venue. Click HERE for our story and tour of The Joint from last Friday.

I talked with both AEG Live/Concerts West President John Meglen and Hard Rock Hotel President Randy Kwasniewski, and we’ll have those interviews later. John ran down his wish list of rock acts for me and revealed that he’s sent invitations to The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and other stars to join The Joint as resident headliners.

Randy told me that he’s noticed a sizable boost in room reservations from even overseas customers wanting to see the Santana concerts. “It’s going to be a good summer,” he smiled.

Sceno Plus President Patrick Berge also was in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony; Sceno Plus designed the new Joint. And click HERE for our editor Johnny Kats' story on The Joint opening in The Kats Report.

Also later, how Oscar is taking on one more dance rehearsal despite the pain for his Sunday stint in the “Las Vegas Dancing With the Stars” cancer charity fundraiser at Rain in the Palms.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Share This