provided a retro experience for those seeking it, saying, "It's Old Las Vegas, and we have a lot of customers who enjoy the classic Las Vegas experience." However, the resort was no longer a top-earner for Boyd Gaming, and increased marketing of the resort failed to produce additional revenue. The Stardust site, consisting of , was considered a prime piece of land for redevelopment. Future redevelopment possibilities would include the demolition of the Stardust for a new resort, or the construction of an adjacent resort on property located behind the Stardust. In 2004, Boyd Gaming purchased 13 acres of property located next to the Stardust, as part of its eventual redevelopment plans for the site. The property was occupied by a 639-room Budget Suites hotel. Revenue at the Stardust was helped by the opening of the nearby Wynn Las Vegas in 2005, but fell throughout 2006. In its final years, the Stardust struggled to attract younger customers and convention-goers. Closure and demolition On January 3, 2006, Boyd Gaming announced plans to close the Stardust within a year and replace it with a mixed-use project called Echelon Place, scheduled to open in 2010. Boyd Gaming planned to relocate some of the Stardust employees to other Boyd properties in Las Vegas. Some employees expressed sadness about the impending closure. Boyd announced on September 5, 2006 that the Stardust would close in two months. The closure was earlier than Boyd had expected, as some employees had left the resort early for new jobs, making it difficult to continue operations at the Stardust. The Stardust closed on November 1, 2006. Gaming operations began to shut down that morning, followed by the full closure at 12:00 p.m. It was the largest resort to close on the Las Vegas Strip since the Sands Hotel and Casino in 1996. Long-time customers found the Stardust more personable compared to newer resorts, and they turned out in thousands for the resort's final days. Bill Boyd said about employees, "They're leaving as if they're losing their closest friends. That's why we had such a great place: The employees were loyal and made our customers feel at home. The way Boyd Gaming operates, it's much more of a family atmosphere than many other places." The hotel was sold out for the final night before the closure. The Stardust had nearly 1,600 employees at the time, down about 200 from usual. Prior