MGM Cotai gets new name and 38-ton, gold-plated lion mascot

MGM Resorts’ latest Macau casino has a new name and a shiny new mascot to announce its imminent arrival.

On Tuesday, MGM China unveiled an 11-meter, 38-ton statue of a lion that will command the north entrance to MGM Cotai, the company’s in-development Macau integrated resort. The company hopes the statue, which is gilded in around 32k sheets of 24-karat gold leaf, will become “an important landmark attraction” and a “signature icon of Macau.”

MGM also announced that MGM Cotai will have a new Chinese name when the oft-delayed property opens in the second half of 2017. Chinese guests will know the property as Mei Si Mei Gou Mui 美獅美高梅, which translates as ‘Beautiful Lion, Beautiful MGM.’ (Guess ‘Beautiful Baccarat Money Hoovering Zone’ was taken.)

In attendance at this week’s unveiling was MGM China co-chair Pansy Ho, who said the imposing lion statue “reveals our passion and dedication for MGM Cotai and its significance.” Ho said MGM’s two Macau properties “each possesses distinctive characteristics strategically put in place to enhance the city’s diversified non-gaming offerings.”