Visitreno

stan_allen · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 1129

Another story from the current RGJ.com:

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070525/NEWS10/705250481/1016/NEWS

We've seen Comstock, Sundowner, Old Reno, Golden Phoenix and others fold up due to declining business - they attempt condo conversion as their only hope to turn a buck.

But now, other groups are thinking of opening NEW casinos, even as the existing ones appear to hang on tenuously to their steadily-dwindling clientele.

It's certainly fascinating to watch the cycles come and go.

Bob972 · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 43

This is like dejavu all over again.

lvbear584 · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 140

I hope they have deep pockets. They'll need 'em.

I would like to see a new casino succeed in Reno if it offers value and decent treatment of patrons, as do most of the existing ones (excluding Harrah's, of course). But the proposed location is a poor one. It will get no foot traffic. The bad neighborhood will keep locals away, at least locals with more than a couple of coins to donate (think of dumps like Diamond's, Baldini's and Rail City). And it's just far enough away from the tourist area that it won't be able to attract many out-of-town visitors. So where are the customers going to come from?

Dave · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 212

You'll have to help me out here on this one guys as I see the address for the proposed site but what is that near? Nice to hear someone at least talking about adding another Casino rather than shutting one down that is for sure!

stan_allen · Joined: 19 Dec 2005 Posts: 1129

I must admit I was completely remiss in not looking closer at the address of this proposed casino, since the poll question that accompanies it is clearly the wrong inquiry altogether.

To wit, the location in question is Keystone and fifth - for those of you who approach Reno via route 80 from Sacramento, the bay area, and whatnot, you may recall a highway exit called "Keystone", which is the exit just before the formal downtown Sierra/Virginia Street exit.

So it's way the heck up on fifth, as far in latitude as a whole freeway exit, which isn't insubstantial.

The lesson seems to be that the downtown continues to be written off, even by casino investors. The location is curiously not all that far away from the downtown, but it's unlikely to attract foot traffic from there.

It's not unlike that poor old Holiday Inn over in the opposite direction, valiantly struggling on, even as it's crippled by the chasm of blighted blocks separating it from the downtown, and who would want to build a new casino with a challenge like that?

I'm guessing that they're looking at the general conglomeration of cars going through the intersection, many on their way to and from Albertson's, the major local supermarket, and saying to themselves, "Well, we won't get a lot of foot traffic in our casino here, but look at all this CAR traffic - we're sure to pick up some action that way!"