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Sharon Harris knows that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas... If only the President had realised that
A wise woman once told me that a boy who liked me would find a way to make a date. If he didn’t like me, nothing I did would matter – but she also advised that I make myself as available and appealing as possible. In other words, I should market myself.
Good advice. She knew that marketing creates a desire. Once the demand exists, make it convenient. Atlantic City casinos realize innovative marketing will help them survive additional competition and less consumer spending. The “build it and they will come” philosophy of gaming expansion is oh-so-yesterday.
The smart and savvy will endure. The incompetent and unimaginative will fail, as they should.
Atlantic City can surpass its competitors, especially from April to October. As a destination, it is hard to outdo the great restaurants, entertainment, ocean, Boardwalk and beaches.
However, access to Atlantic City has too often been regional. The commuter trains, buses and highways easily transport more than 35 million annual visitors living within a few hours’ drive, but airline travel – except to/from Florida – has been sketchy despite a modern airport. However, expanded airline service is adding new flights to Boston and Atlanta, linking Atlantic City to the South and New England.
Also, a $4.5 million investment from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), the Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) recently launched weekend one-stop rail service connecting Atlantic City and New York City. The Caesars, Harrah’s and Borgata joint venture provides New York and New Jersey residents a direct transportation option on four-car multi-level trains offering comfortable coach and first-class seating.
Maybe the new phrase should be “if they can get there, they will come”.
Owned by Harrah’s, Caesars’ marketing extends to New York Mets baseball fans’ new 42,000-seat, $800 million CitiField ballpark. A deal prominently advertises the Caesars brand. The exclusive 12,000 square foot Caesars Club dining and entertainment area is inside the stadium. Caesars will offer fan specials and stage theme nights at the stadium. The deal also includes the Mets’ minor league clubs.
Justice and common sense have been served next door in Pennsylvania. By a 5-1 majority, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently declared unconstitutional a blanket ban on political contributions by gaming interests.
This key provision of the 2004 gaming legislation aimed to eliminate corruption. The original wording barred donations from anyone connected to the gaming industry.
Peter DePaul, part-owner of the planned Foxwoods casino in Philadelphia, challenged the language after paying a $100,000 fine for 2006 contributions totaling $32,000. The justices claimed that more restrictive limits in the original language may have altered their decision.
Some legislators will still reject contributions, which is their option. However, it is absurd to believe that gaming has cornered the market for potential corruption and bribery.
Singling out gaming people is insulting and stupid. Lobby for one’s causes after contributing, fine – but demanding favorable action crosses the line.
While an amusement operator from 1982 to 1997, I traveled to Washington many times with the national Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA). We lobbied our respective members of Congress to generate favorable legislation relevant to the coin-op industry, but never demanded anything.
In 2008, America’s unions spent hundreds of millions facilitating Barack Obama’s election. They now seek big time payback on several fronts, starting with the passage of the “Card Check” legislation I wrote of three months ago.
Sure, there are no guarantees, but aren’t we entitled to comment on those laws and regulations that affect us the most? Duh…I think we are.
Let’s end with some humor. Vice President Joe Biden, famous for his undisciplined comments, appeared on national television during the “swine flu” hysteria. He admitted advising his family to avoid airplanes, subways, trains or other “confined spaces”.
The air and rail industries cried foul. Once again, the White House did damage control. Condemning the comments, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg publicly rode the subway to his office.
The following week, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) placed a $77,740 one-page ad in the USA Today newspaper. Using a somber photo of Biden. The ad said: “Mr. Vice President, if you had said it here, no one would have known.”
You know… What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Good for the LVCVA.
