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Fremont Street: Then and Now

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by gambler, Jan 31, 2014.

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  1. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    Article in Las Vegas Weekly with a couple interesting photos:
    http://lasvegasweekly.com/news/2014/jan/30/fremont-street-then-and-now/

    One comment in the article is this:

    “SlotZilla is the single biggest mistake in the history of Fremont Street,”
 he says. “I’m heartbroken that that has occurred.”

    But given the nature of things here in the desert, he predicts it will be gone in 10 years, and Fremont Street will look a little more like it once did.


    Personally, I don't mind the looks of Slotzilla. It's design makes it a bit of a novelty.

    I do question it's longevity for two reasons though. First, it's almost a year behind schedule so it's already lost some of its lustre. I question whether they'll have the energy to market it and keep it running while they're so lackadaisical about getting it built in the first place.

    Secondly, ziplines are a dime a dozen these days. Five years ago, it was a novelty to me. Now I've been on two (both in Mexico) and within the past 3 years, 2 ziplines have been built with 15 minutes of my home. Both are higher, longer and cheaper.

    While I don't mean to make this a zipline bashing thread, I tend to agree with the writer that it's a novelty that's here for a relatively short time. Fremont will be a different place in 10 years and I wouldn't be surprised to see Slotzilla gone by then. There will be something newer and more unique to replace it.
     
  2. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Yep... and there'll be a group of geezers on the VMB pining for the days when the zip-line was there and how much better things were then. They'll recall when Derek and Greg Stevens ran the D and the Golden Gate, gave gamblers a fair shake and how food was cheap (remember those $40 buffets?). The rooms were spartan, but clean and place to lay your head and how 6/5 blackjack was a square deal. Dewey will still be taking the bus around town, but even at the $12 fare it still beats the heck out of the average $75 cab ride to the strip... BTW the tunnel was demolished 5 years ago after a significant visitor uprising!

    They'll reminisce when a 7/5 VP payable was fair and how the new accountants have screwed everything all up. They may even talk about how much they miss the separate and transparent resort-fee and how now including it into the cost of the room is just another way to hide fees from the public. Gillian and Kevyn Wynn's Las Vegas Club will easily be the glitziest property downtown, with their $6 billion renovation. Their dad Steve still tells the girls that they've got to get their capital structure right. The El Co closed the hotel portion of their operation after a group of women went through each room with backlights, demanding sheets be changed every hour on the hour.

    P.S. Joe and his wife are still playing VP down at the old Boars Head Bar at Main Street Station, now renamed Joe's Bar! Folks stop by to offer encouragement as he continues the world's longest stretch without a Royal! BeeJay really did retire this time and lives comfortably out in Seven Hills overseeing his several Las Vegas Red Lobster outlets and paperposter gve up tha nitelife for hs new job as hed of the unlv english departmnt! go rbles!!!

    TimSpeed and his lovely wife rarely have time to travel to Las Vegas anymore after hitting the Megabucks and opening Central California's hottest hotel/casino... The Fabulous Modesto Mirage!!! When they do head over they, no longer rent a vehicle... Tim pilots the private jet he bought when Justin Bieber lost it in the bankruptcy, though they still can't get the smell of weed out of the cabin. Smartone finally decided to act his age and now stays at Boyd properties downtown... he's given up ogling 20 something year old girls at the Hard Rock. Lastly, SamMasseur left his home in Oregon and is now Brittany Spears road manager!

    Thanks for sharin' this... it was a good read... things change, life's dynamic... "the good old days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems." (Billy Joel)
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2014
  3. woodsie

    woodsie VIP Whale

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    I agree with comment in the article as well. Slotzilla is a disaster. It blocks some of the most classic views in Vegas. I'm really blown away that someone thought this was a good idea.

    If I was king for a day, I'd bulldoze slotzilla, tear down the stage in front of the Plaza and seriously debate bringing down the Canopy. Making those few blocks a pedestrian area was a stroke of genius but everything else they've down there blows.

    I find the vintage neon facades to be far more impressive than the canopy show. I really hope the figure this out one day and double down on what earned Fremont St the nickname "Glitter Gulch" in the first place.

    Dark skies, bright lights, so right!
     
  4. dankyone

    dankyone VIP Whale

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    Fantastic and well thought out!
     
  5. rvallez6

    rvallez6 MIA

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    Its an interesting perspective, and probably different than visitors that are new to Las Vegas. The writer described a feeling that is not unique to Las Vegas, but I'm sure a lot of cities had a different feel than way back then.

    I'm not sure what the longterm affect of SlotZilla will be, but it definitely blocks a lot, however, i don't think it kills the classic view that has been photographed time and time again. That view was already disrupted by the canopy. I'm still new to Vegas, as I've only been twice, and i only went to Fremont Street for the first time this past november. I've always loved seeing old Vegas pictures and watching movies set in Vegas, and the obstructed view was kind of a letdown. SlotZilla only adds to that, but in all honesty, i'm glad that there are people looking to change things in hopes of improvement. There will be some hits and misses, but I think they would be doing a lot worse if they let everything stay the same.
     
  6. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    ...the only flaw in an otherwise creative & funny post!

    "ogling 20 something year old girls" is acting your age if you're a guy between the ages of 14 & 84! :wink2:
    :peace:
     
    Annual Spring Trip!
  7. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    PS - If the decision were mine, I'd remove slotzilla (perhaps relocate it to run between the roof-tops of the Plaza's south tower, to LVC, to MSS and ending at Plaza's beer-garden area).
    Then, completely redesign the canopy - I'd make it fully retractable.
    At night, it could virtually disappear in-between the hourly FSE light-shows, restoring the classic view of 'glitter gulch', and incidentally give the relocated slot-zilla riders a view actually worth paying for.
    I would push through whatever legislation was necessary to force any/all street vendors, "performers" & kiosks to be licensed & insured, anywhere in Clark County, regardless of whether they are working for tips or charging fees.

    Well...at least I think that would improve things.
     
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  8. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    I guess people will get bored with the zipline just like they did with the gondola rides and dancing water show.
     
  9. flysrb

    flysrb Hey Now!

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    Hey Now!

    I think they should move Slutzilla between the top of The STRAT and the top of the Eiffel Tower....
     
  10. rvallez6

    rvallez6 MIA

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    I definitely agree with the fully retractable canopy. I think it would be a great improvement, then they'd definitely have to get rid of or move Slotzilla lol. The technology shouldn't be too difficult to pull off a retractable canopy for the light show.
     
  11. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

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    Thanks for the laugh Smartone!! What a great way to start the day!
     
  12. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Smartone, didn't I tell you my Royal-less streak will end this trip. Possibly even on Friday, 2/7 when we have a VMB meeting at the Boar's Head. 2 PM btw if anybody wants to join us.:beer: First round is on me!

    They haven't renamed the bar...yet.

    There is a slot machine on the floor with a woman's name on it because she visits so often and always plays that machine.:poke: Maybe I'm next! Jose & Kellie tend bar at Joe's Bar. I like the ring of that!:thumbsup:

    Not to sound sexist, but one is never too old to ogle.

    And finally, I have no problems with all the changes on Fremont except for one. The stage on the west end completely blocks the view down Fremont and I just can't see the attraction of sitting at the Plaza Bier Garten if you can't look down Fremont.

    We like beer and will give it a try in four days, but I'm not hopeful.
     
  13. joshrocker

    joshrocker VIP Whale

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    Classic post! This however was my favorite line!

    @gambler, thanks for the link. It was an interesting story about how old vegas wrestles with the new.
     
  14. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    Agree 100%.
     
  15. Thickskinnedalive

    Thickskinnedalive Low-Roller

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    We're here for a good time
    Not a long time (not a long time)
    So have a good time. :drunk:
     
  16. kicker147

    kicker147 Newbie

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    Lets hope so. Big POS, I think the cables take away from the canopy view.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  17. sammasseur

    sammasseur VIP Whale

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    My eyes. Oh, my eyes!!! :vomit:
     
  18. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    Not sure what the problem is ogling 20 somethings. Smartone, you can ogle as you please, just that you will then be a "dirty old man", lol. :evillaugh


    As others mentioned, IMHO this slotzilla is just another freakshow, something that I didn't even notice when I was in vegas a few weeks ago and something that I won't notice whenever I go to vegas.
     
  19. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

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    Smartone, great post! I think the main reason that stage got put in front of the Plaza is because they dont pay FSE fees any longer. Plaza kind of got shunned in a way by that stage. I myself cant really stand that stage, I have yet to walk by there when anyone was singing that could keep my attention for more than 5 mins. Maybe if I happened by when a oldie but goodie band was playing I would feel different, but it really just clogs up the walkways with gawkers.
     
  20. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I agree with Iu, previously you could take pictures of the canopy and FSE which kind of highlighted the plaza in the background but now with the stage in the way you hardly notice the plaza. This was probably done on purpose since the plaza group didn't want to participate (meaning didn't want to pay fees) with the FSE. Even though the Plaza put up a big screen you can hardly see it with the stage in the way.

    Actually the female DJ was pretty fun to watch and the music she was playing brought in a number of people, mostly older folk and kids. But like you said, the stage makes it harder to get to Main st., same as slotzilla on the other side, it makes it harder to traverse to areas behind it. Not impossible but just harder, esp during when there are people crowding the stage, it is hard to get to main st.
     
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