Hi Vegas fans,
A recent Las Vegas Advisor Question of the Day has me thinking... "How many observation wheels does Las Vegas need?" My answer is "none" but obviously there's something wrong with me. I am not a developer. There are currently two pending observation wheel projects under consideration on the Las Vegas Strip. The Skyvue wheel proposal is located next to Mandalay Bay. Ok - so this one does kind of make sense. You can see a long way down the Strip from here, and there is plenty of open space. If I had to vote for a wheel, I'd vote for this one.
The other is part of Caesars' misadventure into retail-dom with its infamous Linq project, due to be completed in 2013. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in this conversation: "We're going to take the most valuable gaming property in the U.S. and build (get ready) a giant retail space! I know what you're thinking - Las Vegas already has a ton of upscale shops, bars and restaurants. And some amusement rides. And lots of other entertainment outside of the casino. And although gaming is available in other states, there's really nothing like it anywhere but Las Vegas, but instead of improving our casinos or building new ones, we're going to add dining and retail space. And a ginormous wheel. Great idea, eh? Eh?"
No. Not a great idea. Their argument is that Las Vegas has tons of gaming and that it doesn't need another casino. Well, it doesn't need a lousy casino with unimaginative space, lousy odds, few games, and surly dealers. It needs more good gaming.
Right now, good gaming is limited to the very northern and southern ends of the Strip, downtown and the outskirts. The heart of the Strip is sadly missing that element. It is not uncommon, for example, to see a $10 blackjack table with a 6 deck shoe with a 6-5 payout at Harrah's. Horrible. Why would I go there when I can get a spot at a $5 blackjack table with 3-2 payout at the Strat, downtown, Circus Circus, or Excalibur? I wouldn't.
Visitation in Las Vegas continues to rise, but people are not spending as much as they would during a better economy. The powers that be have decided that people would rather shop, eat, drink, and ride around on a giant wheel.
Here's an idea: why not make gaming more attractive? Better video poker. Better slots. 3-2 blackjack in 6 deck shoes. Craps tables with 3x odds. Casinos are still going to make money, and in fact they might make more with a surge in people who are hungry for decent gaming. Come on, casino execs. This should be easy.
Las Vegas went away from its core during the whole "family theme" once in the 1990s. Up went the amusement parks (MGM Grand), water slides, themed resorts, mega pools, and games for kids. They soon realized that children under 21 cannot pull the handles on the one-armed bandits. So down went many amusement parks, water slides, etc., and the pools are now party zones for the (barely) over 21 crowd to draw them to... the casino! Las Vegas revamped itself back to Sin City (see Sirens of TI) and the only reason the pyramids and castles still stand is because they have (get ready) casinos! That's right, gambling.
Stay close to your core, my friends. While variety is good and necessary, there are already plenty of options for shows, bars, shopping and restaurants in Las Vegas to keep everyone busy. What makes Las Vegas unique is gaming - and the abundance of it. Make it great again and people will gladly spend their entertainment dollars right there in the belly of the cash cow.
Viva,
Mike
1 comment:
well I know we dont usually see eye to eye on CET. yeah,im pretty much married to what some call the evil empire they have become.
but on this one im with you. Not a fan of any ferris wheel,or the whole ling project, and with more shops i might even have to leave the casino to join my wife while she shops, wa so easy saying,hey,ill be in this area while she hit the forum shops.
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