News 11-18-07 Circus Circus
Post your commentsPosted by: Danny - 11/18/2007 5:22:17 PM
Hey, that's the company that is building the new casino out on the marina. Sounds like they want a strong footprint in the area
Posted by: nvgirl - 11/18/2007 8:10:38 PM
If it's anything like the Legends Marina Casino & Spa, breaking ground next year in Sparks, I'm sure it will be grand.
Posted by: El Diablo - 11/19/2007 10:52:29 AM
Whatever, go ask Grand Sierra Resort how their young hipper casino is doing. I am young and hip, but you won't find me near any casino. The Casinos are for the tourists and I could not be happier that they come and drop their money here in Reno. If the new casinos were smart, they would gear themselves towards old chain smoking ladys and fat fanny pack wearing men. That seems to make up most the gamblers in the Reno Casinos. Young people don't have pension checks or social security to throw in the slot machines?
Posted by: BillyBob - 11/19/2007 2:06:18 PM
I disagree. I'm young and hip and I go to the Grand Sierra, albeit not to gamble. But, the GSR isn't all about gambling. I go there for fine dining, a great wine bar, and the overall atmosphere. As for how well they are doing, everytime I've been in there the restaurants are packed. The hotel seems to be doink ok during the week and really well on weekends (it was packed this past weekend). All you GSR haters out there need to get over it.
Posted by: Reno1 - 11/19/2007 6:23:36 PM
Im glad to hear this, Circus Circus is kind of a dump, it really could use a makeover and with all the changes happening downtown and around Reno, a renovation to Circus Circus would fit in nicely. All the casinos in town are seeming to gear toward the young and hip, with Grand Sierra's All City Nightclub, Silver Legacy's Aura and Peppermill's new nightclub set to open next year, I hope Olympia buys that place, it would be great for Reno!
Posted by: Slapdad - 11/19/2007 7:11:35 PM
A younger,hipper casino isn't necessarily to pull in locals of that demographic for gaming....it's more suited to pull in younger, hipper out of state gamblers. And as a local, I've enjoyed Nikki Beach, Dolce, Enoteca, and Charlie Parker's. Not sure what all the negativity is about....I think GSR has become the nicest property in town and will only get better. The new managers have a gameplan and they are sticking to it and I think in the end, they will be the ones laughing.
Posted by: Mike Van H - 11/19/2007 8:09:52 PM
I don't know what the negativity is about either. IMO it's never a bad thing when a casino wants to upgrade their property. GSR has pumped over $200 million into renovating their property. The market for casinos is changing. It's not just for bus loads of elderly out-of-town folks anymore. That's why Silver Legacy spent a cool chunk of money building their new Aura Ultra Lounge, with decor most elderly people would balk at. Look at how many casino-based businesses made it on the Best of Reno list in Reno News and Review. Babinga, Andreotti's, Harrah's Steakhouse, Ichiban inside Harrah's, the restaurant inside the Nugget downtown, the Purple Parrot in the Atlantis, the Italian restaurant in the Atlantis (can't recall the name sorry, working off memory here) etc etc. Locals mostly voted for those businesses, not tourists. So while you may not frequent casinos, hordes of locals do, to enjoy some of the finer dining in Reno. I do :)Also, if you havent noticed, nearly every outlying casino is massively upgrading, just look at the list here. http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/media/pressreleases/index.php?press_release_id=229 It would be a tragic mistake for downtown casinos not to keep up.
Posted by: Bugsy - 11/20/2007 8:11:48 AM
This will be another key on the transformation of downtown...I know a lot of people are thinking that casinos are not the key to rebuilding downtown. I always thought that the casinos are the life line to downtown and well as the entire city. If you upgrade the casinos, it will trickle down to the other business' downtown. just think how much better downtown will look when the fitzgeralds and circus circus get redone.. Now if only the cal neva club and Harris will catch on!
Posted by: indamernreno - 11/20/2007 10:06:04 AM
I am a big Wolf Pack supporter and when I sit in the east stands looking at downtown all I can see is the ultra ugly Circus Circus building. I was there for the nationally televised Hawaii game and though what a shame that its the most obvious thing an out of town viewer would see when ESPN shows a quick shot of downtown as they come back from commercial. I dont know the current financials of Circus Circus, but they would be wise to redo the facade ASAP. Other than that and a few fleabag motels, downtown reno is looking real good
Posted by: Toby - 11/20/2007 6:55:46 PM
I don't think the name BillyBob and hip go together...
Posted by: SteveoReno - 11/21/2007 1:43:16 AM
Please don't take out Kokopelli's Sushi in Circus Circus! It's seriously the best, unknown sushi in town. Other than that, bulldoze the wreck!
Posted by: El Diablo - 11/28/2007 11:33:49 AM
Just to re-assert how right I am. This is a quote from todays RGJoke. "Baby boomers are the largest and most affluent group of travelers in the nation and are Reno's primary target demographic" This was from an article about a meeting about how to bring in tourists during the winter months, which was headed by marketing professionals. Young people simply do not have spending cash or spending power like the "baby boomers" or retirees. There are many rumors(from good sources) floating around that GSR is in serious financial trouble. (have heard on other local blogs they are heading into bankruptcy). I submit it is because they were trying to go young and hip and that is not what this market supports. Old with money to spend anyday, over young hip and poor. I wonder what the age is of the people who contribute to this blog? My guess is all over 35 years old.
Posted by: Bugsy - 11/28/2007 12:28:00 PM
Hey El Diablo.. Im one of the Hip youngsters that is under 35 years..So I guess you are wrong. Im investing in reno because I couldn't afford to invest in Las Vegas. Give Reno time to redevelope and the youngters will come.. Las vegas at one time only catered to the older gamblers also and look at it now. BUTT, dont get me wrong, Im not saying Reno will become Las Vegas, but it will someday cater to all generations at a smaller scale including winter sports that vegas cannot.
Posted by: David - 11/28/2007 2:01:59 PM
I am also much younger than 35. However, I can understand why casinos would want to target baby boomers. There are so many of them, many are retiring, and a lot of them have money.
Posted by: Justin - 11/28/2007 2:31:58 PM
El Diablo, I am 29 and routinely post here and have spent quite a bit of money in area casinos (not on gaming, but at restaurants, lounges, clubs, etc.). The moral is, Reno MUST, not should or maybe, but MUST attract a younger clientele if it wishes to stay afloat in the tourism/gaming industry. Todays young hipster is tomorrows aging, well-heeled tourist. Take Buick for instance. They've traditionally done very well at marketing cars to the "older set" and now are faced with the reality that most of their buyers are dying off and as a result are experiencing decreased market share. The same goes for tourism IMO, in spite of the obvious differences between the tourism industry and the auto industry. Reno needs to be more forward thinking. One property (GSR) isn't going to change perceptions, but a few could (Legends Casino, Peppermill expansion, GSR, the Fitz redo, etc.). As for GSR specifically, the company I work for has a service contract w/ them and thus far they have been very good about paying their bills which is a good sign. They also seem to be quite busy when I go there, so I'm not sure how accurate your source(s) may be.
Posted by: Wiley-n-Reno - 11/28/2007 3:26:19 PM
I also think the possibility of Circus-Cucus getting an update and the incredible trench cover are great ideas! lets just hope they get pulled off. The "young crowd" will come if Reno makes itself relevant and recovers from 25 years of ignoring it's own downtown! I see rumblings of "Vegas burnout" happening. Las Vegas is currently about as intimate as a Taco Bell drive-thru. people notice! There is an opening to grab.
Posted by: MattLO - 11/28/2007 4:31:00 PM
Some people just cant handle the fact that Reno is changing, because for the last 10 years or so, Reno has been catering to cowboys and various others, but now that Indian gaming in California has sprouted about and our sister Las Vegas, even Atlantic City, all this city needs is a major project like the ones in Vegas and AC, and Reno would bounce back, and ALL the casinos are now beginning to target younger gamers, Reno is growing, rapidly, no longer is it a small town, it will continue to grow, not like Vegas at all, but grow into its own thing, so all I have to say is, just accept the changes, they are happening whether you like them or not, plus, they are all GOOD changes, just what this city needs.
Posted by: Ken - 11/28/2007 4:32:19 PM
I am also under 35 and have traveled extensively. There is a lot of opportunity in the market for Reno right now but it has to offer a quality product. Fixing up all the old casinos is part of a long-term investment strategy. The reason Reno's market has been down for so long is because of out-of-town operators using the properties as a piggy-bank and not reinvesting in the market - so these renovations are long overdue. I think we need to take the spotlight off the "young and hip" for a minute. The real target is people who travel with decent quantities of disposable income. Think of the skiing and the lakes and the historical attractions and the existing gambling business that somehow manages to continue rewarding with profit even in down times. To me it's just putting 2 + 2 together. There's a lot of potential in the market.