Atlantic City, NJ - Items of Interest
Atlantic City is always changing. Properties are being bought, sold and improved, just like in the game of Monopoly.
Atlantic City Tourism District Plan
The A.C. Tourism District plan was approved on Wednesday, Nov 1 by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. This document sets the strategic framework for Atlantic City's newly created tourism district.
2012 Bader Field Festivals
The Atlantic City Council has approved four multiday music festivals to take place at Bader Field in 2012. Headline performers will include Phish, Kenny Chesney , Metallica and Star Hill.
Taj Mahal Strip Club
The NJ Div. of Game Enforcement has approved a gentlemens strip club that is planned to be opened in the summer of 2012 at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. Dancers could strip only to pasties and g-strings. The club will be named "Scores."
The Pier Shops at Caesars was Sold
The Pier at Caesars was sold at auction on October 29th, 2011. The Pier Shops went on the auction block after Taubman Centers Inc., which owned The Pier Shops, defaulted on their $150 million mortgage. The Pier Shops cost $200 million to develop.
A group of lenders, which includes U.S. Bank N.A. was the winning bidder, with a bid of $25 million. The lenders group will continue to operate The Pier Shops until a new buyer is found.
The Pier Shops were not owned or managed by Caesars Entertainment, however the Pier Shops are connected to the Caesars Casino by a walkway that spans the boardwalk.
Life Size Monopoly Game Board
Bally's has constructed a lifesize monopoly game board on the boardwalk in front of their casino. After all, Bally's is located at the Boardwalk and Park Place, the two most desirable and expensive properties on the monopoly game board.
To find out about this huge monopoly game board, and to see more and larger photos
follow this Link:
Life Size Monopoly Game Board
Atlantic City loses Striped Bass
World Record
A new world-record striped bass was caught on the night of August 4, 2011 in Connecticut waters. The striper was boated by Greg Myerson and weighed in at 81.88 pounds. It edges out the previous record of 78.8 pounds caught in 1982, in Atlantic City.
Myerson caught his huge striper drifting a live eel near a submerged boulder, near the Outer Southwest Reef off the coast of Westbrook, Connecticut. His striper measured 54 inches in length.
Greg Myerson said he's sorry to take the striped bass world-record from Atlantic City, but he is happy to have it in Westbrook, Connecticut.
Greg Myerson's striper officially became the world record when it was certified by the IGFA on October 19th, 2011.
Steel Pier Has Been Sold
The Catanoso family, which has been leasing the pier since 1993, purchased Steel Pier for $4.25 million from Trump Entertainment. It is expected that the pier will remain an Amusement Pier, and may see some significant upgrades.
Hard Rock Casino for Atlantic City
Hard Rock International is planning to build a $275 million casino in Atlantic City. It would be built at the south end of the boardwalk at Albany Avenue, just south of the present Hilton. It would initially have 200 rooms, but could expand to 550 rooms sometime in the future. It would open in the spring of 2014.
Top Boardwalk, 2011
Atlantic City has the top boardwalk in the nation. This according to National Geographic, which has just released its list of the top 10.
Lucy The Elephant Struck by Lightning
Lucy The Elephant
On Sunday, July 3, 2011 Lucy the Elephant was struck by Lighting, damaging her interior controls and air conditioning. She will be repaired. Lucy was also struck by lightning back in 2006, requiring $162,000 in repairs.
To find out about Lucy follow this Link: Lucy The Elephant
Gay Bar
In May of 2011 a gay bar named "Prohibition" was opened in the Resorts casino.
Borgata Renovations
In order to keep pace with the new modern Revel Casino, which is due to open in 2012, The Borgata is investing $50 Million to upgrade their rooms and interior.
The Revel Casino Project is Back on Track
Revel - Early 2011
Revel Entertainment has obtained the required financing to complete construction.
To see more about the Revel Casino follow this link: Revel
Trump Marina Will Become a Golden Nugget
Atlantic City Golden Nugget
Landry's restaurant chain is buying the Trump Marina Hotel Casino for $38 million. Landry's owns and operates the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas. They plan to convert the Trump Marina into the Golden Nugget of Atlantic City. Landry's intends to spend $150 million to convert the Trump Marina into a luxury resort.
To see more about the Golden Nugget Casino follow this link: Golden Nugget
Atlantic City Tourism District
On February 1, 2011 NJ Governor Chris Christie signed a bill to create a state run tourism district in Atlantic City. This bill authorizes the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to takeover the district, which will include the Boardwalk casino zone, the Marina District, the Walk retail outlets and Bader Field. The bill also provides for the merger of the Atlantic City Covention and Visitors Authority into the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
Christy also announced a deal that includes state tax breaks to help get the Revel Casino development back on track. This deal provides for tax rebates, totaling $260 million over for Revel in future years.
Boardwalk Hall
Billboard Magazine reported that Boardwalk Hall is the top grossing mid-sized arena in North America. The 14,700-seat hall grossed more than $15 million in ticket sales, and attracted 252,577 attendees for 35 ticketed shows that include 15 concerts and seven sellouts.
Smaller Casinos for Atlantic City
In January 2011, NJ Gov. Christie signed a bill allowing smaller sized casino hotels to be built in Atlantic City. Such casino hotels could have only 200 guest rooms, rather than 500, as previously required. The new law allows 2 such smaller casino hotels to be built.
Hard Rock International has expressed interest in building a $300 million casino on vacant property at Albany Avenue and the Boardwalk.
Wind Turbines on Steel Pier
The first of three wind turbines are to be installed on Steel Pier by the summer of 2011. Each would be 12 stories, high with 25 foot rotors, and harness the winds cutting across the pier to generate electricity. The wind turbine would be a tourist attraction and generate much of the energy needed to run the amusements on the pier.
Resorts
As of 2010, Resorts Atlantic City was purchased by Dennis Gomes. Dennis plans to implement a new roaring 20s theme, ala "Boardwalk Empire" at Resorts.
Hilton
Landry's Restaurants, which owns the Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas, is interested in buying the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort.
The Pier Shops
Taubman Centers Inc., which owns The Pier Shops, has defaulted on its $135 million mortgage. It is likely that the pier will soon have a new owner.
Trump Marina
Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. is putting the Trump Marina Casino Resort up for sale.
IMAX Theatre
The Tropicana has the IMAX theatre that shows regularly scheduled movies. The Tropicana IMAX large format screen measures 55 by 75 feet, and is 3D capable. The Tropicana's IMAX theatre is in the Quarter.
Tropicana
In early March 2010, Carl Icahn completed a $200 million deal, with a Delaware bankruptcy court, to buy the Atlantic City Tropicana Casino and Resort. The new parent company is called Tropicana Entertainment Inc. and will be run by its new president, Mark Giannantonio.
Margaritaville Logo
Margaritaville
Coastal Marina, LLC, a New York-based gaming venture, was to acquire the Trump Marina Hotel Casino from Trump Entertainment resorts, Inc. The resort would have been re-branded as a "Margaritaville™” Marina Resort & Casino.
Link to more about Margaritaville
This project was canceled due to the
poor economy.
Since then the Trump Marina was sold to Landry's Restaurants. They are turning into a Golden Nugget.
Blackjack
Resorts now has Blackjack with $2 minimum bets. They call it "Retro Blackjack," returning to the way it was in 1978.
The Hilton has introduced "Double Deck Pitch Blackjack," played with just two decks instead of the usual eight. Card counters, hurry over!
2010 LPGA ShopRite Classic
The Ladies Professional Golf Association made a tour stop in Atlantic City when it returned to the Seaview Marriott June 14-20, 2010. The ShopRite Classic, wass a 54-hole event with a $1.5M prize purse.
Atlantic City Restaurant Week
The third annual Atlantic City Restaurant Week takes place from, Feb 27 - Mar 5, 2011. During that week more than 70 participating restaurants will offer a multi-course meal for the fixed price of $15.11 for lunch and $33.11 for dinner (not including beverage, tax and gratuity).
Pinnacle Drops Plans for an Atlantic City casino
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. recently (02/05/2010) stated that they have scrapped plans for an Atlantic City casino and hope to sell its land.
Fishermans Energy Wind Farm
In January 2010 Fishermans Energy Corp. announced plans to build a 20 meagawatt wind farm about three miles offshore from Atlantic City.
The project would consist of six turbines and they would be visible from the Atlantic City boardwalk. They stated that the wind farm would more likely be a tourist draw than an eyesore. The project is planned for completion by October 2011.
Atlantic City Rail Line Traffic
The Atlantic City Rail Line which provides service between Philadelphia and Atlantic City has realized a drop in ridership of 21 percent during the three month period that ended September 30th, 1990.
New Rail Line Terminal
In October, 2009 NJ Transit announced that they will build a new transit center in Pennsauken that will link the Atlantic City Rail Line and the River Line that goes to Trenton. This will make it easier for people who live in the towns served by the River Line to travel to Atlantic City by train.
Trump Atlantic City Casinos
In a September, 2009 bankruptcy settlement with creditors, Donald Trump has given up control of his three casinos in Atlantic City. In the creditors reorganization plan they can continue to use his name but Donald will not be in control. He will receive warrants for 10 percent of the new company after it is reorganized.
Expansion of the Walk
The Walk, the Atlantic City outlet mall will be expanded, adding a dozen new stores. The Walk presently has 105 stores. The new stores will be located across the street from the Atlantic City Convention Center.
The Pier Shops are in Trouble
Taubman Centers Inc., of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., who has the mortgage on the Pier Shops at Caesars said it was no longer able to make payments on it's $135 million dollar mortgage. The pier Shops will continue to operate.
Westjet Airline Comes to Atlantic City
Canada-based Westjet Airline has started seasonal airline service between Atlantic City International Airport and Toronto. Seasonal in this case being from October through May.
Sports Betting
In a move that could prove costly to Atlantic City's ailing casino industry, the Delaware State Senate approved a bill on Tuesday May 11, 2009 that would authorize Delaware to become the only state east of the Mississippi River to offer sports betting, sending it to Gov. Jack Markell for his promised signature.
AirTran Airlines
In June, Discount Airline AirTran will begin twice-daily round trip service between Atlantic City International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is the AirTran Airlines hub. From there passengers can connect via AirTran flights to almost 60 cities.
AirTran will be the second commercial passenger airline serving Atlantic City on a regular basis, the other being Spirit Airline.
Casino Expansion Plans
All of the four megacasino resorts which had planned expansion in Atlantic City have put these plans on hold because of the poor economy and credit crunch.
Hell's Kitchen
The 5th season of the Fox Networks TV show, Hell's Kitchen, was filmed at the Borgata. To see more about "Hell's Kitchen", follow this Link: Hell's Kitchen.
Boardwalk Empire
HBO is planning a series about Atlantic City based on Nelson Johnson's book Boardwalk Empire.
New Spirit Airline Flight to Atlantic City
Spirit Airlines will begin daily flights between Boston MA and Atlantic City NJ on May 1 2009.
Train Service From New York City
NJ Transit and Borgata Hotel & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah's Atlantic City have joined forces to to provide weekend express train service between New York City and Atlantic City. This train service started on Feb. 6, 2009. The casinos provide shuttles to meet passengers and bring them to the casinos.
MGM Grand Casino Development in Atlantic City Suspended
MGM Mirage reported third-quarter 2008 net income fell 67% and said it was suspending plans to build a new casino in Atlantic City because of the credit crunch. Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Lanni said The company will halt development until the economy and capital markets "are sufficiently improved.
Smoking Ban Suspendeded
The Atlantic City Council decided to suspend the smoking ban on city casinos that would have taken effect on October 15, 2008 by at least a year.
Goodby Miss America Way
The Miss America Pageant had been held in Atlantic City since 1921. In 2006 the pageant moved to Las Vegas following
a dispute over local funding and network television coverage. The pageant had been remembered in Atlantic City via
"Miss America Way", the name of a block long section of road between the Sheraton Hotel and the Atlantic City Convention
Center. This road is now being renamed "Convention Boulevard".
Bader Field
Bader Field, in Atlantic City, is a former airport. It is a 148 acre strip of land surrounded on three sides by water. The airport was used in the first attempts to cross the Atlantic Ocean by air. Bader Field is owned by the City, and is expected to be put up for sale in the near future. To find out more about Bader Field, follow this link: Bader Field
Chelsea Hotel
The new, "non-gaming" hotel, the Chelsea opened in June, 2008. It is located adjacent to the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. It was built on the grounds of the Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson motels that had been at that location. The new Chelsea has 330 rooms and 12 suites, with both ocean and bay views.
Airport Parking Garage
In June of 2008, a new indoor parking garage opened at the Atlantic City International Airport. The parking garage is six stories high, and provides 1,370 parking spaces.
Borgata Water Club
The new 800-room "Water Club" tower opened in June of 2008, at the Borgata. The Borgata Water Club has 5 pools and a "Spa in the Sky". The Water Club features signature in-room dining by Manhattan Chef, Geoffrey Zakarian, and shopping at six exclusive boutiques.
Trump Marina Casino to be Sold
Coastal Marina, LLC, a New York-based gaming venture, is to acquire the Trump Marina Hotel Casino from Trump Entertainment resorts, Inc. The resort is to be re-branded as a "Margaritaville™” Marina Resort & Casino.
Link to more about: Margaritaville
New $25,000 Chip
The NJ State Casino Control Commission recently approved the use of a new higher denomination , $25,000, gambling chip. The previous highest denomination chip was $20,000. The new chip is expected to be used on casino high- end tables, where gamblers can bet up to $50,00 at a time.
Harrah's Opens New Waterfront Tower
With the opening of it's new Waterfront Tower, Harrah's now has the the tallest building in Atlantic City at 525 feet, and the most hotel rooms at 2950, most with spectacular views. These new facilities include a tropical-themed pool underneath a 90-foot-high glass dome.
Harrah's Sold
As of Jan. 28 2008, Harrah's is no longer a public company. Harrah's Entertainment Inc. was sold to two private equity firms, Appollo Management L.P. of New York and Texas Pacific Group Capital of Fort Worth Texas, for $27.8 billion. Worldwide, Harrah's owns more than 50 properties that include casinos on land and in ships. The transaction includes four casinos in Atlantic City - Bally's, Caesars, Showboat, and Harrah's Marina.
Tropicana Casino
On December 17th, 2007 the casino commission denied the Columbia-Sussex Corp. a license renewal for the Tropicana Casino. As a result, the Tropicana Casino is up for sale.
Sands Casino Demolished
On October 18th 2007 the Sands Casino was demolished, to make room for a new mega-casino resort. The Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. will develop on the Sands site, at Indiana and Pacific Avenues, a $1.5 billion mega-casino resort scheduled to open in 2012.
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. have put these plans on hold because ot tight credit markets.
Smoking Ban
In April, the Atlantic City Council voted to impose a total smoking ban on city casinos that would take effect on October 15, 2008. Most of the casinos plan to comply with the smoking ban by building indoor unattended smoking lounges away from the slot machines and gaming tables.