Many thought that City Center in Las Vegas would never happen.  During the peak of the economic crisis, and during a time of less than desirable sales of their residential units, many thought that City Center would collapse. 

But, in true Las Vegas fashion, it looks like the roll of the dice has hit pay dirt.

Three months from today, CityCenter, the city’s biggest gamble in decades, will make its official debut.

Opening dates for the hotels and resorts that make up the $8.5 billion complex were unveiled Wednesday.

Vdara, a 57-story condo-hotel tower boasting nearly 1,500 suites, will open Dec. 1.

The event will precede the opening of the Crystals retail and entertainment district two days later. Crystals is described as a luxury shopping center mixed with celebrity dining attractions. It will be a central feature between the hotel towers on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip.

Another hotel overlooking the Strip, Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, will open Dec. 4. The resort began holding job fairs to fill more than 500 positions this week.

The Aria resort and casino, the only gaming destination inside CityCenter, will hold its grand opening Dec. 16. Aria’s key attractions will include its Elvis Presley-themed Cirque du Soleil show and a mix of nightclubs and bars managed by Light Group.

Light Group has also been tapped to run the Harmon Hotel and Spa, a CityCenter tower scheduled to open in 2010.

So, after much anticipation, one of America’s most risky and exciting developments is about to be unveiled.