Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

Enjoyed your comments Jeff.

I agree with you on Wynn. As a part time resident of Vegas for over 3 decades I somewhat consider myself a local. And as all locals, I learned long ago that you don't play on the Strip. However, there was definitely a local crowd who still went to Wynn for one reason beyond all its offerings, it was the slot play. To spend a day at the classiest joint in town and come out with more than you came in with or simply lasted a long time with our dollars was incredibly fun, my wife and I had luck there a pretty fair amount of times. We ate well, shopped there, enjoyed the surroundings and simply had fun at Wynn. The past few visits its obvious the machines tightened up. Last month on our visit, we ate at Stratta and left, we simply have no desire to play there anymore. Not sure what percentage of locals that carry their slot cards are showing less activity, but its pretty obvious to us at least that their actions have taken a lot of fun out of the place. On the entertainment front, I would love for Steve to do at least once a year a celebration of old Vegas, big time lounge acts for free. I know Wynn wiped out the lounge very shortly after it was built near the high roller area, but if there is a will there is a way to pull it off. Just one time, I'd love to walk into Wynn and see Harry Connick Jr. or Michael Buble playing the lounge with drums, an upright bass and a piano. Do it for a week, 10pm, 12pm and 2am shows all for the price of a drink. I think it would be a huge hit. Wynn did it for the opening of Bellagio with Michael Feinstein playing the Fontana.

I agree too that Riviera needs to be cleaned up. Its the last old school we got and polishing the marble, brass, cleaning the carpets and windows constantly go a long way to preserve what it is. Marketing wise, It seems a lot of the older hotels don't have any desire to embrace their past for fear of being seen as old and tired in the tourists eyes. Certainly there is a smart way to market your history, whether they'll do it in a smart topical way is another story. Old school service should also be a priority at the Riv to differentiate themselves, you have to pay employees anyway, make them unique by training them to go the extra mile in service. I don't think service is that hot these days in Vegas. I have to go to Mandarin Oriental or Four Seasons to get service I got at every hotel 40 years ago.

I have to agree with the Stratosphere. However I don't frequent that place that often. I always felt that King Kong ride idea they had many years ago would be worldwide hit and draw people to that place just for the iconic factor, everyone knows King Kong and his rise up the Empire State Building and now they would have a chance to experience it up close, but it never happened.

Circus Circus like the Riv, just needs to be kept up. I don't like the rock-n-roll coffee shop or whatever they call it. Keep in family oriented and clean. Would like to see the the mechanical sky horses come back that ran on a track along the big top.

Great column, as usual. Thank you sir.
I have a couple observations and ideas. I think the Riv should have a Classic Strip gaming pit, using recreation gaming tables from all the old Strip casinos that are either closed or are bona fide legends. Sands, Stardust, Desert Inn and Flamingo. Hell, even Westward Ho and Hacienda, I guess. Maybe they should become the guardian of the Classic Strip legacy. And put the Liberace slot machines back out front!
I still wonder why Wynn trades off of the Sinatra name on a daily basis, yet when Frank Sinatra Jr. plays 6-8 shows a year in Las Vegas it's always at Boyd properties?
I wish Steve Wynn would buy the Hilton.

Keen observations, Jeff. The Plaza/New Frontier site would be a natural for Wynn's Ovation when the time is right, maybe a decade from now. I'd also like to see Boyd scale back Echelon to a resurrected Stardust with the entire project designed around the iconic logo and sign - basically an over-the-top neon wonderland. A new Stardust could be the ultimate retro property, a step away from the sleek, sterile monstrosities of late and something to get excited about on the Strip.

Outstanding points and I can't say I disagree with any of them, except perhaps with Fbleau. I think that ship has sailed and the structure needs to be put down. Far too long with no work on it.

I completely agree with your thoughts on CC, Riv, and Strat. The Riv and Strat have started moving in positive directions, but they do need more and those would be good ways to go about moving their properties into the average travelers visibility.

Not knowing the rules of development, is there a chance Ruffin could buy back the Plaza site, build a casino building and connect it to Trump through some long passage, to satisfy the need for hotel rooms? I know Trump has issues with getting a Nevada Gaming license (or did before small ownership in Riv) but I wonder if just some small development on the North side might spur some creative ideas to remove the wasteland that exists there.

Phil is right about Wynn's slots. They used to be the loosest on the Strip, and until this year, the overall payback percentage was stated on the Quarterly earnings reports. Wynn was usually more than a full percentage point better than the Strip average as published in Dave Schwartz's reports. I assume Marilyn Spiegel is responsible for the change.

Since Encore has become the daylife and nightclub center of Wynncore, it sure would be great for the Wynn side to have its own version of Bellagio's Petrossian offering afternoon tea and quiet music.

I agree with Jeff in OKC that it would be wonderful if Steve bought the Las Vegas Hilton and LV Country Club and restored both to their former glory. I know that Steve was unsuccessful at least once in trying to buy the Country Club.

Finally, Jeff Simpson talked about land on the Strip. Will we ever get back to the day when Strip land will be in demand again? Echelon, Fontainebleau, Plaza, Sahara, CityCenter North, Wynn's golf course. Imo, it will take generations to happen, if at all, due to the big players' focus on Asia.

Wynn has to do something to generate some energy in the Encore casino. Even on weekends, excluding the club goers moving between Surrender and XS, it seems very quiet compared to the Wynn side of the building. I had high hopes for the dueling piano act in the Eastside Lounge, but I don't think that is the answer. No more DJs, how about a good cover band like they have at the La Scena lounge in the Venetian? Of course, guest appearances by a Michael Buble or Sinatra Jr. would be great, as well.

If I were a rich casino owner and owned the Riviera, I would demolish everything on that property except for the original 9 story tower and pool and rebuild the casino, restaurants, lounges, etc. exactly how it was from when the place first opened in the the 50's and sort of make it like a museum of how Vegas was. Next, I would build a whole new Riviera mega resort right next to the original Riv, all to way to Convention Center drive. Ah, woops, there goes me dreaming again.