Las Vegas shows it can handle live-entertainment glut

The collision of the iHeart Radio Music festival at T-Mobile Arena and Las Vegas Village and Life Is Beautiful in downtown seems not to have hindered either live-entertainment experience.

“What’s the saying? A high tide raises all boats?” Chris Baldizan, vice president of entertainment for MGM Resorts, said Saturday morning. “That’s what we’re seeing. We’ve sold out the Village and the arena, and I understand the Life Is Beautiful numbers are up, too.”

T-Mobile sold out both shows in its 15,000-seat configuration for the iHeart Festival, headlined by an explosive set by Drake and a captivating appearance by Las Vegas Village capped its 25,000 capacity for Saturday’s daytime festival. Downtown, Life Is Beautiful was expecting 35,000 per day and night (105,000 all total, though many of those fans hold three-day wristbands), which would be a record for the festival, now in its fourth year.

As Baldizan said, the reason for the two events running concurrently was multifold. The iHeart shows, previously held at MGM Grand Garden, have recruit a new show to replace “Absinthe,” which is now staying, for the time being, at Caesars Palace. The hotel has been scouting a variety of options, including comedy, headliners and productions, to fill a room without a regular tenant since “Vegas Nocturne” closed in July 2014.

CHASE STEVENS/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL FOLLOW @CSSTEVENSPHOTO Attendees pose for a photo during the Life Is Beautiful Music & Arts Festival in downtown Las Vegas on Friday.