Support NeoGAF

[franknbeans]

They were in denial that there was a casino in that place.

The design was all screwed up. That escalator to heaven probably scared off a bunch of gamblers. Poor signage meant people got lost or didn't know things existed. the pool area was too small. The really could have knocked it out the park, but they screwed it up.

I really wish mgm or sands would take it over. Its a nice place. They just need to redo some things

 

[Lucky Forward]

The main issue facing Atlantic City is that tons of casinos are now opening up in Delaware and Pennsylvania. All the degenerate gamblers who used to have to take the hour or two trip to AC to get their fix, can now just go to a casino nearby.

And Maryland. A casino just opened in Baltimore right off of I-95 and next to the downtown stadium complex.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Tons of Indian Casino opened in nearby states. You don't have to drive all the way to Atlantic City anymore.

PA has casinos opened everywhere now, not just on Indian reservations. That is probably sucking a lot of business since there is no need for PA residents to go to Atlantic City.

 

[CrankyJay]

showed my boss, he didn't seem surprised, said

"ah.. that could be the cabana menu"

probably enough food to feed a bunch of people

 

[Soybean]

I grew up near AC so I'm always rooting for it. I know nothing about how to shape an economy, but I've always wondered what they could've done to emphasize non-gambling attractions the way Las Vegas has.

Vegas is in a goddamned desert. AC's on the ocean, and the surrounding shore towns (Sea Isle, Ocean City, etc.) are all very popular. Failure to capitalize on that feature is difficult for me to understand.

 

[Kill3r7]

Been to atlantic city a couple of times, it's a fun place but goddamn they really underutilize the fact that the boardwalk is right on a beach. Could've been a destination that people would want to go to for vacation rather than the shithole that it is. Also, step about 2 blocks off of the boardwalk and your head better be on a swivel cause you're not safe. What super high roller would want to come to a place like that? Atlantic city was kept alive by the old people traveling there on busses and now that PA has a ton of spots that well has dried up

Every politician and investor always suggests this idea completely ignoring the fact that it has been tried and failed before. AC had a monopoly on the Casino business in the tri-state area for 20 some odd years but the powers to be never took advantage of it. All the casinos in AC were/are too reliant on gambling (it was their main source of revenue). So when competition popped up in the surrounding areas then and only then did they think of changing. AC spent too much time focusing on gambling and not enough time on promoting other forms of revenue until it was too late. They lacked the vision that Vegas had. It also doesn't help that the surrounding area near the Casinos is a shithole.

Revel tried to be Vegas in a market where its main clientele was not interest in it. It was a disaster before it even opened its doors. Morgan Stanley backed out of the project while under construction. The initial project was too ambitious for its own good and had to be scaled back. The no smoking policy on the casino floor was idiotic. They did not comp as well as their competitors. They didn't cater to families or the elderly. Last but not least, on most weekends it was cheaper to fly to Vegas than go down to Revel. Simply put, they didn't understand their market. The Borgata, who was their main competitor has managed to do pretty well through all of this and ultimately will be better off for it.

I feel bad for all the folks who lost their jobs but AC is a lost cause at this point.

 

[evilromero]

lol @ banning smoking

It's no wonder an establishment that treats its customers as children who can't perform their own cost-benefit analysis on use of a harmful substance shut down.

lol. News flash. Adults are children. They'd kill themselves with all the vices in the world if they were within grabbing distance. It's the reason the majority of Americans are obese. Plus, smoking affects those around the smoker. So really, no matter how you look at it, the smoker is the most childish one in this scenario.

 

[perfectchaos007]

showed my boss, he didn't seem surprised, said

"ah.. that could be the cabana menu"

probably enough food to feed a bunch of people

There were about 20 chicken tenders on that plate. $40 for 20 tenders....$2 per tender isn't that outrageous.

 

[Alucrid]

PA has casinos opened everywhere now, not just on Indian reservations. That is probably sucking a lot of business since there is no need for PA residents to go to Atlantic City.

Harrah's in AC or Harrah's in Chester, you're stuck in a shit hole either way. It's just a shit hole closer to home.

 

[outunderthestars]

American Dream (formerly Xanadu) was a disaster long before Christie got involved. Besides being the ugliest building ever, construction started 5 years before Christie was governor.

Cabelas was going to be the anchor store, but pulled out when construction got delayed. Some people also think there was pressure from NYC about selling firearms so close by.

Remember wondering what that ugly building was when going to Giants games in 2007. I thought it was just a parking deck and had no idea it was a ski slope.

I cant believe that thing still exists.

 

[E92 M3]

No idea why it shut down.

I can't believe that menu is real LMAO.

 

[Jim]

I was at Revel and Showboat for a few days about 2 weeks ago (comps!). The general atmosphere around the hotel/casinos was pretty depressing as expected.

Revel was terrible as a casino (2 huge escalators to get to the gaming floor) but the hotel itself, and the amenities, was cool. Touchscreen controlled rooms, inside/outside pool, nice health club, game consoles, rooftop gardens, decent food. The outdoor pool club they opened out last year or so was pretty wild. I suspect people just visited it to gawk and check it out and left.

Being at the very end up the boardwalk and being strict about smoking did it no favors. I appreciated the non-smoking policy (which they eventually backtracked on) at least.

That had to be the table/bottle service menu though.... Right?

I can't believe that menu is real LMAO.

That's the poolside service menu if I remember correctly. Plus, you have to remember, a portion of those hanging out there probably have comp credits to spend on that stuff.

 

[turtle553]

All true, but he canceled the ARC tunnel project -- which would have had long term benefits for the region and state, cut tax breaks to senior citizens, gave more tax breaks to the wealthy, cut state funding to municipalities for education, and gave away billions in tax questionable breaks including a tax break for the Xanadu project.

I've written plenty about Xanadu previously on GAF.

That I actually agreed with since NJ was on the hook for any cost overages and all these major projects go 2x over budget at least.

 

[BlackJet]

No idea why it shut down.

Holy shit. Those crab cakes better have tasted like heaven.

 

[E92 M3]

I was at Revel and Showboat for a few days about 2 weeks ago (comps!). The general atmosphere around the hotel/casinos was pretty depressing as expected.

Revel was terrible as a casino (2 huge escalators to get to the gaming floor) but the hotel itself, and the amenities, was cool. Touchscreen controlled rooms, inside/outside pool, nice health club, game consoles, rooftop gardens, decent food. The outdoor pool club they opened out last year or so was pretty wild. I suspect people just visited it to gawk and check it out and left.

Being at the very end up the boardwalk and being strict about smoking did it no favors. I appreciated the non-smoking policy (which they eventually backtracked on) at least.



That's the poolside service menu if I remember correctly. Plus, you have to remember, a portion of those hanging out there probably have comp credits to spend on that stuff.

Eff that - I'll just bring a Lunchable to the pool.

Holy shit. Those crab cakes better have tasted like heaven.

You know they're probably from Costco.

 

[Link]

The question is.............where did the money all go for this in the end?

Because someone made bank even as others lost theirs.

It's cool; it'll trickle back down.

 

[otapnam]

That's the poolside service menu if I remember correctly. Plus, you have to remember, a portion of those hanging out there probably have comp credits to spend on that stuff.

At the pool parties and clubs in Vegas you reserve your area by hitting minimums in food/drink purchases. The prices are usually inflated of course but that's just how it is

 

[Gorillaz]

It really hurts to see my city fucking up like this but they have been fucking up for over a decade. Revel didnt make sense in any way, I was around the soft opening June 2011, for holiday and had fam working there telling us all about it. It was just literally a big ass casino farthest away from everything else on the boardwalk with no character at all other then just being the big new guy. Family working there said they were already in the hole starting out since the had to shift construction plans alot. Like its just hollow abd empty as fuck and worst of all it has created a new wind current in that area lol


The only good I see in these closings is the fact it might push them to bring more family shit there like before. Because they are getting stomped out by other casinos

 

[bigkrev]

The main issue facing Atlantic City is that tons of casinos are now opening up in Delaware and Pennsylvania. All the degenerate gamblers who used to have to take the hour or two trip to AC to get their fix, can now just go to a casino nearby.

PA has casinos opened everywhere now, not just on Indian reservations. That is probably sucking a lot of business since there is no need for PA residents to go to Atlantic City.

Yeah, these are the real problems. Atlantic City is not a very nice place- there are better beaches nearby (Ocean City really shames Atlantic City), and if you just want to gamble, the other casinos are way more accessible.

Pretty much the only reason I would go to Atlantic City at this point was if I wanted to do outlet shopping.

 

[DeadTrees]

Soon it will be time to buy real state. I wouldn't mind having a beach house in AC for summer vacation.

Dude, get a hold of yourself! If the referendum to allow casinos in North Jersey succeeds, Atlantic City will end up as Camden with a beach.

 

[entremet]

Vegas is actually struggling a bit as well.

They're rebranded themselves as a conference mecca to help offset the gambling looses. Along with a entertainment locale--Britney Spears plays Vegas now.

 

[Oppo]

No one gives a fuck if you want to destroy your own health (well, actually, that's a much bigger waste of tax payer money in the long run than pretty much anything else tax money is being spent on), but smoking has bad effects on people who don't want to subject themselves to people's stupid, irrational, inconsiderate, jerk-ish behaviour and not just the stupid people who smoke

i love this post

love everything about it

 

[Cagey]

Vegas is actually struggling a bit as well.

They're rebranded themselves as a conference mecca to help offset the gambling looses. Along with a entertainment locale--Britney Spears plays Vegas now.

Vegas's theme song for the 2010s is "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life". Conferences and club life are huge moneymakers now.

 

[Zero Hero]

My wife and I stayed there last month on the 24th and 25th. Great place and the room was one of the nicest I've been in. It's a shame that whole end of the boardwalk will be dead.

 

[Rommel]

It's crazy that it's shut down. I stayed there in March with my Fiancee and we loved it there. The views could not be beat and at under $100 a night it was a steal. Sadly I probably contributed to it's downfall since I didn't gamble while I was there.

What really breaks my heart is the restaurant Amada closing there. It was one of the best dining experiences I ever had. I hope it ends up moving to a different location.

 

[SkeptiMism]

lol @ banning smoking

It's no wonder an establishment that treats its customers as children who can't perform their own cost-benefit analysis on use of a harmful substance shut down.

jebus..

This.

I feel like having a hotel/casino/etc being smoke-free is less about making a statement on public health, and more about the comfort of guests. Atlantic City has a reputation of being a low-class destination - the sort of place where the smell of cigarettes and cheap seafood buffets has soaked into the walls. If they were serious about setting a new standard for the community, banning smoking the place to start. But the new audience just didn't arrive to support the change. A noble effort nonetheless.

Very much this.

No one gives a fuck if you want to destroy your own health (well, actually, that's a much bigger waste of tax payer money in the long run than pretty much anything else tax money is being spent on), but smoking has bad effects on people who don't want to subject themselves to people's stupid, irrational, inconsiderate, jerk-ish behaviour and not just the stupid people who smoke. It's more about protecting people who don't smoke from the harmful effects of being around people who are smoking than protecting people who smoke.

This too.

Those customers aren't just harming themselves by smoking in casinos. All that second hand smoke hurts everyone, and most people don't want to deal with it.

That said, if the expectation in town is that casinos allow smoking, then I could see a ban hurting revenue. The lack of a buffet and high prices probably hurt more though (Atlantic City gambling isn't exactly high class like it is in Macau or even in Vegas -- you need perks to get asses in those seats at the tables and staying in the rooms).

And also to add, more particularly, people who work in these places should have the right to work in a smoke free environment.

I am so happy smoking is banned in all restaurants and such in my country but I wish it was also expanded to terraces. Smoking is in most cases just really selfish and ignorant towards other people. Nobody should have to move to another table (and often it's not even possible) because a smoker comes to the table next to you.

Note though, that I'm not directly against smoking. If you wanna smoke then smoke, but please do it in a place you don't make other people passive smokers. That includes not smoking when you're walking downtown.

And anyway, as pointed out in the thread, there are plenty of other reasons why the place did so bad.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

No idea why it shut down.

45 muh fuggin dollars for some chips and dip.

 

[Gorillaz]

My wife and I stayed there last month on the 24th and 25th. Great place and the room was one of the nicest I've been in. It's a shame that whole end of the boardwalk will be dead.

That whole end of the boardwalk was usually dead especially back in the 90s. Nobody was walking down there at night where its darker

Its had thst stigma for years idk why they thought Revel was going to change that

 

[PBY]

It also was annoying that sportsbooks weren't allowed there.

For me that kinda sucks for a gambling destination.

 

[CharlieDigital]

That I actually agreed with since NJ was on the hook for any cost overages and all these major projects go 2x over budget at least.

This is a shortsighted view that only matters to politicians (re-election, optics).

The fact is that the project could go 4x over budget and, in the long run, NJ would benefit since the tolls that could be charged are more or less perpetual. It would add another artery to NYC, making it more attractive to live in NJ and work in NYC not to mention easing congestion in general. In the long run, it would have been a net source of revenue and a boon to NJ. In the short run, it would have brought jobs and federal funding into the area still recovering from the recession.

 

[linsivvi]

250 dollar fruit slices.

That must be some pretty badass fruit.

Yeah, all the people quoting the wings and chips prices, those are comparatively a bargain.

$250 for a bowl of fruits and $300 for a plate of cheese. Are you fucking kidding me?

Are they diamond encrusted or what?

 

[Drake]

That menu is absurd. After seeing that I'm glad the place failed.

 

[Sub_Level]

.

.

.

.

These are good points. I rescind my previous post and have altered my view on the matter.

 

[Azih]

Man Toronto dodged a bullet when the dumbass plan to stick a casino right downtown failed.

 

[studyguy]

That can't be real...

That menu is a fucking riot.

Do those fruits come on a golden plate that you keep along with a handjob from the casino owner himself?

 

[Angry Grimace]

What killed Revel is being in Atlantic City

 

[.GqueB.]

What killed Revel is being in Atlantic City

And $35 nuts.

 

[Clydefrog]

"Hi. One Corona please."

"Okay -- that'll be $8."

"Oh can I have it with a slice of lime?"

"Sure! Your total is now $75."

 

[The Albatross]

No idea why it shut down.

I see the word "craft beer" and then ... see no craft beer. And $8.

 

[entremet]

It also was annoying that sportsbooks weren't allowed there.

For me that kinda sucks for a gambling destination.

Only Vegas allows sports books in the entire Nation right?

This is a shortsighted view that only matters to politicians (re-election, optics).

The fact is that the project could go 4x over budget and, in the long run, NJ would benefit since the tolls that could be charged are more or less perpetual. It would add another artery to NYC, making it more attractive to live in NJ and work in NYC not to mention easing congestion in general. In the long run, it would have been a net source of revenue and a boon to NJ. In the short run, it would have brought jobs and federal funding into the area still recovering from the recession.

Christie was so shortsighted by vetoing that project. Never liked the guy after that. Showed his lack of vision.

 

[CrankyJay]

Eh, I don't think people are really getting the menu...every item is probably enough to feed an entire cabana, not a single serving.

 

[studyguy]

Eh, I don't think people are really getting the menu...every item is probably enough to feed an entire cabana, not a single serving.

For 8 dollars, that corona better be 5 feet tall.

 

[turtle553]

This is a shortsighted view that only matters to politicians (re-election, optics).

The fact is that the project could go 4x over budget and, in the long run, NJ would benefit since the tolls that could be charged are more or less perpetual. It would add another artery to NYC, making it more attractive to live in NJ and work in NYC not to mention easing congestion in general. In the long run, it would have been a net source of revenue and a boon to NJ. In the short run, it would have brought jobs and federal funding into the area still recovering from the recession.

It was a rail tunnel, no tolls.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/gov_christie.html

Congressional investigators question why Gov. Christie canceled Hudson River rail tunnel

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

Atlantic City has absolutely nothing to offer people who want to make a day/weekend out of being there. The city is depressing and can be very unsafe to walk around at night through certain areas. Even parts of the boardwalk get a bit sketch in the middle near the old convention center.

Not to mention it costs an arm and a leg to stay there. It should not cost upwards of $150 night to stay in the oldest section of the Tropicana.

 

[BPoole]

Atlantic City is an absolute dump. I went there after I turned 21 with my older brother and stayed at the Harrah's when they were hosting a deadmau5 concert. The entire hotel was littered with guido trash; Ed Hardy shirts, hair gel, thick chains, fake tans, gallons of cheap cologne, the whole nine.

I will literally never go back there. I experienced a slight case of culture shock

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

Yeah, all the people quoting the wings and chips prices, those are comparatively a bargain.

$250 for a bowl of fruits and $300 for a plate of cheese. Are you fucking kidding me?

Are they diamond encrusted or what?

 

[BPoole]

"Hi. One Corona please."

"Okay -- that'll be $8."

"Oh can I have it with a slice of lime?"

"Sure! Your total is now $75."

Actually, it would be $258 (+20% tip, so roughly $285). Dat sliced fruit

 

[Cagey]

holy shit loooool

What a reference.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

American Dream (formerly Xanadu) was a disaster long before Christie got involved. Besides being the ugliest building ever, construction started 5 years before Christie was governor.

Cabelas was going to be the anchor store, but pulled out when construction got delayed. Some people also think there was pressure from NYC about selling firearms so close by.

Remember wondering what that ugly building was when going to Giants games in 2007. I thought it was just a parking deck and had no idea it was a ski slope.

That makes it even WORSE. Chris Christie has invested state money into a ton of shit projects at this point while cutting employee benefits and putting off legally obligated pension contributions. And as he does all of this he talks about how he came together with a Dem legislature to "balance the budget."

I like Christie's personality, but the problem is that if you're going to be that goddamn confrontational you sure as hell better be right. He rarely is.

 

[Gorillaz]

Atlantic City is an absolute dump. I went there after I turned 21 with my older brother and stayed at the Harrah's when they were hosting a deadmau5 concert. The entire hotel was littered with guido trash; Ed Hardy shirts, hair gel, thick chains, fake tans, gallons of cheap cologne, the whole nine.

I will literally never go back there. I experienced a slight case of culture shock

Your shocked that you got that from a jersey casino? All types from over the state come there especially the little shits from north Jersey