The MGM Lions To Get Laid Off

It's tough for everybody these days:

The MGM Grand's corporate symbol won't be stalking the premises in the flesh after Jan. 31, when the hotel plans to close the lion habitat it opened in 1999 for $9 million.

A free attraction can't compete with a revenue-producing replacement still to be announced for the space. The daily display of lions behind soundproof glass is "a free show and that's what killed it," lion keeper Keith Evans said. "I don't blame them. It's a lot of money for a casino to cover."

That was always a favorite stop when we had our kids with us over there, but let's face it, lions like to sleep a lot and once you get over the initial impression of the big cats, there's not much to see.