Next Phase of Mega Resorts

The Mirage has currently been open for 30+ years, and is credited for ushering in a new phase of mega resorts.
We're currently at a point where all resorts seem pretty similar, with the exception of interior design.

A new phase of Mega Resorts are going to open at some point, having the same effect on Vegas as the Mirage once did- what features do you believe they'll end up bringing to the table, in order to qualify as a Mega, Mega Resort?
I can't really think of anything that current resorts don't do now, such as retail, dining etc...

 

I hear that Resorts World will have Pandas. Maybe zoos?

 

I was looking forward to the Pandas, but they've scrapped the idea. Couldn't get approval for it.

 

I don't see anything "mega" opening up after Resorts World for a very long time. The Drew is basically an upscale convention hotel and there is still doubt it will ever open.

With regards to The Strip, barring Wynn resorts doing anything with the old New Frontier site, Vegas will probably look similar 20 years down the road. I think we've almost reached peak development.

 

My kids are now in their 30's, they have little to no interest in gambling. The 20 and 30 somethings dont share our appreciation for casino gaming. They are more about the experience, clubs, restaurants and concerts . In 20 yrs I can Invision a Vegas with much smaller casinos and more entertainment venues.

 

Kind of echoing the sentiment in the OP...….my first trip to Vegas wasn't until 1992, three years after the Mirage opened, but it just seemed like from being there and comparing it to the other places, that it had taken the casino resort experience to another level. The Bellagio took the luxury experience further when it opened in 1998.

However, after that wave of places (Bellagio, MB, Venetian, Paris, New Aladdin) opened from 1998-2000, I began to wonder "how much nicer can they really make these places?" So when Wynn opened in 2005, although being a beautiful place, it was almost seen as a letdown from Bellagio. And I'm not sure if anyone really considers Aria anything too special.

So really, I don't know. Someone mentioned Wynn's future development of the Frontier site and their most recent comments indicate that they are waiting to see what the demand is for whatever experience before they start to design the resort. Personally, I'm not crazy about the increasing arcade-like look of the casinos with the bigger slot machines and the dealerless table game-like machines taking up more of the floor.

 

They could offer good gaming rules. that would be something new.

 

I’m not sure about mega mega resorts. Don’t get me wrong they are beautiful but at some point they all resemble each other.

Enough with classy. We have plenty of them. I would like to see a return of theme hotel casinos.

 

go back to old school gambling odds,etc.... been preaching to the choir for years....if i had the money.... in a heartbeat

 

The younger generation of Vegas visitors is what's going to determine the future (or fate) of Vegas and they seem to be less gambling oriented. Needless to say, the generations that made Vegas via gambling are becoming the minority, as more of us die off or are becoming too old to travel. I would also like to see Vegas return to their heydays with better gambling odds and comps, but even now, the resorts seem to be focusing less on the low-mid tier level gamblers and more on generating profits from different forms of recreation, sports teams, concerts/shows, celebrity restaurants, etc. I don't see this trend changing anytime soon, even with the new Resorts World or any other major projects down the road.

 

You can say that about every other generation to determine Vegas fate
Vegas rolls and adjusts to the punches

 

Women control the budget in most households but they are under represented in casinos.

Every one has bikini girls and scantily clad cocktail waitresses. I have been going to vegas for years and this has never changed. Dont get me wrong, I love it but from a business standpoint, some make cocktail servers and beefcake card dealers would be a huge profit maker.

Imagine just a pit with chippendale looking guys dealing cards. You could book the pit for bachelorette parties or just have fun with the girls. Huge profit potential here.

To be honest, I would rather a guy bring my beers while gambling, not that i am into that but because guys understand how much beer others guys drinks. A 22 year old girl has no idea what a 60 year old sailor can drink and would probably be shocked by the amount.

All inclusive should come around soon too to keep people at the same place.

Outside of this, a log ride above the sidewalk om the strip would be cool.

 

Besides $100 + nightly resort fees*?

My take is the key determinate will be whether MGM/CET maintain their near monopoly status on the strip, or if they sell a substantial number of properties. The Cosmopolitan departed in many ways from the typical new resort with their smaller gaming floor, emphasis on clubs/food/dining, and return of room balconies on a Strip casino property last seen at the Stardust original towers.Wynn / Encore were leaders rolling out high end day and night clubs (worked well), and high end dining (mixed results). Independents are nimble enough to shift with quicker with the times. Ruffin is an outlier independent, as he always was and will be a low cost operator who bought TI for pennies on the dollar, with the primary "upgrade" sweeping out the pirate show for a corner drug store.

More competition will be good for the visitor, as casinos will need to work harder for your business (rooms, entertainment, dining, and gambling). That said, I don't foresee a return to better gaming odds, most people don't know or care, as primary revenue continues to be slot revenue, among the worst payouts in a casino, and entry level tables are filled regardless of what crap is offered (6/5 BJ/VP, Three Zero Roulette, Carny Games). Craps is one of the few games which remained unscathed over the past two decades, but I wouldn't be surprised if casinos attempted to reduce crap payoffs at some point as well.

I can see a few hotels nuked and replaced (Harrah's, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Rio) and or going through a complete Imperial Palace / Linq style overhaul (Bally's, Flamingo, Paris, Luxor, Park). I believe Resorts, the Drew and LVCA's new property on the Riviera site will be open, and additional new casinos will be built between Sahara and Circus Circus. I do expect the Strip to look substantially different in 2040 vs. 2020, though not as substantial as the changes between 1980 vs. 2000, and 2000 vs. 2020.

Not sure this is a widely held view. Steve did a great job with the Bellagio, but when he sold it MGM didn't give the same attention to detail and high standards as when Steve ran it. As a hotel guest, Wynn/Encore rooms are much nicer than Bellagio, their clubs are much more popular. I like their casino better as well, though don't like the switch from Steve's custom Brazilian jazz tracks to pop / classic pop music over the past few years.

Rio did that, don't think it moved the needle but that may be better chalked up to CET's gutting of the property (property/room maintenance, the Sky show).

* - We're half way there...

 

I think my comment had to do more with the reaction back in 2005 when WLV opened. I think people were looking something that was going to raise the bar like Bellagio did and it really didn't......but, again, I don't see how it really could. You can only make these places so nice.

 

You are already a couple waves behind. Wynn, city centre, Cosmo were all the next wave from themes of the past to the more generic luxury party that followed.

The newer wave of development is less around resorts and more around events. Conference expansion, the arena, a football stadium and more to come. The mega resort thing is cooling off thanks to demographic shift, the economic troubles of the last wave, and increased ability and cost effectiveness to reskin and rebrand.

 

Chippendale Pit is a great idea. Chicks would dig that. And where the ladies are...the men would follow. Feels like that idea couldn't lose! I mean other than that whole house edge thing for the players.

 

Uh, maybe I'm odd girl out here, but I never considered the Mirage to be a "Mega Resort"!

 

Having a casino within a 2 hour drive of any household across North America I believe is what changed Las Vegas away from mostly gambling to events/experiences.
Yes, the next generation does not gamble as much but honestly if I go to my local casino on a Friday or Saturday night there is still TONS of 19-35 year olds (In Canada)

If anyone wants to just gamble they might as well stay at home and save the travel time/expense.
Vegas had to adapt and building new mega gaming resorts is just not profitable anymore.
Any new Mega resorts will be less focused on gaming (but still have some) and more experienced focused.. I don't know exactly what that will be tho.

 

What do you consider a mega?

 

PH, Mandalay, Wynncore, RW if they ever finish it (not holding my breath).

In my not so humble opinion, Stardust was probably just as expansive as Mirage.