Seminole Hard Rock - Tampa: the City

[deansrobinson]

Took the in-laws to lunch at the Hard Rock buffet (as they enjoy that). I studied the scale model they have of the expansion. Apparently, rather than be one of the largest casinos in the Land of the Free, the SHR has opted to be one the smallest gambling CITIES in the Home of the Brave. The expansion is bigger than the original - new hotel and more gaming acreage. Oh, and a heli-pad to shuttle the 'desirable demographic' from the Tampa Executive Airport to the VIP entrance. No need to mingle with the great unwashed unless absolutely necessary...you know, like a charity event or some such.

Until then, parking is a mess (for those of us sans limo).

On the plus side:
a) the lunch tab was over $50, so parking was free...
b) bankroll in @ $500...out at $1.1K.

...it's good days, like today, that make me consider going back

 

[Richard Alpert]

My father-in-law has a winter home in Spring Hill.
Maybe I can get a hold of a helicopter and make a glorious entry into Tampa on my next visit!
Congrats on cloning your bankroll!

RICHARD

 

[PokerrNutt]

Are they still charging you $10 for parking? I didn't care for this casino at all - after playing on the tight machines, then having to pay $10 for parking! Too much!

 

[deansrobinson]

Yep...$10 to park. However, if you drop $50 on food it's free. Also, you can use your comp dollars to pay for parking as well. I need to find out if parking is charged if you're attending a show.

 

[Itchy Sporcle]

Congrats on doubling the bankroll.

 

[deansrobinson]

OH, one more thing. Big article in the Times that "Gray Salt" is closing. The casino's position is that they need the space for more gaming. How-ev-ah, a review in the paper also outlined that it never was a good fit, being a gourmet celeb-chef venue with a large menu (e.g. missing a specialty). Gotta remember the clientele. We either fly in the Asian high rollers and cater to their cuisine or we have the rank and file "Darryl Wayne and Wanda" crowd, who generally consider fine cuisine to be extra ketchup. Remember "The Green Room"? That place was always packed...always had to wait in line regardless of breakfast, lunch or dinner. It catered to a lot of folks - if you didn't want to go the steakhouse route. I think it was a mistake to close that and slide all of your chips onto "Gray Salt". Face it kids, although we might look similar - depending on how the light hits it...we ain't Vegas.

 

[darlene]

It definitely was your lucky day. Any day you can leave the THR with a profit of even a $1 is amazing. Looking at the model, the only green space will be the retention pond. Elite members also get free parking.