Putting together an exhibit of any kind for public consumption often involves a number of business entities. In Las Vegas, these commercial ventures often involve property management, memorabilia owners and the show’s operators. Working together, these parties establish agreements that determine various aspects of how the exhibit will run. If one entity defaults on the contract, it can shut down the entire operation. Unfortunately, that appears to be the case with a recent endeavor in Las Vegas.
Exhibit A Circle LLC and the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino had entered into a 10-year lease for property. The chief operating officer of Westgate claimed the casino spent millions of dollars preparing a space for an Elvis Presley exhibit, which has now been shut down due to a dispute over the lease. Westgate is holding the artifacts in the space, which was shuttered as soon as the casino was told that the exhibit’s operators would be leaving.
The dispute over the lease is expected to be handled in arbitration later this year. However, Elvis Presley Enterprises, which loaned the exhibit hundreds of artifacts, is seeking legal intervention in order to retrieve the memorabilia. The company is not involved in the leasing dispute and claims that Westgate is illegally preventing Elvis Presley Enterprises staff from reclaiming the artifacts.
Exhibit A Circle LLC said in a statement that it will seek legal remedies to enforce its agreement. Westgate said it plans to hold Exhibit A accountable for the money the casino put into the display. Elvis Presley Enterprises noted in a statement that the dispute between the companies should not prevent them from gaining access to the artifacts. Anyone who has concerns over matters like this should consult with an attorney.
Source: The Commercial Appeal, “Graceland: Elvis artifacts ‘seized’ by casino amid lease dispute in Las Vegas,” Sally Ho, March 2, 2016
