AC Waterfront Sculpture Art Walk

[DaBurglar]

This goes to show you how easy it is to be distracted by the gambling (and the results thereof), while totally missing all the other things a destination has to offer. On my last trip to AC, there was a huge pile of promotional marketing literature in the lobby of the TAJ (flyers, brocures, etc.)    I scooped them all up to be read and examined later.    Yesterday I finally got around to it, and I was suprised by all the things AC has to offer BESIDES the casinos, things that I am now enthused to see and experience, and things that I have been saying all along AC can and should use to promote itself as the only REAL choice or alternative to Vegas.....AC, as it turns out, has many things VEGAS does not. One of the new things I learned (after 4 years of visiting AC) was that it actually IS possible to walk to and fro between the three Marina Casinos (Borgata, Harrahs and Golden Nugget.)   I had known Harrahs and Borgata were connected, but I had always thought Golden Nugget was ISOLATED on the other side of the freeway from the two casinos and that if you stayed and played at the GN, the only way to visit the other places was by vehicle! WRONG!    Turns out there is a 1.1 mile walkway that connects all three properties, and that this walkway is adorned and lined with beautiful distinct sculpture works of art!    Furthermore, in the Summer, at Sundown, the view along this walkway is supposed to be truly breathtaking. I am actually enthused about this!   For one thing, I now have an alternative to the boardwalk, one where I can wheel around and get exercise while also not forcing myself to stay and play in one single property.   I have always wanted to stay and play MORE at the Golden Nugget as well as Harrahs and Borgata and this will allow that without sacrificing anything.   It is made even better by the fact that the POKER scene in AC is essentially centered on the Borgata and Harrahs, so this is truly an advantage!  I am going to bet that Jimdeuceswild is probably the only person on here who knew you could actually walk between the Borgata and Golden Nugget.......!

[BillyJoe]

This goes to show you how easy it is to be distracted by the gambling (and the results thereof), while totally missing all the other things a destination has to offer.
 
On my last trip to AC, there was a huge pile of promotional marketing literature in the lobby of the TAJ (flyers, brocures, etc.)    I scooped them all up to be read and examined later.    Yesterday I finally got around to it, and I was suprised by all the things AC has to offer BESIDES the casinos, things that I am now enthused to see and experience, and things that I have been saying all along AC can and should use to promote itself as the only REAL choice or alternative to Vegas.....AC, as it turns out, has many things VEGAS does not.
 
To your point about AC advertising, Burglar, that material should be elsewhere, not just in the lobby of the Taj. Those folks are ALREADY in AC - they need folks to make a decision to COME to AC, versus a different gaming venue.
 
I am all about new experiences, and something like that, along with a few other "unique to AC" things, could change the mind of someone like me in FLA about where to visit.

[JIMDUECE`SWILD]

Yes, I guess I'm the one who knows about this. " BUT " There is a nature trail that goes from the Borgata to Harrah's. This trail is nice to walk except during the summer June, July, August and part of September. Those LARGE green head and black head flies will BITE the crap out of you. Don't where shorts or sleevlees shirts if you do you will be eat'n alive. The walkway goes along the Bay with wooden decks extending over the banks of the bay with nature facts and points of interest. It continues around the back of Harrah's and under the Brigatine bridge towards the Golden Nugget. There are several people fishing along the canal. Between Harrah's and GN is regular sidewalk.As far as from GN to the Boardwalk you have to take the sidewalk and go through the city. I wouldn't want to go thru some of those neighborhoods If you would like to see go to Google maps and do a satalite view of the Borgata and Harrah's back bay area you will see the waterfront walk and Harrah's Baywalk.

[DaBurglar]

   
To your point about AC advertising, Burglar, that material should be elsewhere, not just in the lobby of the Taj. Those folks are ALREADY in AC - they need folks to make a decision to COME to AC, versus a different gaming venue.
 
I am all about new experiences, and something like that, along with a few other "unique to AC" things, could change the mind of someone like me in FLA about where to visit. [/QUOTE]
   Hallajeulah!  (and AMEN) See, billyjoe realizes what is a big part of AC's problem.......he is saying exactly what I have said numerous times, AC has no clue how to market itself and it has a direct bearing on its current problem of too few visitors. I have often stated how AC does little to no advertising outside of the immediate vicinity of NY/NJ.....its almost as if they either concede the rest of the country or they dont think people will show up even if they do advertise.   It makes absolutely no sense (or "cents").  Does anyone else here know (besides me) the AC actually has an aquarium that is supposed to be pretty nice?    How about the "SMITHVILLE" historic village with dozens of shoppes, a lake, several nice cozy inns and a village train, located veru close to AC and a great place to spend a day shopping during the holidays or the 4th of July?   A family with children would love it, and at night the parents could prance over to AC casinos while the kids have fun with adult supervised activities in and around the village.   Its just a possibility but one you never hear about.... There are numerous wineries around south jersey within easy driving distance to AC.....there are fishing and boat tours available from AC that you can book thru your casino, and your host might comp it if you play enough....anyone know about that?   There is a historic lighthouse that is actually very interesting since it was built in 1857 during the peak of the whaling indistry and just before the advent of Ironclads, along with the quarters of the lighthouse keeper as they existed through the years.  Anyhoo.....thanks for the warning jimdeuces about the malicious insect menace, but I have a question.....this "nature walk" you spoke of between the Borgata and harrahs, is this different from the 1.1 mile walkway that has all the sculpture?    I dont feel like getting bit 56 times when I wheel between these places in the summer, and I doubt I would be wheeling this path during the current time of year (january-february), lest I freeze and become yet one more statue/frozen piece of artwork for people to gawk at and for seagulls to poop on......

[olds442jetaway]

My suggestion for A/C is to offer to match comps dollar for dollar including rooms that the Ct. casinos are offering. That would certainly get me down there. Otherwise, it would take me many trips to get to the level that Ct. is currently offering. With the amount of hours and $ I spend on an average visit to Mohegan Sun, I am sure A/C could still make out fine. Foxwoods recently offered to match Mohegan Sun comps. They have since discontinued that program, but I kept track and Foxwoods still made out fine even after factoring out what they offered at retail compared to my losses there. The only reason I can think of as to why the program was discontinued is the locals ( and there are many) jumped from casino to casino just using the free offers and heading back home. A large percentage of patrons that frequent both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Ct. live just a few minutes away.

[JIMDUECE`SWILD]

  I haven't been on the walkway lately. I believe the statues and art work is around Harrah's. The walkway from the back of the Borgata all the way to the GN is about 1.1 mile. Several years ago MGM was going to build a " beautifull " hotel & casino on that vacent lot in between Harrah's and the Borgata. But MGM back out. http://www.behance.net/gallery/Atlantic ... 624047That would make that whole area beautiful.

[BillyJoe]

  
Several years ago MGM was going to build a " beautifull " hotel & casino on that vacent lot in between Harrah's and the Borgata. But MGM back out.
MGM probably built CityCenter in Vegas instead... Oops..

[DaBurglar]

well, we also know MGM essentially KILLED Foxwoods when they added on and built the MGM-Foxwoods addition right smack onto the main Foxwoods Hotel-casino, thus making the world's largest hotel casino even larger!   But this was done in 2007-2008, just as the whole scene was caving in, and the huge amount of debt Foxwoods took on to build and staff and promote this totally unneccessary and superfluous add-on has caused them to implode and fall apart.     The Pequot tribe has lost almost all the benefits (and wealth) they had prior to this move, and they are now fighting for survival (and not winning.....they may have no alternative but to seek chapter 11 and find a buyer, which will not be easy since the whole enterprise is predicated on tribal gaming laws and land.   Before they could sell to a mainstream company (like Caesars or Wynn) the state of connecticut would have to rewrite and re-invent casino gambling in the state.....meanwhile, what would become of all these poor Pequots once the casino was gone?   

[olds442jetaway]

They also broke ground recently on a 115 million dollar Tanger Outlet Mall complex. This is causing a disruption in traffic, parking, etc. I would think that focusing on their core business and listening to their patrons a little more might help their bottom line. Promotions and advertising are a key to saving any sinking business. As I have said before several times,when a failing restaurant raises prices, cuts quality, and portions, it is all over. I hope there is no parallel here. Hopefully, things will get better and both Ct. casinos will make it. There are thousands of hard working employees at both casinos. Industry in that part of the state except for the Government run sub base in Groton has mostly vanished.
     There are other legalities involved involving whether to even allow an Indian Tribe Casino to file bankruptcy. There are considerations that could have far reaching ramifications to their and other tribes too. Precedents could be set. Giving up soverign rights, inability of a soverign nation to offer equity to secured and unsecured parties, etc. etc. etc. all come into play. This is why so far Foxwoods has worked out an extremely complex deal with its creditors. Hopefully, for all involved it will be sustainable.

[Tedlark]

  DaBurglar as a member of the Cherokee Nation I thank you for your concern as to the well being of the Pequot peoples. I am sure that edog may also give you props too.