[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by Willy702

Not how it works. People are thinking I better get out there before the fee starts. Beyond that it's getting them mentions worldwide so yeah any news is good. Only people this is going to discourage are locals and frankly the higher ups at MGM would flash the middle finger at them if they weren't looking. The locals they care about are valet parking already and spending lots of $ in clubs and shows. The mass locals market whining over this is clogging up traffic and just occasionally spending money there and a lot less than they try to represent they are. The comments are getting stupid, people saying I won't take my guests to the Strip anymore over this. On so many levels that's just stupid to say.

This is just reality, a strong company in a strong market just getting stronger out of this. Whenever the market gets weaker, a long way off IMO, they can say hey we are cutting the fees at all the casinos that are struggling and they once again make the marginal customers feel like they are getting some value for free.

It's not really that stupid, if you think about it. Assuming all casinos go to $10 parking in their garages. Our normal routine when guests visit who have never been here (that's approx. every other month)...


We bring them to the Wynn to view the floral displays, parasols, shops, etc.


We bring them to the Bellagio to see the conservatory and chocolate fountain. Sometimes we will walk over to Caesars from there, so we pass by the fountain show, but I usually end up walking back and getting the car to pick them up at Caesars, so we will count that as just parking at the Bellagio.


We bring them to the Venetian to walk along the canals, normally getting something to eat there as well.


In the winter months, we take them to the ice skating rink at the Cosmo.


We take them to Paris to walk the shops, and normally exit through Ballys for the outdoor area there.


That example of a typical night now costs $50 just in parking. Sometimes our guests want to see another specific casino, like Luxor or Excalibur.. tack on another $10 for that.


You may think it's stupid, however many of us think that $50-$60 for a few hours of showing the sites to our guests is a bit much.

[Sqibbcakes]

Originally Posted by Raiderman

It's not really that stupid, if you think about it. Assuming all casinos go to $10 parking in their garages. Our normal routine when guests visit who have never been here (that's approx. every other month)...


We bring them to the Wynn to view the floral displays, parasols, shops, etc.


We bring them to the Bellagio to see the conservatory and chocolate fountain. Sometimes we will walk over to Caesars from there, so we pass by the fountain show, but I usually end up walking back and getting the car to pick them up at Caesars, so we will count that as just parking at the Bellagio.


We bring them to the Venetian to walk along the canals, normally getting something to eat there as well.


In the winter months, we take them to the ice skating rink at the Cosmo.


We take them to Paris to walk the shops, and normally exit through Ballys for the outdoor area there.


That example of a typical night now costs $50 just in parking. Sometimes our guests want to see another specific casino, like Luxor or Excalibur.. tack on another $10 for that.


You may think it's stupid, however many of us think that $50-$60 for a few hours of showing the sites to our guests is a bit much.

How will MGM properties exist without business like yours?

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by Caltovegas

I stopped in Westgate and it looks like they are gearing up for paid parking.

Make that past tense. I went there Wednesday at 1:00p to drop off some items for a job I was producing. The garage was charging $20, and the valet was at $30. I pulled around back where the buses park, left my hazards on, and just ran in to drop off my stuff.

[Sqibbcakes]

The Treasure Island is really hurting after taking out the pirate show and getting rid of the 10,000 deadbeats a day there, aren't they. These properties are open to make money, not to be something to be looked at.

[BBMW]

Casino properties are all about driving traffic through the casino, on the assumption that some of that traffice will stop and play. The Pirate show did that. Now that they've gotten rid of it, I'm sure they've seen some drop off in traffic. I have to wonder what it's performance has been since they closed the show. They're privately owned, so it's unlikely we'll see the numbers.

Originally Posted by Sqibbcakes

The Treasure Island is really hurting after taking out the pirate show and getting rid of the 10,000 deadbeats a day there, aren't they. These properties are open to make money, not to be something to be looked at.

Did this correspond to the SHOT Show? That property basically exists to service the convention center. So there is an issue with conventiongoers using their garage to go to the convention center, bypassing the casino. So the casino wants to get something out of those people using the parking. This is understandable. I wonder if they charge when there aren't any major events at the convention center.

Originally Posted by Raiderman

Make that past tense. I went there Wednesday at 1:00p to drop off some items for a job I was producing. The garage was charging $20, and the valet was at $30. I pulled around back where the buses park, left my hazards on, and just ran in to drop off my stuff.

[Sqibbcakes]

It doesn't matter how cheap the attendees for any convention are, they are spending much, much more than locals bringing their friends and relatives to sightsee.

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by Sqibbcakes

It doesn't matter how cheap the attendees for any convention are, they are spending much, much more than locals bringing their friends and relatives to sightsee.

And you know how much we and our friends spend gambling how? Did my win/loss somehow get routed to your part of town? That's weird.. I should probably look into that..

[Sqibbcakes]

I'm sure you and your billionaire friends are real players. Did you complete your collection of $1 cheques yet?

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by Sqibbcakes

I'm sure you and your billionaire friends are real players. Did you complete your collection of $1 cheques yet?

Yep! 2 more to go in Laughlin, then Clark Cty is done. I only have 2 billionaire friends, but they don't gamble. My other friends are recreational, as I am. That being said, I'm not sure how that relates to sightseeing with visitors on the strip...

[BBMW]

I don't know if thus is what Squbb is talking about but attending a convention is not cheap. The venues and hotels know the attendees are on expenses accounts, and stick it to them in any way they can. And this is before any gambling.

Originally Posted by Raiderman

And you know how much we and our friends spend gambling how? Did my win/loss somehow get routed to your part of town? That's weird.. I should probably look into that..