Future of Atlantic City?

[ACTransport]

I'm wondering what everyone thinks about the future of Atlantic City.

The Borgata, the tunnel, The Walk, the new Convention Center, and Harrah's new tower are something, but they're all starting to look like just the beginning.

Now there's Pinnacle, MGM, Revel, Wynn coming back to town (and buying the entire Bader Field area!), and big talk about re-design of the entire East Atlantic City/322 entrance into Atlantic City.

Over the last year or two I was thinking Atlantic City was going through a bit of a re-birth. Now, however, I'm thinking Atlantic City is moving to version 2.0 at warp speed. The timing couldn't be better either. Over the next 2-3 many of these projects should be completed, and having their grand openings right when the economy will, hopefully, be on a nice upward growth curve.

I think that not only are we going to see the biggest rennovation and growth in Atlantic City since the casinos came to town, but also, we're watching Atlantic City bounce back to a world class destination/seaside resort like it was before WWII.

Any thoughts?

[NJBarb]

The rt 30 project just pulled out. I will believe Revel when I see it. Walk through a casino floor any day of the week and you will see vast stretches of empty space. Restaurants are closing or open very limited hrs.
Go a block off the boardwalk and youre likely to get a ticket for jaywalking or if you're driving for an illegal left turn or if you parked a a meter for staying a minute over. Its just not a hospitable friendly place except in a few of the restaurants.

[JerseyDevil]

I agree with ACTransport - although at the moment things are moving rather slowly again. Revel is happening, the are concentrating on the outside while they are holding off on the inside while the economy improves. MGM is on hold and so is Pinnacle, however this is only a slight set-back I feel. It isn't just AC that is feeling the pinch right now - Universal just said that one of it's attractions will be shut down for the season until the summer. Las Vegas is having problems and basically giving away rooms. AC however is in a unique position - it's within a 3 hours drive of 25% of the Us Population.

[ACHotelGuy]

I believe we can help make Atlantic City a world class destination if we can get LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING APPROVED! With the growth of the PA Casinos and NY and Maryland not far behind, Atlantic City needs a major advantage such as Sports Betting to attract the growth necessary.

AC has allot going for it however, we need to do everything and anything possible to give us some sort of an advantage, what do you think?

One new thought is that the Revel Casino project could give us a big boost, providing we can get it opened in 2011. 1,000's of new employees and a new destination!

Atlantic City Hotels Guy

[JerseyDevil]

I believe we can help make Atlantic City a world class destination if we can get LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING APPROVED! With the growth of the PA Casinos and NY and Maryland not far behind, Atlantic City needs a major advantage such as Sports Betting to attract the growth necessary.

AC has allot going for it however, we need to everything and anything possible to give us advantage, what do you think?

Atlantic City Hotels Guy

I completely agree. if AC is really going to compete with Las Vegas - then we have to allow sports gambling. NJ is already behind the eight ball because Delaware just passed it. The nearsighted politicians of New Jersey once again put NJ in this terrible position. About 30 years ago, New Jersey would have been allowed to have sports gambling - we didn't necessarily need to implement it then - but just keep the door open for the future. Bu no - New Jersey said - "no thanks" so now the Federal Government only allows FOUR states who took the offer to have sports gambling. We now will have to pass it at the state level - which I see no problem with it - but now we have to go and sue the federal government saying that it is against the Constitution to allow some things in certain states and not allow them in other. This of course is true - no state can be treated differently or have different federal laws applying to it. The problem that New Jersey has gotten itself into is the fact that we could have already have been covered with this - but instead our politicians of course said 'we'll pass". So now it will be how many years before this goes through court and gets overturned? While all this time Delaware will be having Sports Gambling and eating into the profits Atlantic City could be making.