Country music superstar Luke Combs is unstoppable, with 21 No. 1 songs, record-setting attendance at his March 21 world tour launch at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and his popular Luke Combs’ Category 10 venue in Nashville—and now the opening of a second location this fall at Las Vegas’ Flamingo Hotel & Casino, a Caesars Entertainment property.
The day before his sold-out concert at the Flamingo, Combs sat down with members of his Bootlegger fan club and the media. It was an intimate conversation to unveil a first look at Category 10 renderings and celebrate its prominent placement on the Las Vegas Strip.
The three-story, 34,000-square-foot country music restaurant and bar operated by Opry Entertainment Group, a division of Ryman Hospitality Properties, offers multiple next-level honky-tonk experiences influenced by Combs’ music and passions.
“Location is the name of the game,” Combs said. “Twelve years ago, I moved to Nashville, 14 years ago I picked up the guitar for the first time, and I just never would have imagined that I would be in this position to be opening a bar for fans to come to in Las Vegas. It’s crazy.”
His fans include Chris and Pamela Joyce from Orlando.
“This is our first trip to Las Vegas in six years, and it was just for this concert,” said Chris Joyce, who hopes his company-branded hat will be selected to go on the venues coveted hat wall. “We travel for live music, so Category 10 is absolutely a big draw for us to come back.”
Colin Reed, executive chairman of OEG parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties, said that while the flagship location for Category 10 is Nashville, Las Vegas has always been at the top of the list for another location.
“We wanted to come here, and we spent quite a bit of time with the Caesars folks trying to figure out where best to do it and I think this space is going to be a screamer,” he said.
Combs said he wants people to tell their friends that Category 10 is a must-visit location in Las Vegas.
“I feel responsible for what happens when you walk in those doors; it’s a place that’s cared about and a place that wants you to be there and come back,” he said.
The Las Vegas country music scene keeps getting hotter
Category 10 offers meeting and event planners exciting options to wow clients with buyouts, themed parties and off-the-charts entertainment for groups looking to deliver high energy, memorable moments. Key features of the venue, replacing the former Margaritaville site, include:
- Hurricane Hall: The main multi-level dining area with bars and a central stage for live music.
- Beautiful Crazy Women’s Lounge: A specialty bourbon and champagne lounge.
- The Eye Rooftop: A third-level rooftop bar and DJ booth with Las Vegas Strip Views.
- Still: One of Combs’ favorites, with an outdoor patio serving high-quality bourbon with bird’s-eye views to watch unique events like Formula One.
Category 10’s distinctive culinary and beverage program blends Southern hospitality with honky tonk energy and an emphasis on bourbon and whiskey with some of Combs’ handpicked favorite brands.
“Partnerships like this elevate what’s possible for meetings and events, expanding the range of turnkey, high impact experiences available to planners,” said Kelly Gleeson Smith, SVP of sales for Caesars Entertainment. “With its immersive atmosphere and built in star power, Category 10 makes it easier than ever to boost engagement, drive attendance and deliver the kind of signature Las Vegas moments that set programs apart.”
Planning and execution of the event
Matthew Nitsche, director of catering and conference services for Caesars Entertainment, said there was a very short window to plan a public relations event for Category 10 in Las Vegas, and that the Flamingo emerged as the ideal host venue.
“To bring the brand to life, we sourced distressed leather couches and chairs that matched the Category 10 aesthetic, creating an environment that felt immersive, intentional and true to the experience fans can expect in Las Vegas,” he said.
Nitsche said thoughtful menu choices are one of the most memorable ways to elevate an experience, and it was a privilege to “blend creativity, authenticity and anticipation into every bite.”
“As convention services professionals, we take pride in helping bring to the vision of each event to life—and for this program, this meant designing dishes that not only set the tone for the evening but also gave attendees a first taste of what’s to come,” he said.
Nitsche collaborated closely with his culinary teams to craft a menu that paid homage to Combs’ favorite foods, such as Luke’s Waff Chos (waffle fries, Cheddar Jack, diced bacon, green onions and queso blanco), Carolinian BBQ Chicken Flatbread and Asheville Pulled Pork sandwiches and paired them with Hurricane, Red Sangria and Life of the Party specialty cocktails
“It was an opportunity to highlight the strength of our culinary program while reinforcing the premium, celebrity chef style offerings we frequently deliver across our properties,” Nitsche said. “The result was an event that honored the spirit of Category 10 and artistry of our team.”
Renderings courtesy of Opry Entertainment Group.
