Comments on: The Crowded Atlantic http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:22:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Queens Up http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html#comment-8588 Queens Up Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:25:21 +0000 http://www.highonpoker.com/?p=2317#comment-8588 Cmon guys, dont sell Bethlehem short. The Sands is on the southside of Bethlehem, not Allentown. :) I-78 to route 412 to 3rd street. My dad use to work at Bethlehem Steel (current site of Sands) and I lived there for 22 years. Cmon guys, dont sell Bethlehem short. The Sands is on the southside of Bethlehem, not Allentown.

:) I-78 to route 412 to 3rd street. My dad use to work at Bethlehem Steel (current site of Sands) and I lived there for 22 years.

]]> By: BWoP http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html#comment-8585 BWoP Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:43:20 +0000 http://www.highonpoker.com/?p=2317#comment-8585 It seems to me that the least capital intensive thing to do would be to lower room rates. Building new amenities or undergoing significant renovations will probably require too much capital, and if capital spending projects aren't already planned / budgeted, the drop-off in AC traffic is going to happen before all of the fancy new stuff is in place. Perhaps people will come back to see the new stuff, but they may already become hooked on the convenience by then. Great post. It seems to me that the least capital intensive thing to do would be to lower room rates. Building new amenities or undergoing significant renovations will probably require too much capital, and if capital spending projects aren’t already planned / budgeted, the drop-off in AC traffic is going to happen before all of the fancy new stuff is in place. Perhaps people will come back to see the new stuff, but they may already become hooked on the convenience by then.

Great post.

]]> By: Hammer Player aka Hoyazo http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html#comment-8584 Hammer Player aka Hoyazo Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:54:16 +0000 http://www.highonpoker.com/?p=2317#comment-8584 I don't think lowering room rates will do much of anything for AC, unfortunately. I think they need to keep searching for ways to differentiate themselves from these other casinos (a la the strong entertainment you mentioned, which I do agree with). They need to build better resorts with more of the amenities that people want at a place they go to stay at, in particular the women and kids of the sugar daddys the AC casinos want playing 8 hours a day in their casinos. I think the people in this area have shown that they are willing to pay more to stay at a place that is perceived to be "worth it". I just don't think lowering rates is the answer, or not the exclusive answer at least. They need to improve the level of attraction of their resorts, and the people will come at any reasonable price, even likely more than being paid at competing resorts in PA or DE. Great post. I don’t think lowering room rates will do much of anything for AC, unfortunately. I think they need to keep searching for ways to differentiate themselves from these other casinos (a la the strong entertainment you mentioned, which I do agree with). They need to build better resorts with more of the amenities that people want at a place they go to stay at, in particular the women and kids of the sugar daddys the AC casinos want playing 8 hours a day in their casinos.

I think the people in this area have shown that they are willing to pay more to stay at a place that is perceived to be “worth it”. I just don’t think lowering rates is the answer, or not the exclusive answer at least. They need to improve the level of attraction of their resorts, and the people will come at any reasonable price, even likely more than being paid at competing resorts in PA or DE.

Great post.

]]> By: Riggs http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html#comment-8582 Riggs Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:12:13 +0000 http://www.highonpoker.com/?p=2317#comment-8582 I'll dispute this whole thought process in a post currently under construction. It will be posted in the next hour or so. Awesome Maps bro! I’ll dispute this whole thought process in a post currently under construction. It will be posted in the next hour or so.

Awesome Maps bro!

]]> By: eleran http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html#comment-8580 eleran Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:02:50 +0000 http://www.highonpoker.com/?p=2317#comment-8580 Don't forget 2 other casinos in upstate NY. The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino up near the Canadian border, and the Allegheny Seneca Casino in Salamance, NY> Don’t forget 2 other casinos in upstate NY. The Akwesasne Mohawk Casino up near the Canadian border, and the Allegheny Seneca Casino in Salamance, NY>

]]> By: Jamie http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html#comment-8579 Jamie Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:52:38 +0000 http://www.highonpoker.com/?p=2317#comment-8579 Great post. I've also been following, with great interest, the happenings in the nascent North East gambling industries. This doesn't bode well for AC, to be sure. Pinnacle officially dropped their project to build on the old Sands lot just a few days ago, citing the increased competition to the city. While I agree that AC can staunch the bleeding with the steps you've outlined, the bottom line is that having local casinos available is going to kill most of the action in the city. My guess is that the properties are going to consolidate with only a few surviving. Borgata, Showboat, Taj, Harrahs and Caesars are on my list of those making the cut. I don't think the city will be able to support more than that. Oh, and that big new one they're building just north of the Showboat. It comes down to convenience. The slots players are what keep the casinos running, and the slots experience is not vastly different from one casino to the next. So ease of access is a primary draw. Those buses we take to get to the city aren't meant for poker players, they're meant to draw slots day trippers. If the ride for those players went from 2.5 hours to one hour, then AC doesn't stand a chance. The younger crowd and families, who enjoy the restaurants and table games, might still be enticed to go for a vacation weekend or two with the increased entertainment options you've mentioned. But table games just aren't as profitable. Legalized sports betting would be a big boost, me thinks. Great post. I’ve also been following, with great interest, the happenings in the nascent North East gambling industries. This doesn’t bode well for AC, to be sure. Pinnacle officially dropped their project to build on the old Sands lot just a few days ago, citing the increased competition to the city. While I agree that AC can staunch the bleeding with the steps you’ve outlined, the bottom line is that having local casinos available is going to kill most of the action in the city. My guess is that the properties are going to consolidate with only a few surviving. Borgata, Showboat, Taj, Harrahs and Caesars are on my list of those making the cut. I don’t think the city will be able to support more than that. Oh, and that big new one they’re building just north of the Showboat.

It comes down to convenience. The slots players are what keep the casinos running, and the slots experience is not vastly different from one casino to the next. So ease of access is a primary draw. Those buses we take to get to the city aren’t meant for poker players, they’re meant to draw slots day trippers. If the ride for those players went from 2.5 hours to one hour, then AC doesn’t stand a chance. The younger crowd and families, who enjoy the restaurants and table games, might still be enticed to go for a vacation weekend or two with the increased entertainment options you’ve mentioned. But table games just aren’t as profitable.

Legalized sports betting would be a big boost, me thinks.

]]> By: blaargh http://www.highonpoker.com/2010/02/the-crowded-atlantic.html#comment-8578 blaargh Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:55:35 +0000 http://www.highonpoker.com/?p=2317#comment-8578 2 things HOP... 1. awesome post + map, thanks! 2. you have waaaaay too much time on your hands :) I have a brother-in-law in allentown, looks like I'll be visiting more often... 2 things HOP… 1. awesome post + map, thanks!
2. you have waaaaay too much time on your hands :)

I have a brother-in-law in allentown, looks like I’ll be visiting more often…

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