Derek Stevens
Downtown investment and the sports-centered resort
With his brother Greg, Stevens moved from acquiring downtown properties to developing Circa, placing sports viewing and betting at the center of the experience.
From manufacturing to Fremont Street
In a 2020 interview, Stevens described a Midwest manufacturing background and a casino opportunity in 2006. He dated his first Nevada license to March 2008. Keeping those dates separate avoids turning an initial opportunity into an already completed operating history. [1]
A downtown network
Golden Gate, the former Fitzgeralds reborn as The D, and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center preceded Circa. His interview also credits smaller entrepreneurs and Tony Hsieh with helping form a downtown community. ARGENT treats this as his recollection, not a complete account of every contributor. [1]
The sportsbook as a gathering place
Stevens argued that a physical sportsbook could offer a shared experience even when wagers could be placed by phone. Circa paired its sportsbook with Stadium Swim. This was a bet on people spending time together as well as placing bets. [1] [2]
Two openings in 2020
Circa opened its casino and main amenities on October 28, 2020. The hotel tower and Legacy Club officially followed on December 28. Its own announcement identifies the builders and designers alongside the ownership, preserving the distinction between developing and physically creating a resort. [2]
Key dates
People in the same story
Greg Stevens
Follow the brothers’ shared ownership and downtown development work. [3] [4]
Read the profileTony Hsieh
Stevens discussed Hsieh’s role in the wider downtown community. [1]
Read the profileTilman Fertitta
Compare two downtown investment stories; this is not a claim of a partnership. [5]
Read the profileJonathan Jossel
Follow the related story in Jonathan Jossel’s profile. VEGAS INC [1]
Read the profileIn the archive
3 matching entries in the saved collection.
Derek Stevens Discusses The Las Vegas Club, Downtown Las Vegas
Publisher page and article metadata checked · Oct 3, 2026
Derek Stevens' Gold Touch In Downtown Las Vegas
Publisher page and article metadata checked · Oct 3, 2026
Derek Stevens Looks Toward Downtown’s Past to See Its Future
Headline and date checked against publisher metadata; full text has not been independently reviewed.
Publisher-page access is unconfirmed. Access check: Oct 4, 2026. Search for this source (search results)
Go deeper into the record.
Sources for this profile and starting points for further research. Access notes mark links we could not open directly during the October 3–4, 2026 checks. Historical accounts describe their own period; they do not necessarily describe current operations.
- 1
Derek Stevens
The interview distinguishes a 2006 opportunity from his March 2008 licensing. Its opening-date shorthand is checked against the resort’s release.
- 2
Hotel tower and Legacy Club opening
Distinguishes the October 28 casino and amenities opening from the December hotel-tower opening.
- 3
Derek Stevens is ready for the next evolution of downtown Las Vegas
Publisher-indexed report identifies Derek and Greg Stevens as owners and operators of downtown resort properties.
- 4
New Circa casino called a game changer for downtown Las Vegas
Reports the brothers' Circa development alongside The D and Golden Gate.
- 5
Golden Nugget expansion history
Includes a retrospective on Las Vegas renovations, The Tank and the late-2009 Rush Tower opening. Company investment claims are attributed.