If you could build a brand new casino in Vegas ...

This is a question my Vegas-obsessed friends and I bounce around quite a bit, just for fun, and it popped into my mind when reading Sin_City_Sinner's awesome thread regarding failed/canceled casinos that were never built. So here goes:

If you could build a brand new casino/resort on the Strip, what would you do?

I've always thought a kind of Dubai-style, over-the-top, sultan-like luxury palace would be pretty fun. Not sure how successful it might be, but it could be something like the most ridiculous culmination of the era of luxury in Vegas.

But I love hearing these ideas. So much fun to think about.

 

I'd probably have to build something called "The North Strip". There would be three casino areas - each one a facsimile of:

• The Stardust
• The Westward Ho
• Desert Inn

I would replicate the Stardust Sports Book

There would be fine-dining, but there would also be an equivalent of 'Toucan Harry's, the old coffee-shop from the Dust. No buffet.

I would have Keno girls.
I would have a set-aside check-in counter for 'Invited Guests Only'.
Most of the blackjack would be 3:2, DD pitch games, S17, with DAS. Minimums would start at $10. There would be $5 shoe-games available, 3:2, H17, DAS & LS.
Cigarettes would be comped for any table-game rated player...1 pack/day.
CWs would all be under 30 and all be gorgeous.
Dealers would be paid 10% higher than industry standard...as would all staff.
No resort fees.
There would be a 'strongly suggested' dress/appearance standard, in effect 7days, from 6PM to 4AM. No one would be kicked out if they were under-dressed, but they would be urged to change into business-casual attire or better.

More later...but you get the drift.

 

Something spooky, horror, witchcraft, occult themed ............ hire Rob Zombie and turn him lose

 

Yep, replicate Desert Inn lock, stock and barrel. Casino, eats, spa, that great old course.

I'd also like to have kitschy fun TI back in late-90s trim with Wynn still at the helm. Black Spot Grille, Buc Bay Club, Swashbuckler Bar with Joe and Terri 'tending, playable VP, low-key low-threshold "high-roller" bj tables, Madame Ching's. No Senor/Gilley's shiatski.

 

Because I live in Texas, I thought that would make an interesting theme, if you did it right (and by that I don't mean Texas Station).

The entertainment would be associated with Austin's Sixth Street and have that kind of cool vibe......

Good restaurants that we have here for BBQ, Tex-Mex.....

Dallas Cowboy cheerleader type outfits on the watiresses.....and maybe nice cowboy hats for the bartenders?

Decor in the rooms could run the gamut from NASA/Space City, Cowboy/Rodeo, Dallas TV show, Astrodome, all the crazy things that people from other cities and other countries associate with Texas.

I picture it being a very cool laid-back place (like Austin) but also with a sense of humor on all things Texas. I can't think of a name for it though, or what it might look like on the outside.

At this point, I'm sad that there will probably never be another themed casino built in Vegas again!

 

Justin Bieber Casino and Resort.

Then blow it up.

 

I think I am out of ideas. What Resorts is planning has a lot of what I've wanted to see in a casino. I just hope they can run a property in a fashion that will work in Vegas.

But if I had to play homer, I would love to see something Chicago inspired. But no, I am not talking gangsters and deep dish pizza. I could see a great steakhouse, a blues club, restaurants inspired by our different ethnic populations, a nod to our architecture and maybe a pool inspired by our beaches. There are so many Chicagoans that migrate west to the extent that when our teams play in Arizona or SoCal, Chicago fans outnumber the locals at the games. I think they would drive in to see it. And there are a lot of foreigners who could be drawn to the new variety of food options.

 

I was going to respond but then I read what topcard wrote. I like it. It's better than my idea.

Build it brother. I'll see you there.

 

I don't know what kind of theme I'd go with, if any, but I know I would put in a nice jazz club managed by someone very respected in that community. It's a shame there's nothing like that on the strip right now. I think it would fit in nice with the Vegas vibe.

 

I would cater to the 40+ age bracket, mid-rollers with lots of $5 and $10 tables, good VP and loose slots. Good gaming rules with the expectation that profit is made by high play volumes.

no smoking in the main casino area
party pits with a good social vibe but no stage dancers
No DJ clubs
No crappy buffet.
Poolside social hour in the evening
Martini bar, blues/jazz club, disco lounge:banana:

 

Take the Mandala Oriental concept; small true 5 star hotel with impeccable service && combine it with a guest / invite-only (from other guests) casino which caters to both high and low rollers. Games would be offered with the rules the player desires to play them (single zero roulette as it is standard in europe; BlackJack with shoe, 3:2, H17, DAS & LS etc.). If players like other rule variants better (as long as house edge is not negatively impacted), this would be accomodated (in case somebody would like to play free bet blackjack; roulette with double zero, whatever).

There would be no reward system, only discretionary comps.

No buffets, only 2 or 3 high-end restaurants (Chinese & Italien & steakhouse in that order) && a 24/7 diner with has a mixture of fresh and fatty 'fast food' (still high quality though). There would be - of course - at least two little bars available; I would think a jazz bar with live acts 4pm to 4am every night and a small, very comfy bar with roof access (or highest floor). Waitresses should be the best on the strip - young to middle-aged girls (and guys!) who are simply attractive.

Style of resort should be something very restrained. But I do not really care what kind of style it will have - in general I like the color palette of Bellagio very well... so maybe that would be it..
Not sure where it would fit in, but I would have 24/7 live piano music (lounge style, maybe in the welcome area) which could be heard throughout the hotel (corridors, via TV in each room, etc.).
No age restrictions or target-groups. Business casual would be nice for a dress code, but as long as only a minority of guests does not abide, it wont be enforced.

Another idea that just came to me: Lobby on the highest floor with perfect helipad access (and free helicopter shuttle for high rollers) from the airport.

 

Mine would be similar to this with several medium sized casinos within close proximity geared to the mid roller crowd. One Irish themed, One Old Vegas, One brew pub etc. All would have some type of drink special like $2 Coronas. Since I own the area between these casinos I could control the street performers. Only allow the entertaining and honest ones.

Easy walk between casinos with no chain restaurants, but at least a couple late night snack bars. The vibe of the old north strip including Silver City. Decent table rules and VP pay tables. Looser slots that give a player some entertainment before taking their money.

As I write this I realized I'm just describing what I miss most about Vegas and that it won't be profitable. Or it wouldn't have changed in the first place. But what the heck I guy can dream can't he?

TomTWI

 

The theme of my place would be Old Vegas, meaning the Las Vegas I fell in love with in the 1970s and miss dearly.

I would want to attract the low to mid roller, with both table games and machine games, favorable rules and pay tables.

I would have a hotel with Hampton Inn type rooms. Nice, but not fancy. No {f-bomb}ing mini-bar! I would use the business model of the old school and operate the hotel at close to break even and go for the ROI on the volume of casino action.

Yeah, I would have a buffet, but not an overpriced foodie magnet. Something like the old Warehouse Buffet at the Stardust.

I would probably outsource the other restaurants, but no {f-bomb}ing chains! I would want one higher end place, maybe steakhouse or Continental. Then 1-2 Italian or Asian or Mexican or whatever and a good old-school 24 hour coffee shop. Maybe I would not outsource that one.

A good casino lounge, kind of like the Starlite Lounge was. Then a laid-back bar kind of like the old Terrace Bar. VP bar, of course! No {f-bomb}ing velvet rope club! (And stay out!)

Wedding chapel? Why not? Convention area? Mehhhhhhh! Showroom? Yeah, four-wall it to some old-school headliner.

Big ginormous flashing neon sign out front. Of course!

 

Well, to be honest, I swear to God I was just thinking about this today!! If someone or corporation is reading--here ya go--INSTANT packed hotel/casino. I AGREE with the Vegas "OLD SCHOOL".
For us older folks--I'm 50's and visited Vegas in late 70's/80's, you know where I'm headed. I have a question. How did you really know you were in VEGAS and feel it? The AIRPORT! Why? The clanking and banging of COINS dropping!!!!

So, with that, I would make it all coin dropping machines. Seeing the lil old ladies walking around with their buckets is great. Yes, I would hire change people, slot techs etc....I would have lots of progressives at the nickel level and so on.
I would have the one "zero" on the roulette starting with the 10 cents level!!!
I would have the most liberal BJ rules with 2 dollar tables on up and lots of them!! 3:2, split, double anywhere, etc....
Back to the slot I forgot---bring back OLDER machines!! Not the 1960's but, some good older slots and very early videos.
1 dollar and up Craps--where some of regular folks can afford to play!
Bring back the cheap "coffee shop"!!! The graveyard steak and eggs, ham and eggs-2.99 type. Prime Rib--5.99 and u still make $$ on this--just cut the 8oz. to like a 6oz. I work in food for 37 years now and I DO know. I'm a certified Wisconsin Chef. How about 1.99 burger/fries or 1.99 spaghetti?
The Starlite Lounge idea was great! A nice lounge with good bands, lots of little tables with candles, darkish-where you can sit and relax with a few cocktails.
Bring back the Stardust sportsbook--was awesome.
Have awesome cocktail wait people with the free drinks--not this shit where" are you playing max coins"??? I would serve ONLY AMERICAN BEER! Corona, XXX, Heineken etc... would be gone. ALL my casino furnishings, cards, chips, carpet etc....AMERICAN MADE!
As far as the hotel--very basic nice rooms with COFFEE MAKERS, hair dryers, micros, hd tv's--very CLEAN, whirlpool tubs, and roomy! We don't NEED all this fancy crap--embroidered pillows, 800 silk sheets, lotion from France Etc...Most of us don't have the "Hollywood" cash. Unfortunately, look at the strip NOW--It's all Hollywood bullshit!!! Anyhow, have a nice pool with a deep end, diving board, some SHADE and NO CHARGE for loungers/tables. Have a nice little waterfall, a hot tub, have it kinda like the old Tropicana pool.
Have a STAFF that is HAPPY to be at work!! Rudeness or shitty attitudes are out! How to keep them happy? Pay them a decent wage, flexible schedules, some good bennies( maybe free nights/pool use, free meal??).
NO RESORT FEES!!!!
Have a big ass sign!! Like the Dunes or Stardust!!!
Have a big really tropical landscape--Mirage type, with walkways, fountains, benches where you can "get away from it all"--meditation type.

 

All valid and great points but you all forgot one major element

You need to hire Natedog and Bee-Jay to manage it

 

I world build one split in to four parts England Scotland wales and island . The England world be built on things English Scotland things Scottish with a lake outside and a lochness monster and the rest with things connected with each country .

 

Maybe a Dutch / Amsterdam theme, as it is the 2nd Sin City in the world. With it's canals and cute canal houses, van Gogh and Rembrandt, tulips and wind mills, a Bulldog cafe and of course the Red Light District with Banana Bar :banana: and topless swimming pool. But no Dutch food/buffet please lol.

 

Hookers and hash? Bueno.

Sounds a lot more fun than haggis and Hadrian's Wall!

 

Wow hmm!!

THE HEATHER hahaha

Well. I don't think I'd want a theme. I'd probably want something similar to Mandalay Bay. Mid-level quality. I'm tired of this fancy pants stuff.

Large standard rooms, comfortable, warm decor. Something I dont like about all the boring new grey, sleek stuff. ALL room types would have a choice between 1 bed or two, because I don't wanna sleep with my friends, and I'm sure most people don't either.

The rooms would all have jacuzzi tubs. Real television! With good channels, maybe an in-room DVR.

I'd have kiosk or smartphone check in as well for those that want to make things easy...

It would have a shopping mall (so think Mandalay Bay + a normal shopping mall, not the ********* they have now). I'd put a damn Macy's in... haha because that's what I want! It would also have mid-level shopping. No Hermes' BS that nobody shops at.

I'd have a ton of restaurants. A high quality steakhouse, burger joint. Maybe a non-traditional coffee shop restaurant. The ones in Vegas are all so boring and expensive, at least make it exciting if you are gonna charge a ton. I'd commission my favorite Food Network chefs to have restaurants. Also several Starbucks.

The whole place would be non-smoking... if that was feasible.

Large, spaced out casino. That would be tended too all the time to make sure it was clean. It would have all the newest games.

Huge fancy pool, that would be open at night!! Because it's hot in Vegas and I don't want to swim when it's 112 degrees.

A huge nightclub with places everyone can hang out, and maybe sit down... you shouldn't have to fork over 5k for a chair.

A big concert arena, that's comparable to Staples Center in LA. Basically high quality, has suites... And I'd court all the major touring acts. I'd also have a small 300-800 seat/standing room venue. There isn't many of them in Vegas. Give some of the smaller bands a chance to play.

I'd get some interesting shows. I'd try to have a major residency... maybe a little more current. Maybe Michael Buble or Bon Jovi. (random I know). A comedy show, and a traditional Cirque show.

Somewhere to take in the view of the strip... Rooftop bar or something.

If I had to put it in a real space, I'd put it right in front of the Trump on that empty land. If I could take something out, I'd put it where Planet Hollywood is.

 

No dutch food
I think the americans will love our frikandellen and kroketten:evillaugh