• Atlantic City to make another push for customers

    They'll need more than the same advertising and a couple beach bars. They need to emphasize the size and scope of the city compared to the newer venues. Now, if they would just go back to the rules when they got into the casino business.

    http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/six-mo...back-6C9599944
    Comments 28 Comments
    1. paymypush's Avatar
      paymypush -
      I wonder what Resorts is going to do with the celebrity hand prints that were at the Boardwalk entrance.

      You can follow the progress on the Landshark Bar and Grille by googling Resorts Beach Cam.
    1. SystemsTrader's Avatar
      SystemsTrader -
      I live a lot closer to AC than Vegas but the flights to Vegas are much cheaper and rarely is a direct flight into AC available with Philly as the closest airport. No wonder tourists don't go there and that's not even considering the lousy games. The hotels need to get together with the NJ tourism board and airlines to get subsidized cheap flights directly into AC.
    1. njrich's Avatar
      njrich -
      Quote Originally Posted by SystemsTrader View Post
      I live a lot closer to AC than Vegas but the flights to Vegas are much cheaper and rarely is a direct flight into AC available with Philly as the closest airport. No wonder tourists don't go there and that's not even considering the lousy games. The hotels need to get together with the NJ tourism board and airlines to get subsidized cheap flights directly into AC.
      AC does have an airport about 10 miles outside the city.Spirit is the main airline there.
    1. NT21's Avatar
      NT21 -
      Yep, Spirit Air direct from Boston to AC (ACY) for under $125 round trip. Can't beat it.
    1. njrich's Avatar
      njrich -
      Quote Originally Posted by SystemsTrader View Post
      The hotels need to get together with the NJ tourism board and airlines to get subsidized cheap flights directly into AC.
      They need to do more that but at least let people know they even have one.
    1. Tom's Avatar
      Tom -
      Wishful thinking on the last part
    1. AP360's Avatar
      AP360 -
      Quote Originally Posted by SystemsTrader View Post
      I live a lot closer to AC than Vegas but the flights to Vegas are much cheaper and rarely is a direct flight into AC available with Philly as the closest airport. No wonder tourists don't go there and that's not even considering the lousy games. The hotels need to get together with the NJ tourism board and airlines to get subsidized cheap flights directly into AC.
      I was recently talking to an elderly, well-off couple, from Los Angeles, and they too had to fly into Philly as ACY offered so few schedules for non-stop flights, and the few they did offer cost almost double what they were charging in Philly.

      This is yet another example of why AC is not and will not succeed if they don't get out of this warped mentality that they do not have to change to meet consumers half-way, that people will change for them. As far as I'm concerned, they could keep building all these high-end restaurants, shops, and other amenities, but if the city is empty, these outlets will be open at a 33% rate for 75% of they year, minus summer for obvious reasons.

      Casino Execs need to finally realize that AC is not Las Vegas. It is not a resort destination where people make plans to arrive for vacation and spend their leisure $$$. Most visitors of AC are locals, some hustlers (just look at the day-bus "clientele"), and basically day-to-day people looking for a bargain. Bargain, being the operative word.
    1. 21forme's Avatar
      21forme -
      Quote Originally Posted by AP360 View Post
      Casino Execs need to finally realize that AC is not Las Vegas. It is not a resort destination where people make plans to arrive for vacation and spend their leisure $$$.
      Las Vegas is no longer Las Vegas. They may still have the wow factor for first-time visitors, but they need repeat business to survive. Why would anyone return there when most of the population centers of the US now have casinos within a short drive? The games continue to deteriorate. That's not how to attract business.

      Re AC, it could have more to offer than Vegas. Vegas is a desert in the middle of nowhere, with oppressive temperatures at least 4 months of the year. AC is within a 2 hour drive of 20+ million people. Those same months that LV is intolerable, AC could become a great beach resort destination, if they did it right.
    1. NT21's Avatar
      NT21 -
      21forme, I agree. I have been saying that for years now. The boardwalk and beaches are a great opportunity if they could learn how to leverage it, put some money behind it all, and clean up all that needs cleaning up.
    1. AP360's Avatar
      AP360 -
      Quote Originally Posted by 21forme View Post
      Las Vegas is no longer Las Vegas. They may still have the wow factor for first-time visitors, but they need repeat business to survive. Why would anyone return there when most of the population centers of the US now have casinos within a short drive? The games continue to deteriorate. That's not how to attract business.

      Re AC, it could have more to offer than Vegas. Vegas is a desert in the middle of nowhere, with oppressive temperatures at least 4 months of the year. AC is within a 2 hour drive of 20+ million people. Those same months that LV is intolerable, AC could become a great beach resort destination, if they did it right.
      Excellent points 21forme, however, the operative portion of your post is "...if they did it right"

      AC had over 20 years of solo-play to figure out how to do it right. They did nothing but monopolize the situation and the given market which felt, at the time, limitless and bottomless. I agree that AC "could" have more to offer than LV but it would take years and years of them playing "catch-up" to get back into the race. Highly unlikely. Besides, step one block off the Boardwalk and it's a pity what that city has become.

      Re: LV's deteriorating games, it's true. Many rule changes, pene changes, dealer's fixing, have all played a part in their games going downhill, but as one very outspoken and local LV authority on this site has repeatedly mentioned, part of what makes LV great is in its' sheer quantity of games within a short distance, rules-wise, stick to PA.

      In addition, LV has built repeat business in non-gambling revenue. They were able to evolve and create a non-gambling market for themselves inclusive of high-end restaurateurs, shopping, entertainment, etc. Couple that with the gambling revenue and you got yourself a pretty steady resort destination. When it's scorching hot, stay indoors, go to a pool, go out in the early AM or late evening, stain in ac (air conditioning)... or go to AC.
    1. Norm's Avatar
      Norm -
      For me, the problem is getting there. When Atlantic City opened, I was living in Philly. Once you get through Camden, the speed limit went up to 70 MPH most of the way and it wasn’t that bad. But, you have to get to the A.C. Expressway in the first place. From upper New Jersey, the drive is mind numbingly boring. Once you get on the Parkway, mile after mile of nothing. Yes, a tree is a thing of beauty. Tens of millions of trees is quite another thing. From Manhattan, you have to get out of the city first, then through the Elizabeth refineries or Staten Island before you even get to the boring part. The train service, little of it as there was, is gone. I don’t like small airplanes; and if I’m going to deal with getting out to the airport and with the airport itself, I've already done the hard part and may as well fly to Vegas. So yes, there are 20 million plus in the neighborhood. But, it’s still quite a trek.
    1. shadroch's Avatar
      shadroch -
      I can leave Long Island at noon and be in AC at 3PM local time, or I can leave Long Island at noon and be in Vegas at 3PM local time. Its a no brainer.
      The airlines won't commit to adding flights into AC until there are many more hotel rooms available, and the casinos won't build more hotel rooms until they are needed. Its a catch-22.
      I'd think a high speed ferry from Brooklyn, or Freeport would bring in a few hundred more people a day, but the cities woes go well beyond that.
    1. Norm's Avatar
      Norm -
      Have you ever taken a ferry to Foxwoods? Always wondered what they were like.
    1. AP360's Avatar
      AP360 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Norm View Post
      Have you ever taken a ferry to Foxwoods? Always wondered what they were like.
      Where do they depart from? South St. Seaport, Chelsea Piers? Or out of Long Island?
    1. Norm's Avatar
      Norm -
      Port Jefferson and Orient Point (way up LI). Used to be one much closer to the city.
    1. AP360's Avatar
      AP360 -
      Fuhgeddaboudit!!
    1. Three's Avatar
      Three -
      Quote Originally Posted by AP360 View Post
      In addition, LV has built repeat business in non-gambling revenue. They were able to evolve and create a non-gambling market for themselves inclusive of high-end restaurateurs, shopping, entertainment, etc. Couple that with the gambling revenue and you got yourself a pretty steady resort destination. When it's scorching hot, stay indoors, go to a pool, go out in the early AM or late evening, stain in ac (air conditioning)... or go to AC.
      One of the problems they may be having with this is the mid atlantic hasn't gotten that hot for the last 5 years. After a lifetime of temperatures in the 90's or hotter for most of 4 months of the year combined with near 100% humidity at the same time anyone with some age has been relatively comfortable for the last 5 years. Last year saw some very hot days but not with the humidity that really makes you uncomfortable. After 20+ years of really hot and humid summers followed by a few years with no summer and another couple that didn't get the heat and humidity at the same time but for a few days all year, the beat the heat promotion may be falling on deaf ears.
    1. 21forme's Avatar
      21forme -
      Quote Originally Posted by AP360 View Post
      AC had over 20 years of solo-play to figure out how to do it right.
      YOu're absolutely right. When AC first campaigned to bring gambling in, the promise was that the tax revenue would go back into cleaning up AC. Now, 30 years later, there are still slums one block off the Boardwalk. Yeah, they demolished some of them and built an outlet mall, but that's a drop in the bucket.


      Quote Originally Posted by Norm View Post
      From Manhattan, you have to get out of the city first
      Norm, that's life in Manhattan. Enough Manhattanites figured out how to make it out to the Hamptons every weekend, right?
    1. shadroch's Avatar
      shadroch -
      Quote Originally Posted by 21forme View Post
      YOu're absolutely right. When AC first campaigned to bring gambling in, the promise was that the tax revenue would go back into cleaning up AC. Now, 30 years later, there are still slums one block off the Boardwalk. Yeah, they demolished some of them and built an outlet mall, but that's a drop in the bucket.



      Norm, that's life in Manhattan. Enough Manhattanites figured out how to make it out to the Hamptons every weekend, right?
      If you think AC is bad now, you should have seen it in the late 60s,/early 1970s. The casinos did clean up the city some, and provided tens of thousands of jobs.
    1. shadroch's Avatar
      shadroch -
      Quote Originally Posted by Norm View Post
      Have you ever taken a ferry to Foxwoods? Always wondered what they were like.

      Have taken the ferry out of Orient a few times, but not to go to casinos. On a holiday weekend, and headed to Cape Cod, the ferry saves lots of time.
      Taken the one out of PJ once, but again not to go to casinos. Ferries are big, comfortable and slow.

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