MGM Grand's buffet survived 33 years, a pandemic, and the slow erosion of everything that made it worth running. The real question isn't why they're closing it... it's what the 15,000 square feet of prime Strip real estate becomes next, and what that tells you about where casino F&B is actually headed.
MGM just closed one of the last affordable buffets on the Strip, and the timing alongside their new all-inclusive package at Luxor tells you exactly where casino F&B strategy is headed. If you're still running a loss-leader restaurant because "guests expect it," this is your wake-up call.
MGM is bundling rooms, meals, shows, and parking at Luxor and Excalibur for $165 per night all-in, while the Plaza is at $104 per person. The per-night economics tell a very different story than the press release.
