A SERIOUS, MEANINGFUL THREAD

[Tedlark]

Excellent post regarding the value of clubs and their importance and growth in Las Vegas. One of the reasons traffic to Las Vegas by the Los Angeles twentysomethings is so heavy, is the clubs. There are DJ's that come in to play the Las Vegas clubs and they are paid millions to do it. The kids come in for the clubs, they can gamble if they want in CA. but they chose not to and head to Las Vegas.

Open a couple hot clubs in Atlantic City and bring in a few Electric Music DJ's then you will see the Philly kids heading to Atlantic City.

[doris13]

these kids are only going to the clubs and drinking ted,they do not gamble.i've been at harrahs when they have the parties at the pool,when they are over these kids either go home or go up to their rooms.

[BillyJoe]

these kids are only going to the clubs and drinking ted,they do not gamble.i've been at harrahs when they have the parties at the pool,when they are over these kids either go home or go up to their rooms.
I agree, Doris. I remember seeing crowds of 'kids' in front of PURE (which has since closed) in Caesars LV, while the Blackjack dealers at the tables nearby stood with their arms folded - no players.

The only playing that I usually see is where one person is sitting, playing one coin slowly, while his buddies are getting free drinks from the waitress while they watch him.

I may be wrong, but I do not see attracting young adults as the solution to AC's woes.   

[pokerforme]

Da another classy response, at least it was short. I live no where near AC but read about all the doom and gloom constantly....it was a very interesting thread for a change with reasons. No need to make it personal in any way, BUT you always get defensive not surprised.

[DaBurglar]

You guys have shown a lot of insight with your comments thus far.....Since AC is hurting all over, it is pretty obvious that ANY demographic group would be welcome en masse, whether it be kids or old people or moms and dads.   But Billyjoe really touched the heart of the matter in his dispelling  the notion that kids going to casinos for the clubs will have any major impact on gambling revenues, and DORIS actually nailed that point too!  wow...We need to remember that AC is not, nor could it ever be, "VEGAS on the east coast", nor should it try to be.   AC, with its beach, and its driving proximity to soooo many major urban concentrations, has to find the ONE common element that will yield the most bang for their buck.   That of course is the gambling, itself.....Vegas has become all things to all people;  it has something for everyone. Gambling revenue is truly the crux of this matter, I am sure everyone agrees.   And its known in the gaming industry that the "sweet spot" for demographics these days is really anyone over the age of 40!  You can break it down further of course, by getting into race, education level, and other things, but for AC, you need to find ways to rekindle the betting public to visit.....When people fly to Vegas it is usually for several days to several weeks at a visit......with AC, you used to have people hop in the car and drive for a DAY, bet like a banshee, and then return home.   And they would repeat this pattern over and over......I am sure we can all see the inherent differences.    If AC would make a concerted effort, especially for the boardwalk casinos, to just GIVE gamblers what they want to get them to return, it would at least stop the bleeding.   REVEL had it right with its GAMBLERS - WANTED  theme last year, but sadly for them they had everything else WRONG!  lolBut anyway, let the discussion continue, these all are interesting posts to read!!

[yankees4ever31]

To ignore any demographic is a bad business model. The club scene didn't save Vegas, it helped it limp through the hardest of times. The revenue from bottle service, drinks, and celebrities visiting the club is what makes the club scene so lucrative.

Attracting the twenty-somethings is only a piece of the puzzle. While not all of them will gamble, some will, which means more gamblers than before. Also, this builds future business because some these patrons will come back and may become gamblers later on in life.

Another issue AC has is the lack of attractions for non-gambling visitors. A boardwalk amusement park and a Boardwalk Hall light show isn't going to attract any new business or tourists.

How about a real amusement park? Why not high-speed ferries from Philadelphia? A Nascar track maybe?

Why is it that we as gamblers can come up with ideas but CEOs of these casinos can't? It's because the CEOs only care about profit and not making the customer happy. Steve Wynn gets this right. He knows that his customers will return to him because he gives them the ultimate experience and realizes investing in the customer returns the best profit.

-yankees4ever31

[Galeygoo]

[QUOTE=DaBurglar], and DORIS actually nailed that point too!  wow...
 
Wow....this tone seems  pretty snotty to me. 

[BillyJoe]

Another issue AC has is the lack of attractions for non-gambling visitors. A boardwalk amusement park and a Boardwalk Hall light show isn't going to attract any new business or tourists.

Harrahs is building a new Convention Center at their Marina property, but this will take a while to gear up.

How about a real amusement park? Why not high-speed ferries from Philadelphia? A Nascar track maybe?

Well, why not a complimentary ferry from several NY locations directly to the now unused Pier Shops at Caesars AC ?

Why is it that we as gamblers can come up with ideas but CEOs of these casinos can't? It's because the CEOs only care about profit and not making the customer happy. Steve Wynn gets this right. He knows that his customers will return to him because he gives them the ultimate experience and realizes investing in the customer returns the best profit.
-yankees4ever31
It is all about executive compensation plans. If they were set based on market growth, not short term profit, magic would happen.

Steve Wynn has always had the luxury of setting his own goals. He is able to attract other people's money to invest in growth projects, and that has served him well.

[doris13]

galeygoo,remember now,all these comments are coming from a person who claims to have 2 harvard degrees.i am above his comments so nothing he says bothers me anymore.

[Tedlark]

My question to DaBurglar is a simple one even though its a two part question: how long has Atlantic City been a vacation and entertainment destination and when was gambling first legalized in Atlantic City?

My point goes back to my earlier comment about Atlantic City first hitting rock bottom before returning like a Phoenix?

How much did the city of Detroit shrink in order to start a turn around? Thus was a hard choice made for the betterment of the entire city and maybe other cities and towns, Chicago and Atlantic City included, could learn something from Detroit.