Circus Circus is a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada, owned and operated by MGM Resorts International. The property opened in 1968 and was acquired by MGM Resorts (then MGM Mirage) in 2005 as part of its purchase of Mandalay Resort Group.[1] The resort is known for its circus theme, featuring daily circus acts and carnival games on its Midway.[2]
Design and History
The Circus Circus visual identity has been closely tied to its circus theme since the property’s early years. A vintage Las Vegas logo retrospective notes that the Circus Circus logo, featuring a playful clown, was designed to target a wider family audience during the 1960s and 1970s.[3] The logo reportedly has not changed since the property opened, according to a 2008 commentary on Las Vegas casino logos.[4]
The most prominent expression of the brand is the resort’s roadside signage. A giant clown figure named Lucky, standing 123 feet tall, has been a landmark on the Strip since 1976. The sign was constructed by Young Electric Sign Company.[5] The property’s porte-cochère sign features pink neon with scrollwork and a smiling clown face at its center top.[6]
The current wordmark logo is a simple text-based design for the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino Las Vegas.[7] The vector logo is listed as active and currently in use.[8]
Meaning and Symbolism
The clown imagery in the Circus Circus identity directly reflects the property’s circus theme and its historical positioning as a family-friendly Las Vegas resort. The giant Lucky the Clown sign serves as the most visible symbol of the brand, greeting guests arriving from the Strip.[6] The smiling clown face featured on the porte-cochère sign reinforces the playful, welcoming character of the brand.[6]
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