Is the Riviera On Life Support?

With the demise of the Sahara, the Stardust and the Frontier being torn down, and the closest casino the Circus Circus that area of the Strip has been dead. The SDX doesn't stop anywhere near there, parking is a nightmare and it's a long lonely walk South to center strip.

Don't they have allot of tourists on junkets from other another country?

If they can hold out long enough perhaps that area of the strip will come back if they ever finish Echelon Place.

Cheap rooms though.

?

 

We have not been in that part of the Strip since the Sahara closed.

I'm sure Riviera still gets its share of convention business from the LVCC conferences, but otherwise, I'm very sure that Riviera and Circus are struggling, probably trying to ride it out until SLS opens (Is it open yet?) and whatever replaces the Stardust finally happens.

 

In the area where the Stardust was, they are supposed to build a mega resort, with an Asian theme. It's supposed to duplicate City Center. If they do this, Riviera & Circus Circus are gone.
It might not take that long, SLS (on the old grounds of the Sahara) is supposed to open on August 23rd. I will be in Vegas October 3rd, I am looking forward to checking it out.

 

In 8 trips since 2010, I have yet to set foot inside Circus Circus or the Riviera. I have said it on here a few times, the Riviera is still the coolest looking casino in all of Vegas at night. Still has the old school vibe with the neon. Love it.

 

I'd be truly shocked if Circus Circus went anywhere. As much of a trash heap as it is, it still serves a very, very specific niche (middle-income families with young children) that isn't covered by anywhere else on the Strip. Even Exaclibur, which arguably was the closest to Circus Circus in terms of demographics, doesn't have the kid-centric focus that it used to.

 

You really have to do the math.

The place was probably paid for 30 years ago so they dont have the gigantic overhead of the newer places so they dont need as many people in the door every day.

I like to go there every few trips and there are always bus loads of asian groups loading in when i am there so maybe thats their market.

Add to that if you get a cheap room and stay there chances are you will hang around for at least a meal or two every day because of the isolated locale so thats more bucks you are spending in the place.

So once they get you to stay there, the location for them is really are benefit. you can always cross the street and go to circus circus which will make riviera look like an oasis of sanity and cleanliness.

 

That would make sense if it had the same owners as 30 years ago but when it's been sold the new owners have had debt. Part of the reason it changed hands last time had to due with debt IIRC. Then new owners take on more debt with their spruce ups. The only thing the Riv has going for it is being close to the convention center and at some point that won't be enough. But if you are there to gamble, do shows or dine, the overall perception is they have nothing there for you. Until that changes, they will be in trouble. It's going to take a financial commitment that no one seems to be willing to make.

 

Riviera has been on life support for a decade. Circus is fully paid for and makes lots and lots of money.

 

Ive heard that too. Circus Circus is a money maker. Here in Germany so many booking agents get the Circus Circus for their customers. At least 25% of the first timers stay at Circus (talking about people i know)..

No clue about riv but since i love the Circus Circus i might check it out next time. Not for a stay but for a gambling session...

 

I went to see Forever Motor City at Riviera in May.......it has gone way downhill with lots of very sketchy clientele. Maybe SLS opening will help?

 

I miss the Riviera. That place was always packed and had great vp with great progressives. Last time I was in there, barely any poker and nothing was over 98%. In fact, I don't think there were more than 20 people in the casino.

 

I wouldnt bother with going inside just enjoy the "look" from the outside, last time I went inside it was a dive and the few people that were in there.... lets just say I would have been "bricking" it if I had hit anything BIG.
Had some food in the food court because I was desperate and sorely wished I hadnt later the next day.
Just mho.

 

We have always enjoyed the Riv, but it has gone way downhill in the past year or so. We went last time for the Comedy club last fall (which was interestingly enough full of people) with free tickets, used some match play coupons, and got the heck out of there. This was the first place I stayed in Vegas so I try to check in every couple trips. Will visit here in a week or so and report back.

 

who is using an offline "booking agent" these days?
and these folks that are using "booking agents" getting screwed by them. nice. good job.
i dont belive that 25% of german first timers stay at CC. NO WAY CLOSE. it's maybe 2-5%.... maybe.
i met A LOT of german folks in germany. A LOT.

 

I haven't been at Riviera, CC, Sahara, Stardust, Desert Inn, Frontier, Slots o Fun, THO, or any place north of FSM/Wynn since the early 90's for the most part. In the 80's, i spent most of my time on the north end staying and playing.

However, when i go next month, i will walk (slowly because of my stroke), up to SLS and take pics/videos of SLS (inside and out), because i'll be there August 24th. What i will do is walk up to SLS, then walk back south and take pics of Riviera, CC, Peppermill, or anything else of interest (except Trump) till i get to the FSM then have lunch. I took many pics back in the old days but sadly i no longer have (i do have some old programs however). The oldest pics i still have is outside the Stardust from the mid 80's.

It will be like an archaeological expedition to see how things were back in the olden days.......perhaps i'll come upon some skimming money that Tony Spilotro gathered at Stardust on the future Echolon property when i go by there.

I miss the Mafia days. I was in Vegas from 1977 till when the Corps took over in the mid 80's. The Riviera, or what's left of it, reminds me of the good old days in Vegas in some respects. I hope the Riviera survives, i hope SLS becomes profitable, and i hope Echolon produces a major impact on the north Strip like it once was with Stardust, Desert Inn, Sands, etc.

Vegas has seen a major shift since the early 90's with properties starting at Treasure Island/Wynn towards the south.

But i remember the Strip from the Hacienda up to Sahara. My hope is that the North Strip (i consider the north strip any place north of FSM/Wynn), will once again flourish into a destination that people will consider because it's Vegas after all, and the "Strip" will no longer be called the south, mid, or north..........just the Strip, whether you stay at Mandalay Bay or SLS.

 

there having a swingers convention in the next few weeks there so its a good time to check it out again, could be interesting

 

No, you got me wrong. What i mean is that 25% of the people who actually use "offline booking agents" are getting a room at CC. Maybe even more. I know, its not the smartest way to book and i dont understand why people use a travel agent but here many people actually do this. This year two of my not really close friends booked vegas thru a agent. Both got the Circus Circus, both on different agencys. They changed Hotel after they talked to me but they would have ended at the CC.

 

Hey PP...........hear about Trump Plaza Atlantic City? They're closing the doors in September. Sorry to hear 1600 people will probably lose their jobs, but AC has been a dump and will always be a dump. My family liked to go to AC and the Boardwalk and i used to say why?

 

I went to the Riv for the first time last week. I wanted to go because I think it's one to disappear in the next few years. The casino was dead maybe 50 people in the joint. We couldn't get a drink to save our life. We went searching for the front desk to get a cab and took a long walk through the pool area. It seemed nice enough and really brought on a '50's or 60's vibe but that was the only thing even remotely cool about the place in my opinion.

I went solo across the street to CC. Wow I wish I hadn't done that. The place was packed on a Wed. no less. screaming kids everywhere. The parts I visited were dark and dirty and the smell, well I can't even describe it. I then continued over to Slot's 'O Fun. It was absolutely dead. I counted 6 people in the whole place from the back door to the front, I couldn't believe it but the smell was even worse than CC. It was so bad I almost lost my lunch. I think maybe the filthy beer pong area had some to do with it.

I met up with my girl at Ross and she couldn't believe I did it and had no interest to see it after she got a whiff of me. A long hot shower was in order after we got back to Palms.


Don't get me wrong here I am not a hater as we enjoy a good dive bar once in a while but what I experienced was really over the top.

 

I have a soft spot for the Riv because I used to stay there when I was in college. We once got a room with four guys for $29 a night over a long weekend, so it was a chance to be on the Strip without having to commit any serious money. There was also more going on in that part of the Strip in those years (mid-90's).

My last trip to Vegas (fall 2013) was my buddy's first trip there. I took him up to the Riv just for shits and giggles. We saw some mediocre lounge act and watched middle aged conventioneers try awkwardly and unsuccessfully to impress an average looking woman. Even though it made me sentimental for a time when Vegas was less fancy/less sophisticated, the Riv didn't really seem to offer anything special to anyone in particular. And you have to haul a HELL of a distance for such a run of the mill experience if you're staying pretty much anywhere else besides CC.