to the public on July 15, 2004 with the completion and testing of "Phase 1". On September 8, 2004, more problems with falling parts led to the closing of the monorail for nearly four months. It reopened on December 24, 2004. A number of repairs were made to the monorail cars during this shutdown. Each time the monorail system required major engineering changes, it underwent a lengthy "commissioning" process to confirm the effectiveness and safety of the repairs. Officials reported that each day the monorail was down cost the system approximately $85,000 in lost fares. Transit Systems Management officials cited the successful handling of crowds during the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show as proof that the system could handle a major convention. On July 8, 2005, Transit Systems Management announced that it would shut down, turning over its responsibilities to the Las Vegas Monorail Company, the system operator. Curtis Myles, a former deputy general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, became President of the Las Vegas Monorail Company. On November 1, 2005, the County Commission approved a study into the feasibility of an airport extension. On January 13, 2010, the Las Vegas Monorail filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing did not affect system operations and had no impact on the monorail's hours of operation or service to its customers. On March 11, 2011, the Sahara announced that it would close its doors May 16, 2011. Closure of the Sahara has been cited as one of the significant reasons for ridership dropping in 2012. In 2014, a new hotel casino, the SLS Las Vegas, took over the Sahara, and ridership increased from 2012 levels. The Las Vegas Monorail again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and in December a deal was finalized to transfer ownership to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. An extension to the MSG Sphere at The Venetian was planned but put on hold in 2020. A report in 2022 confirmed that talks of an extension wouldn't resume until after the venue's opening. Operations The monorail (Phase 1 of the overall project) begins at the MGM Grand near the south end of The Strip, and runs roughly parallel to the Strip on its eastern side. The monorail passes next to the Convention Center and the Westgate Las Vegas, both with stations, before ending at the Sahara