The then President of MGM, Kirk Kerkorian, respected the Marina as a stable and solidly built hotel tower, so instead of destroying the tower the decision was made to build around the existing structure. However, in a rare move for Las Vegas, the Marina Hotel tower was not imploded. In late 1990 the Marina Hotel was closed for the building of the new MGM Grand Hotel.
During this time it was known as the MGM-Marina Hotel. In 1989 the Marina Hotel was purchased by the MGM along with the neighboring Tropicana Country Club. The Marina Hotel and Casino opened in 1975 as a 714 room hotel and casino.
