Tropicana Changes

Hi Vegas fans,
Not long ago, I was singing the praises of the Tropicana, noting how much they were doing to change an older, kind of run down place into a new, hip Miami-beach themed hotel. Well... it has not been working out so great for them. I'm kind of surprised, because despite the idea that themes were much more popular in the 1990s in Las Vegas than they are now, the facelift and renovations seemed to be just what the ol' joint needed. Alas.

There have been numerous changes since the fall of 2011. Out went Nikki Beach, Brad Garrett's Comedy Club, Gladys Knight and - for a while - the Mob Experience (not to be confused with the Mob Museum, which opened to much fanfare in February 2012).  But they are trying.

The Mob Experience re-opened, and the Las Vegas Advisor recently reported that Hollywood's Laugh Factory comedy club will take over Brad Garrett's spot. Nikki Beach may be gone, but SPF (unofficially it stands for Swim Play Flirt) is following the trend toward sexier, adult-themed party pools. Although it's not a topless venue, I would not be surprised if the coming expansion includes some kind of topless experience. The Bagatelle Beach and Nightclub will replace the current, short-lived RPM nightclub on April 1.

So here's what I love about the Trop and about Vegas. There's a sense of optimism. When one opportunity doesn't work, there is always another idea and another reason to get excited. Las Vegas works very hard to capture your hard-earned entertainment dollars. They are persistent and determined to make things happen. And in a city where there is a LOT of things happening, that can be tough. But they're trying. That's good news for those of us who like to visit Las Vegas and be entertained. Just sit back and watch it happen.

I'll be soaking it in again soon. I can't wait to visit the Trop and see what's happening there. I'll be sure to report back and let you know. Until then, remember the most important thing... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.

Viva,
Mike

What's to become of the Trop?

Hi Vegas fans,
I am concerned. I have high hopes for the Tropicana. There were promises made. There were grand plans. But it seems to be on a path of uncertainty. After several new beginnings, including Nikki Beach and the Mob Experience, the projects have stalled and there's trouble in Trop town.

They can still turn it around. Even if the current theme isn't working yet, they don't have to bail and implode. But there is still a lot of work to do. They have to decide if the Miami/Havana theme is going to work, or if they need to play that down a bit. If they abandon it, what is the next step? How do they attract top talent and the clientele they need to pay the bills?

Part of the problem is that they are not part of a chain hotel, so they can't bank on help from another property. But they can make it. It will take a little luck, but at least they are in the right city.

Viva,
Mike

Tropicana - Props to The Trop

Hi Vegas fans,

For years I have enjoyed gambling at the smaller, less fancy-shmancy places on the Strip. This includes the Tropicana. But when it first opened in 1957 as the 12th hotel on the Strip, the Trop was quite the exclusive property. The front of the joint boasted a unique, tulip-shaped fountain. Like the Flamingo and the Desert Inn, the Trop was classy in those days.

Fast-forward fifty years. The Trop fell on hard times, and mismanagement kept it from retaining its glory. The rooms got dingy, the carpets looked threadbare, and the once-dignified diamond-in-the rough was just... well, just rough. Folies Bergere closed, and all that remained of original class was the Tiffany ceiling in the casino. It was constantly on the Strip's list of "next to be imploded and archived on YouTube."

But, recent events have helped change the Trop's tune. New management is giving it a major Miami-beach themed upgrade, expected to be complete in 2011. The casino is going high-tech; gamblers will be able to place bets from their seats in the Sports Book with new eDeck devices. Even their website got a face lift.

I'll continue to gamble there. Why? Not because it will be the cool place on the Strip. Not because it will attract new fans with hip shows, fancy restaurants or a happening club. Those things are all great, but I like the Trop for the same reasons I like the Stratosphere and other "small" places: low-minimum games, easy parking, simple casino navigation, laid-back atmosphere, and strong drinks a-plenty. Makes it easy to stay there a while.

So, best wishes to the "newest" casino on the Strip. I like your style!

Viva,

Mike