Are Alon and Resorts World the answer for SLS?

Will SLS survive until Alon and Resorts World open?

Is Resorts World still too far a walk to make a difference?

Will SLS be a discount, Nascar-ride, $1 blackjack stop on the Monroail by the time the others open?

 

Well, I mean, bringing traffic to the north end can't hurt, but you still need to get past circus circus, the construction of the non casino replacing riviera, and the empty FontaineBleau to get there.

And SLS' planned business model was meant to be the LA party crowd with cars more than needing tourist foot traffic. It was meant to be a new version of the Palms, M Resort plan. In fact the whole idea of the operator and the branding was that it could tap that market.

So I think if they are struggling, they will continue to struggle, and if a north end resurgence eventually helps, it will be helping a rebranded SLS run by someone else.

 

The Palms was/is good at creating different vibes depending on the time of day. The Palms attracts locals with promotions during the day and turns to party zone at night. SLS doesn't do anything to attract the casual guest. I was there last Thanksgiving and hated it. The place was dead. Left SLS and went to Circus Circus. It was a zoo at CC. People everywhere; the place was packed. If Circus Circus can draw crowds of people, it's not just the location that's hindering SLS.

 

I didn't say that they are running it well, I took one walk through SLS and saw nothing that makes me want to stay or play again.

Just said that they THOUGHT their location would not depend on neighbouring properties, because they thought they could draw partiers who were driving to vegas, and knew the brand from california.

 

I like SLS - it's got a good vibe and excellent restaurants.

I think the North end of The Strip can turn it around. Stratosphere has made money the last two quarters - after consistently losing money for years.

Bill

 

No, they aren't the answer for SLS. They won't be built fast enough to help SLS. Rock in Rio needed to be a success and drive in traffic to help them and it's seen as a bust. And for a place developed for the bottle service crowd, word that LIFE is closing is not a good sign. They need to make it the place to be for some reason whether its gaming or something else and do it fast.

 

I will say, the make your own pizza place was quite good. I've been there twice, barely gambled and don't really have much reason to ever go back

 

I was there within the first 36 hours of SLS opening up and while a nice place, I doubt it's anything I would ever visit again. Just kind of a "meh" impression on me.

 

unless SLS somehow moves 1 mile South it wont make a lick of difference. Like other have pointed out it will still be pretty far away front the front door of Alon (about 2 miles) and a good mile from Resorts World. With nothing to see in between but the Circus. SLS is on an island. They have The STRAT next door that offers a better gamble and the soon to be opening Dragon casino. I forgot already what the real name is. Unless SLS expands that tiny casino out some more and they loosen their slots (which a lot of people have noticed) they will never be in good shape.

All more neighbors will do is offer gambling in a more inviting space. I spent the night there and I was bored of the casino in about an hour. They just didnt have enough to tickle my butt for an entire night let alone 4-5 days that an average vactioneer spends in LV. They wanted the club kids. Well they kinda got them. But that only draws a crowd on the weekends and those people pay the cover charge, maybe some drinks, and they leave. You need locals and gamblers on vaca to fill rooms during the other 5 days of the week to be a success. And they just dont seem to care about that segment.

 

If SLS was located at mid-strip it would be very popular. I like the casino in terms of games and format and I think it would have a good vibe if there were more people. But it is simply to much trouble to get there from the main portions of the strip. Resorts World might help if they hold out that long - but it is still quite a distance to SLS. Getting somebody to finish and open Fontainebleau would be a better help, but don't hear anything about that happening.

 

From my understanding the building has been sitting vacant for so long that the Fontainebleau will likely become Carl Icahn's 'scrap metal liquidation effort. No one can save it from itself at this point.