The $450 million transformation that will convert the South Strip Monte Carlo to the dually named Park MGM and The Nomad will begin in early October.

Several of the resort’s venues are closing for renovation and re-branding, including the pool and The Pub.

The resort will remain open through the construction, with guests being granted pool privileges at other MGM properties. Additional renovations will follow and are expected to run through 2018.

>> Stadium: There’s a new front-runner in the location derby for Las Vegas’ proposed domed football stadium. The Bali Hai golf course, which borders the Strip just north of Mandalay Bay, has been named as the current preferred choice.

The estimated price of the stadium, originally announced as $1.45 billion, is now being quoted as $1.7 to $2.1 billion.

>> Riviera implosion: The second of two hotel towers at the shuttered Riviera is set to be imploded at 2 a.m. Tuesday.

The first tower was imploded in June, and a lower-scale demolition and cleanup will follow. The entire process of razing the historic Strip property is estimated to cost $42 million.

>> Wheel deal: The observation wheel at The LINQ is offering a good discount on tickets through the end of August. Regular daytime (11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) tickets are $15, as opposed to the standard adult price of $23.

Question: What are the odds on the USA basketball team winning the gold medal at the Olympics?

Answer: The USA men’s basketball team is such a prohibitive favorite that at some international sports books there’s no line on them to win gold, with the only betting being on who will win silver and which teams will advance out of a group that doesn’t include the USA.

Most Las Vegas books do have lines, with the USA the prohibitive 1-20 favorite (bet $200 to win $10).

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