Plaza to close hotel
Poll
 | 9 votes (42.85%) | ||
| | 12 votes (57.14%) |
21 members have voted
September 14th, 2010 at 4:25:25 PM
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Plaza to close the hotel in downtown Las Vegas .
The public statement is that the hotel is closing for renovations (for at least a year).
Personally, I doubt that it will re-open unless a miracle occurs.
The hotel is awkward and will require a fortune to renovate.
Sharing the property with the Greyhound station without security does not make it more attractive.
Like Binion's hotel which closed several months ago, the owner has another hotel nearby.
Binion's owner also owns the Four Queens across the street, and
the owner of the Plaza owns the Vegas Club across the street (next to Binions).
So they have rooms available.
The profitable portions of the Plaza are
the casino,
the showroom (where the "Rat Pack is Back" has been playing for years),
the Firefly restaurant and
the food court.
The public statement is that the hotel is closing for renovations (for at least a year).
Personally, I doubt that it will re-open unless a miracle occurs.
The hotel is awkward and will require a fortune to renovate.
Sharing the property with the Greyhound station without security does not make it more attractive.
Like Binion's hotel which closed several months ago, the owner has another hotel nearby.
Binion's owner also owns the Four Queens across the street, and
the owner of the Plaza owns the Vegas Club across the street (next to Binions).
So they have rooms available.
The profitable portions of the Plaza are
the casino,
the showroom (where the "Rat Pack is Back" has been playing for years),
the Firefly restaurant and
the food court.
September 14th, 2010 at 4:42:44 PM
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I never played there, the roulette tables were always haggard
and stained.
and stained.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 14th, 2010 at 4:49:29 PM
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If any renovation works does get underway, then I think it will reopen in the not-too-distant future.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
September 14th, 2010 at 5:05:14 PM
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Quote: NareedIf any renovation works does get underway, then I think it will reopen in the not-too-distant future.
Nareed is ever optimistic. I doubt that any renovation plans are in serious discussion, just as no renovations were actually being done on Binions. It just makes the news release less depressing.
Fitzgerald's is probably the next place to close their hotel.
Boyd gaming may close their hotel in Fremont, and keep the California and Main street open for the Hawaiian tourists.
Incidentally, the locals casinos (like Texas Station) do not have an option to close their hotel . The downtown hotels are so old that they are not covered by requirements to have a hotel. They just go back to the days when having rooms was good business.
All of the locals casinos were required to have a hotel by the city. That's why you see so many 200 or 300 room hotels in locals casinos. That was the minimum number of rooms required to get their business license.
Texas Station - 200 rooms
Santa Fe Station - 200 rooms
Aliante Station - 202 rooms
Boulder Station - 300 rooms
Sunset Station - 448 rooms
Wild Wild West - 260 rooms
September 14th, 2010 at 5:15:32 PM
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Quote: pacomartinNareed is ever optimistic.
Oh, you should hear how happy I can sound when saying I lost all my bankroll!
Quote:I doubt that any renovation plans are in serious discussion, just as no renovations were actually being done on Binions. It just makes the news release less depressing.
Maybe. That's why I said "if." As in "if they do carry out renovations, it would be a waste of money not to re-open."
Of course if they don't need to have an actual hotel, then maybe they can demolish that part of the property and build something else instead. Maybe a nice water park.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
September 14th, 2010 at 5:22:05 PM
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Dang, I reviewed that joint for nothing.
Prop on Plaza reopening within three years of closing:
Yes +350
No -450
Prop on Plaza reopening within three years of closing:
Yes +350
No -450
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 14th, 2010 at 5:32:56 PM
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They should offer a room to Tamares in the Smith Center to open a small bar and a tiny "tables only" casino (maybe a dozen tables). It would give people a chance to run away from the opera that their wife dragged them too and grab a drink and play a few hands.
I think Tamares would make more money on the well heeled patron of the arts center, then on the low rollers that play there now.
In exchange Tamares would tear down the Plaza completely and integrate Fremont Street with Symphony Park.
Foreground is beginning work on Smith Center for Performing Arts. Background is the Plaza hotel & Casino, and the Greyhound station.
I think Tamares would make more money on the well heeled patron of the arts center, then on the low rollers that play there now.
In exchange Tamares would tear down the Plaza completely and integrate Fremont Street with Symphony Park.
Foreground is beginning work on Smith Center for Performing Arts. Background is the Plaza hotel & Casino, and the Greyhound station.
September 14th, 2010 at 5:47:22 PM
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Is there a licensing option for a tiny, tables-only casino?
September 14th, 2010 at 8:58:11 PM
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Quote: WizardDang, I reviewed that joint for nothing.
Prop on Plaza reopening within three years of closing:
Yes +350
No -450
From Mike's review of the Plaza: "My north tower Plaza hotel room was one of the worst rooms I have stayed at in my entire life. The main light switch and the TV remote control didn't work. The furnishings looked like they had been there since the opening in 1971. I doubt the mattresses have ever been replaced. Rather than wake up in the morning in pain with a bad back, I slept on the floor."
Such a glowing review, and its STILL closing? Hard to believe...
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 15th, 2010 at 10:04:05 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffIs there a licensing option for a tiny, tables-only casino?
No. There is a not such an option. There is an option for up to 15 slot machines only of which there are 1915 such licenses in Clark County (mostly bars, convenience stores, supermarkets, etc.).
No one has ever opened a "tables only" establishment.
Plaza Hotel has 700 slot machines, 20 table games, 4 poker tables, and Race and Sports kiosk. They are so spread out that the walkways between the slot machines are 5 feet wide.
But I can't imagine that the Smith Center for the Performing Arts wants slot machines. When it opens in March 2012 it will be full of people willing to spend $100 to $300 on a performing arts ticket. It would be nice if they had someplace to go to get a drink and play a few hands.
BTW, I doubt that anyone would consider this option. Tamares has said they would be happy to give up the Plaza Hotel site in exchange for a building site in Symphony Park to build a hotel and casino. Now that they don't have a hotel, maybe they would give up the building for demolition in exchange for someplace where they can make money.
The building site for the hotel/casino is too valuable. It is being traded in exchange for services rendered (particularly in building the new City Hall).
The fact is that Golden Nugget spent almost $600 million purchasing and renovating the hotel casino (years 2005-2009). Revenue is back to the year 2000 when MGM Resorts bought Mirage Incorporated. Plus downtown is only getting worse. The big question is if downtown and the brownfield site can be resurrected to the point that someone wants to spend over a billion dollars on a new casino.
There are a lot of sites in urban Las Vegas area. There is north strip by the convention center, there is Harmon Avenue by Hard Rock, just south of that is the corner of Tropicana and Paradise near the airport. The site next to City Center on the opposite side of the I15 has been slated for a multi-billion dollar development in 2008. All these sites have freeway access and are fairly close to the airport. Oscar Goodman thinks he can persuade people to build in downtown Vegas. At the same time he want to legalize prostitution on East Fremont Street as part of an urban renewal development.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:25:51 PM
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In five years, half of the hotels/casinos in Vegas will be closed. No new ones will open or be built. The population of the metro area will have dropped by 500,000 vs. 2010.
The Plaza hotel will never reopen.
The Plaza hotel will never reopen.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
September 15th, 2010 at 5:05:19 PM
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Quote: mkl654321In five years, half of the hotels/casinos in Vegas will be closed. No new ones will open or be built. The population of the metro area will have dropped by 500,000 vs. 2010.
The Plaza hotel will never reopen.
Darn, that is a depressing prediction. The city of Detroit lost 500,000 people over a twenty year period (1970-1990) but the metropolitan area of Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI which is about the size of urban Las Vegas lost 111K people in the last five years.
I think even the worst case predictions for Las Vegas do not call for it losing population at five times the rate of Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI .
Gaming Revenue on the strip is off -19.08% from it's peak, and gaming revenue for Clark county is off -20.22%. Those are very bad numbers, but the city didn't fall into crater.
However, I do agree that The Plaza hotel will never reopen but I think that is probably good for downtown. That is 1000 less rooms going at rock bottom price for the other hotels to compete with. I doubt that most people will cancel their trip to downtown just because the Plaza is closed. They will switch reservations to Vegas Club (400 rooms) which is the same company or one of the other hotels.
September 16th, 2010 at 2:20:48 PM
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NOVEMBER 1-4 2010 last four nights. Rooms are $29 apiece.
Hopefully they won't move the furniture during the holidays. The bedbugs will swarm down the stairways and eat the casino guests.
Hopefully they won't move the furniture during the holidays. The bedbugs will swarm down the stairways and eat the casino guests.
September 16th, 2010 at 3:50:16 PM
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Quote: mkl654321The population of the metro area will have dropped by 500,000 vs. 2010.
The Plaza hotel will never reopen.
There are lots of people leaving Vegas, but about half as many as usual are moving there. Why? There are no jobs. Maybe a lot of them are retirees with other sources of income.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 16th, 2010 at 4:01:07 PM
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Quote: pacomartinDarn, that is a depressing prediction. The city of Detroit lost 500,000 people over a twenty year period (1970-1990) but the metropolitan area of Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI which is about the size of urban Las Vegas lost 111K people in the last five years.
I think even the worst case predictions for Las Vegas do not call for it losing population at five times the rate of Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI .
But Detroit had, and still has, a core industry. Government bailouts helped keep it alive, as well.
Las Vegas produces nothing but entertainment, the demand for which is highly elastic. It also has a very high proportion of transient population, and is a fragmented, decentralized non-community. When the casinos falter, there's no longer any reason for many people to hang around. VERY few people live in Las Vegas for its intrinsic qualities (like the climate, weather, or natural surroundings, all of which are repulsive rather than attractive).
Absent a dramatic improvement in the economy, I stand by my prediction, and even think that it's optimistic. Keep in mind that my projected reduction is only a reversal of the population gain from 2000-2005.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
September 16th, 2010 at 4:23:59 PM
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Quote: mkl654321Las Vegas produces nothing but entertainment, the demand for which is highly elastic. It also has a very high proportion of transient population, and is a fragmented, decentralized non-community. When the casinos falter, there's no longer any reason for many people to hang around. VERY few people live in Las Vegas for its intrinsic qualities (like the climate, weather, or natural surroundings, all of which are repulsive rather than attractive).
If a major city like Phoenix can exist successfully in the middle of the desert, without gambling as a major draw, why can't Vegas?
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
September 16th, 2010 at 4:34:05 PM
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Quote: WizardIf a major city like Phoenix can exist successfully in the middle of the desert, without gambling as a major draw, why can't Vegas?
I never said Vegas "couldn't exist", only that it would suffer a major population reduction. I don't know what the major industry that supports Phoenix is, but if that industry collapsed, I would expect that Phoenix would also suffer a severe outmigration.
However, Phoenix has several things going for it that Vegas does not. Though Phoenix itself is a scorched, lifeless dust bowl in the middle of the desert, it is surrounded by some beautiful and compelling country. Phoenix is much better situated for interstate commerce than Las Vegas. Phoenix has established a reputation as a retirement haven, long before Vegas ever did. And lastly, Arizona has some of the most insanely reactionary laws on the planet, equaled only by Florida. Its social and political structure have been carefully formed to keep the old folks happy--so even if Phoenix's economy went in the tank, there would still be plenty of reason for people to live there.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
September 16th, 2010 at 4:53:31 PM
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Quote: mkl654321I never said Vegas "couldn't exist", only that it would suffer a major population reduction. I don't know what the major industry that supports Phoenix is, but if that industry collapsed, I would expect that Phoenix would also suffer a severe outmigration.
I agree that Phoenix has a much more diverse base, examplified by the fortune 500 companies in each city. It is just that there has been no reduction in the population of clark County so far. New Orleans has lost about 25% of its population, but its housing base took a significant hit.
I have never heard of a place undergoing a 25% reduction in population in only 5 years because of economic changes. Even the most rapidly de-populating places in America are usually only depopulting center cities, but maintaining or increasing the larger metropolitan area.
Even the depopulation of New Orleans was aided by the fact that nearby Houston needed many workers at the time. It's not like these half a million people can readily find work in So-Cal, Phoenix, or Salt Lake City.
| Fortune 1000 | Corporation | Revenue | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| #264 | Harrah's Entertainment | $8,907.4 | $827.6 |
| #360 | MGM Resorts | $5,978.6 | -$1,291.7 |
| #456 | Las Vegas Sands | $4,563.1 | -$354.5 |
| #634 | Wynn Resorts | $3,045.6 | $20.7 |
| #962 | Boyd Gaming | $1,641.0 | $4.2 |
Phoenix & Maricopa County, AZ
| Fortune 500 | Corporation | Revenue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| #142 | Avnet | $16,229.9 | (world's largest franchised distributor of electronic components) |
| #154 | Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold | $15,040.0 | (world's lowest-cost copper producer) |
| #222 | US Airways Group | $10,458.0 | (airline) |
| #278 | Republic Services | $8,199.1 | (waste management) |
| #393 | PetSmart | $5,336.4 | (pet care) |
September 16th, 2010 at 5:23:29 PM
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Quote: mkl654321Quote: pacomartinVERY few people live in Las Vegas for its intrinsic qualities (like the climate, weather, or natural surroundings, all of which are repulsive rather than attractive).
Vegas has extremes for climate, its either too hot or too cold. I don't think I've ever been there when it was a 'nice' day for longer than 2 days in a row. And the visuals outside the city look like the surface of the moon or the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust."It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 16th, 2010 at 5:27:20 PM
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Quote: WizardDang, I reviewed that joint for nothing.
Prop on Plaza reopening within three years of closing:
Yes +350
No -450
I appreciated the review, even though it looks like I'll never stay there. Thank you for it.
I actually like the "yes" side ofd this bet, and would put my $$$ where my cyber-mouth is if I ever got to see you. It's hard for me to believe that the Vegas Club's rooms are any better (overall) than those at the Plaza, so if they find enough scratch to renovate the rooms at the Plaza, it would make sense to do that and maybe close the VC once it's done.
September 16th, 2010 at 6:05:24 PM
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Quote: pacomartinI think Tamares would make more money on the well heeled patron of the arts center, then on the low rollers that play there now.
In exchange Tamares would tear down the Plaza completely and integrate Fremont Street with Symphony Park.
The stinkin' railroad tracks run between the hotel and Symphony Park. I don't think there is an elegant way to connect them.
I do think the hotel will reopen. It may not be in 16 months, and it may not be the "Plaza" or "Union Plaza", but a hotel will eventually open to anchor that end of Fremont.
Some sectors of the economy are showing glimmers of activity (IT, manufacturing, defense). Hopefully, we are at or near the bottom of this depression, and can look forward to the entertainment/tourism based economy of Las Vegas rebounding quickly, as it has done in the past following national economic downturns.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
September 16th, 2010 at 6:06:05 PM
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Quote: pacomartinI agree that Phoenix has a much more diverse base, examplified by the fortune 500 companies in each city. It is just that there has been no reduction in the population of clark County so far. New Orleans has lost about 25% of its population, but its housing base took a significant hit.
I have never heard of a place undergoing a 25% reduction in population in only 5 years because of economic changes. Even the most rapidly de-populating places in America are usually only depopulting center cities, but maintaining or increasing the larger metropolitan area.
Even the depopulation of New Orleans was aided by the fact that nearby Houston needed many workers at the time. It's not like these half a million people can readily find work in So-Cal, Phoenix, or Salt Lake City.
Thanks for the figures.
I would submit that Vegas is more susceptible to the loss of population in severe economic times than many other cities for the reason that much of its current population moved there to take advantage of an economic boom.
There were basically three reasons to move to Vegas during the boom years: easily available, high-paying unskilled jobs in the casino and building industries, low-cost housing, and the recreational appeal of the casino environment. All three of these reasons for living there have disappeared simultaneously (it does you very little good to have a casino down the street if you're too broke to gamble).
It's also true that people in Vegas don't have a very good chance of finding work elsewhere, but their chances of finding work in Vegas are nil. The "official" figure of 14.9% unemployment equates to a real-life figure of 30%. That's almost 300,000 people looking for jobs. I would imagine a lot of people last month walked outside into the 110-degree heat and then walked right back inside and phoned U-Haul.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
September 16th, 2010 at 6:27:10 PM
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I saw a thing on Vegas the other day and they interviewed a licenced plumber who's leaving Vegas and said in the 10 years he's been there, he never found a full time position as a plumber. He constantly moved from job to job and now the jobs have totally vanished.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
September 17th, 2010 at 10:54:40 AM
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Quote: WizardIf a major city like Phoenix can exist successfully in the middle of the desert, without gambling as a major draw, why can't Vegas?
In 1970 Phoenix city, AZ had a population of 581,562 , while all of Nevada was 496,960 (55% lived in Clark County).
I wonder if the reputation as sin city hurt Las Vegas's growth. Possibly it was inevitable anyway, since Phoenix is more on the main transportation routes from SOCAL to Texas and the East.
Quote: © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Article removed by management out of fear of a lawsuit .
Comment: The dip in gaming revenue since the County/Strip peak in October 2007 has not been significantly worse in downtown than in other regions of Clark County. It should be pointed out that Binion's and the Plaza were barely functioning as businesses three years ago when times were good.
Downtown has been slowly dropping in gaming revenue since 1992-93. Before about 2006 the rate of decay was slow enough that the businesses could remain profitable through efficiency improvements and reduced payroll. In fact in 2005-2006 profits downtown boomed when room rates soared by up to 40% as a result of zooming room rates on the Strip.
Clark County -20.22%
Strip -19.08%
Strip (less baccarat) -24.29%
Downtown -21.90%
Laughlin -24.10%
Mesquite -30.44% (Oasis casino in Mesquite closed)
Boulder Strip -18.25% (added M Resort and Eastside Cannery)
September 17th, 2010 at 11:49:44 AM
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Quote: pacomartinIn 1970 Phoenix city, AZ had a population of 581,562 , while all of Nevada was 496,960 (55% lived in Clark County).
I wonder if the reputation as sin city hurt Las Vegas's growth. Possibly it was inevitable anyway, since Phoenix is more on the main transportation routes from SOCAL to Texas and the East.
The "Sin City" reputation probably hurt growth in the 70's, but starting in the 80's, Vegas gave itself a makeover as a family-friendly destination and a middle-class haven. Gambling became much more socially acceptable during that time, as well.
Another change that encouraged growth was that the city planners (the casinos) began to think of the city as something more than just a cluster of casinos surrounded by cheapo casino worker housing (and a couple of fortified enclaves for the casino bosses). They actually started to do things like pave the sidewalks (well into the 80s, most sidewalks were dirt), build city parks (there were TWO in the entire valley in 1980), and install a decent bus system (there were a total of nine bus routes in 1985). With all the money flowing into town, the residential areas were transformed from something out of the Dust Bowl into middle class heaven. Schools, parks, grocery stores, paved roads--you name it. And to top it off, casinos were plopped into the middle of those new neighborhoods, so you no longer had to fight the tourist traffic to get your Friday night slot fix.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
September 17th, 2010 at 12:59:06 PM
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Quote: mkl654321They actually started to do things like pave the sidewalks (well into the 80s, most sidewalks were dirt), build city parks (there were TWO in the entire valley in 1980), and install a decent bus system (there were a total of nine bus routes in 1985).
Wikipedia states that in the 1980s and early 1990s, before CAT was formed, Las Vegas had the smallest bus system for a major US city.
LVTS was one of the very last private bus systems in the US. Almost every other American city/town transit system was government subsidized. The reason behind the "success" of LVTS and its ability to run a system without a government subsidy was due to the lucrative Route 6 "Strip".
October 8th, 2010 at 10:50:13 AM
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I read yesterday on Anthony Curtis's site the Plaza bought a lot of the fire sale stuff from the Fountainblue (however that's spelled).
What does that mean to my unwarranted optimism?
What does that mean to my unwarranted optimism?
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
October 8th, 2010 at 4:11:39 PM
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Quote: NareedI read yesterday on Anthony Curtis's site the Plaza bought a lot of the fire sale stuff from the Fountainblue (however that's spelled).
What does that mean to my unwarranted optimism?
Perhaps I was too cynical.
October 8th, 2010 at 5:04:36 PM
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Great shot. It makes Downtown look better than in real life.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
October 8th, 2010 at 6:30:54 PM
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Quote: NareedGreat shot. It makes Downtown look better than in real life.
Yeah. No winos and no beggars. Must have been a pretty fast exposure.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.---George Bernard Shaw
October 8th, 2010 at 7:39:21 PM
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Quote: mkl654321Yeah. No winos and no beggars. Must have been a pretty fast exposure.
I see very very few winos and beggars downtown, the bicycle cops really do a good job on that. Here's a funny story. Several years ago a pickpocket got me Downtown for $150. I felt his hand in my pocket, I know what happened. I stopped a bike cop and reported it and he didn't believe me. He said that what everybody says when they hire a hooker and she steals their money. I got pissed and he took the report but he still didn't believe me. Its funny now, at the time it was infuriating.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
October 10th, 2010 at 11:36:58 AM
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They've pushed the winos off to the side streets until after midnight. Most of the tourists leave after the last light show.
August 3rd, 2011 at 3:41:54 PM
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Well those who took the "Pass" appear to have won the day. The Plaza is set to re-open on September 1, 2011. Unfortunately, the tapas place, Firefly, will not be re-opening there.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:51:28 PM
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Whoa! Book me a room, Stat!! [edit] only kidding, I wouldn't go to my Grandmother's wake if it was held there.Quote: AyecarumbaWell those who took the "Pass" appear to have won the day. The Plaza is set to re-open on September 1, 2011. Unfortunately, the tapas place, Firefly, will not be re-opening there.
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:53:00 PM
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.....
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:03:05 PM
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To be fair, The Wiz has to review The Plaza again.
Last time he said it was the worst hotel room he'd
ever stayed in.
Last time he said it was the worst hotel room he'd
ever stayed in.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
August 4th, 2011 at 7:19:46 AM
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Now that it has all that swanky new Fountainblew[sic] furniture, it should be less than crap!Quote: EvenBobTo be fair, The Wiz has to review The Plaza again.
Last time he said it was the worst hotel room he'd
ever stayed in.
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
August 4th, 2011 at 9:58:54 AM
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My cousin is the executive chef at one of the new restaurants in there. He says the place has totally been revamped. So we'll see. I mean....everyone's expectation for the Plaza is so low....the joint has nowhere to go but up right??
August 4th, 2011 at 10:11:41 AM
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Quote: s2dbakerNow that it has all that swanky new Fountainblew[sic] furniture, it should be less than crap!
Their website mostly just takes reservations now, but there are some pics of the rooms. They look quite nice.
Any locals planning to attend the grand re-opening? This should mark a historic date in LV history, right? A hotel that closed for renovations actually carried out renovations and re-opened? Has that ever happened before?
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 5th, 2011 at 5:04:10 AM
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Quote: NareedThis should mark a historic date in LV history, right? A hotel that closed for renovations actually carried out renovations and re-opened? Has that ever happened before?
I was more than skeptical about them re-opening. But $35m is not that much to spend on a 1000 room hotel. I doubt they replaced the bathrooms. But just changing out the rugs and the furniture and killing the bedbugs will make a huge difference.
If you want to see an interview, watch:
Oscar Goodman to open steakhouse at Plaza hotel
Oscar is popular enough that he should make that place into a success. Since he probably spends a lot of time eating steaks and drinking anyway, it shouldn't change his lifestyle much.
With his wife as the new mayor, there should be a lot of political lunches there.
August 5th, 2011 at 6:19:44 AM
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Quote: pacomartinI was more than skeptical about them re-opening. But $35m is not that much to spend on a 1000 room hotel.
It comes to 35 k per room (as though I need to point that out in here), less if some money was spent on the casino itself and/or behind the scenes. Nor is a year too long for such a place.
Quote:With his wife as the new mayor, there should be a lot of political lunches there.
Is Vegas turning into a monarchy? :P
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 5th, 2011 at 7:30:40 AM
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Quote: NareedIs Vegas turning into a monarchy? :P
Actually monarchies do not pass the throne to marital partners. When it does go that way (Catherine the Great of Russia) it is considered a conquest. Monarchies only pass to blood kin (i.e. a son).
But American politics does have a history of passing an office to the wife after the husband dies or is legally prevented from running.
August 5th, 2011 at 7:36:28 AM
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That's how Cher became a congressman from Southern California!Quote: pacomartinAmerican politics does have a history of passing an office to the wife after the husband dies or is legally prevented from running.
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
August 5th, 2011 at 9:17:03 AM
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I think most any politician would involve their spouse as a key adviser, at least in private, as that is the role of a spouse. So it makes sense that a spouse could step into the job, especially if the other spouse is still around to become the adviser.
August 5th, 2011 at 9:56:27 AM
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Quote: pacomartinActually monarchies do not pass the throne to marital partners. When it does go that way (Catherine the Great of Russia) it is considered a conquest. Monarchies only pass to blood kin (i.e. a son).
Ah, but as I recall my junior high history, Catherine the Great took the throne forcibly over from her husband. My teacher called her "Catarina nada tonta," FWIW. BTW not many women went down as "the great."
Quote:But American politics does have a history of passing an office to the wife after the husband dies or is legally prevented from running.
After the spouse dies, yes. When the spouse can't run, not usually. They have to get it past their party, first, and primary voters (if any). Imagine the stink there would have been had Hillary run in 2000, quite aside from the tradition of seeing the VP as heir apparent most of the time.
I know little about Vegas politics, I'm not even sure what exactly was Goodman mayor of, I mean, did his domain extend over Las Vegas city, Clark County, or what? I've no clue. Anyway, lackig any concrete knowledge I'll ask: is Mr. goodman still the mayor in all but name? Or does his wife legitimately run thigns now?
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 5th, 2011 at 11:54:46 AM
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Quote: NareedI know little about Vegas politics, I'm not even sure what exactly was Goodman mayor of, I mean, did his domain extend over Las Vegas city, Clark County, or what? I've no clue. Anyway, lackig any concrete knowledge I'll ask: is Mr. goodman still the mayor in all but name? Or does his wife legitimately run thigns now?
Before he was mayor he was in charge of the convention association which is concerned with promoting the entire urban area. As mayor his authority only extends over the city limits which is roughly half the population of the urban area. However, the casinos inside the city limits are basically Fremont Street, Stratosphere, Palace Station, Suncoast, Marriot at Summerlin, Santa Fe, and Arizona Charlie's.
The only casinos inside the city limits that make over $72 million in gaming revenue are now (1) Golden Nugget, (2) Suncoast, and (3) Santa Fe. There is no firm number, but it is almost certainly less than $1 billion per year.
But Oscar Goodman on many occasions made speeches regarding the entire urban area. His wife may not be able to get away with that, and confine herself to governing the city only.
They clearly state in public that Oscar will not be the shadow mayor. On the other hand they sort of have to say that. He will presumably work as a private citizen in promotions and in real estate.
The Fremont street experience will face considerable competition from Project Linq, in between the Ceasar's corporations oldest hotels. Right now Fremont street offers the opportunity to walk outside, but Linq will do the same thing. Project Linq will tear down the O'Shea's casino in the photo.
The sound and light show over Fremont Street is seeming very dated in the world of big screen theaters for movies. I suspect it should be torn down at this point. Rain is not a serious problem in Vegas.
August 5th, 2011 at 12:03:56 PM
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except when it does. Then it's the apocalypse.Quote: pacomartinRain is not a serious problem in Vegas.
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
August 5th, 2011 at 12:29:53 PM
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Quote: pacomartinBefore he was mayor he was in charge of the convention association which is concerned with promoting the entire urban area. As mayor his authority only extends over the city limits which is roughly half the population of the urban area. However, the casinos inside the city limits are basically Fremont Street, Stratosphere, Palace Station, Suncoast, Marriot at Summerlin, Santa Fe, and Arizona Charlie's.
Has he bene blamed over Neonopolis? Talk about an albatross crossbred with a white elephant...
Quote:They clearly state in public that Oscar will not be the shadow mayor.
I'd be astonished if they said anything else, and so would be everyone in Vegas. It's like telling the police you're innocent. Whether you are or not, it's what you're expected to say.
On the other hand, if Mrs. Goodman carries out similar policies, well, she mightjust agree with her husband on such things. Political marriages are like that.
Quote:The Fremont street experience will face considerable competition from Project Linq, in between the Ceasar's corporations oldest hotels. Right now Fremont street offers the opportunity to walk outside, but Linq will do the same thing. Project Linq will tear down the O'Shea's casino in the photo.
I heard it was finally on. Too bad about O'Shea's.
Quote:The sound and light show over Fremont Street is seeming very dated in the world of big screen theaters for movies. I suspect it should be torn down at this point. Rain is not a serious problem in Vegas.
If I didn't know about flash floods, I'd joke that Las vegans probably don't even know first-hand what rain is. So, no, flash floods aside, rain is not a major problem, I suspect that's one reason there are escalators out on the street. anyway, the Sun is a problem, a rather big one. the canopy over the pedestrian area provides very badly needed and wanted shade.
I like the light show, too. I love the whole ritual of seeing the hotel and shop signs go dark right before the show starts, too. and I suppose pickpockets love it, too. But what would you replace it with? Take that away, and Fremont Street is just a bunch of old casinos with whatever remains of an old Las Vegas "vibe." They need another draw.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
August 25th, 2011 at 9:54:52 AM
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For better or worse, the Plaza had a soft reopening yesterday.
"Poker sure is an easy game to beat if you have the roll to keep rebuying."
August 25th, 2011 at 10:38:53 AM
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Quote: zippyboyFor better or worse, the Plaza had a soft reopening yesterday.
I saw some complaints that they did not do much to the exterior. It still looks tired and worn. I wonder if the rehabbed the pool and tennis courts. If Oscar Goodman spends a decent amount of time in his eponymous restaurant, then he will be a mini-tourist attraction.
