According to TW Hard Rock is getting a new tower to replace the area (tent) destroyed in the snow storm.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=32&articleid=20110510_11_0_TheHar812030
Will be adding
Eight to Ten Story Tower
Hotel Space (100 extra rooms)
10,000 square feet of dining and entertainment.
45,000 square feet of gaming space
Hard Rock? You mean the smoke shop out in Catoosa?
Yeah, the one across from the Waffle House
Yes It's the part that used to be the Cherokee Nation Bingo Outpost, & smoke shop. I think that's the part that will be undergoing the changes described in the news today.
That was the sprung structur, and was intended to be temporary from the very beginning. I was hoping the damage was more extensive than that, since I can't stand the place in any sense of the word and would be happy if it sunk into the earth (as long as no one was hurt).
A friend of mine out there told me about this a couple of weeks ago. The addition will make them (by a hair) the largest facility in terms of rooms in the region. Also probably the biggest one stop shop (rooms + convention space). This is definitely a win for regional tourism, but almost definitely a net loss for Tulsa, in that the Hard Rock doesn't contribute the same tax revenue but pull room nights away from the city. A larger facility will obviously pull more room nights, both from an individual travel standpoint and from a group standpoint.
Quote from: we vs us on May 11, 2011, 07:09:18 AM
A friend of mine out there told me about this a couple of weeks ago. The addition will make them (by a hair) the largest facility in terms of rooms in the region. Also probably the biggest one stop shop (rooms + convention space). This is definitely a win for regional tourism, but almost definitely a net loss for Tulsa, in that the Hard Rock doesn't contribute the same tax revenue but pull room nights away from the city. A larger facility will obviously pull more room nights, both from an individual travel standpoint and from a group standpoint.
B...b....bbb...but Casinos are good for the local economy. 8)
I'm not 100% positive on this but I'm pretty sure they contribute a lot to the CVB/Visit Tulsa in direct donations since they don't contribute through the hotel/motel tax. Does anyone know if that is correct?
They should invest in commuter lines to all the smaller communities. They're missing business by not bringing in all the Toby Keith crowd they can.
I'm trying to remember the last time I set foot in a casino to gamble.
Quote from: dbacks fan on May 11, 2011, 12:09:13 PM
I'm trying to remember the last time I set foot in a casino to gamble.
Do you ride a scooter instead?
Quote from: Red Arrow on May 11, 2011, 12:11:39 PM
Do you ride a scooter instead?
Yes, and I make sure to carry my O2 tank and Camel non filters (hard to find Pall Malls, and don't care for Lucky's) with me at all times. ;)
Quote from: dbacks fan on May 11, 2011, 12:12:55 PM
Yes, and I make sure to carry my O2 tank and Camel non filters (hard to find Pall Malls, and don't care for Lucky's) with me at all times. ;)
Boy there's an accurate stereotype.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2011, 12:14:23 PM
Boy there's an accurate stereotype.
Have you ever been to Laughlin NV?
Quote from: dbacks fan on May 11, 2011, 12:15:57 PM
Have you ever been to Laughlin NV?
No because pretty much all that's there is casinos. I've been to Vegas and I'd rather take a head-long dive into a tree shredder before I'd go back.
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2011, 12:20:37 PM
I'd rather take a head-long dive into a tree shredder before I'd go back.
Too late, that's been done here twice.
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=91;t=000028;p=0 (http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=91;t=000028;p=0)
As for Laughlin it's Vegas lite, and other than the CO River the only excitement they have there is the annual
gang war motor cycle
riot between Hell's Angels and The Mongols festival. The rest of the time it's turn around trips from Sun City.
Instead of expanding(again)the Hotel capacity.
Just add on a Nursing Home wing. Oops sorry. Retirement home to the building.
Get the money directly from their life savings for living there. Take what is left over naturally through the machines.
Open a Cemetary next to the Golf Course and charge them for dying there too.
Ya gotta think big Indians. Gambling and Cigarettes are only part of the payback.
You need to move on this.
Quote from: dbacks fan on May 11, 2011, 12:29:54 PM
Too late, that's been done here twice.
http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=91;t=000028;p=0 (http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=91;t=000028;p=0)
As for Laughlin it's Vegas lite, and other than the CO River the only excitement they have there is the annual gang war motor cycle riot between Hell's Angels and The Mongols festival. The rest of the time it's turn around trips from Sun City.
My neighbor was there the year they brought their guns and had tried to talk me into going. I was going to reference the HAMC/Mongrels meet-up but in an unusual move for me deleted it for sake of brevity. 8)
Quote from: rdj on May 11, 2011, 10:11:28 AM
I'm not 100% positive on this but I'm pretty sure they contribute a lot to the CVB/Visit Tulsa in direct donations since they don't contribute through the hotel/motel tax. Does anyone know if that is correct?
That's true. They contribute a flat fee (as I understand it) to the CVB to take advantage of its sales efforts (such as they are). But the fee doesn't scale, so the Hard Rock can increase their revenue from the CVB effort but won't contribute more to reflect that largesse. Don't get me wrong: there's definitely a contribution, but isn't as large as other hotels end up making.
Interesting: the Hard Rock has a very well funded and professional marketing department (and can tap into the Hard Rock national organization), and they are selling the region on a level with the CVB . . . except they're really only selling one property, and it isn't really in Tulsa. I don't know what they spend yearly but their effectiveness and reach can rival what VisitTulsa can do (IMHO, of course).
Quote from: Conan71 on May 11, 2011, 12:20:37 PM
No because pretty much all that's there is casinos. I've been to Vegas and I'd rather take a head-long dive into a tree shredder before I'd go back.
Headlong is too quick. How about feet first?
Third tower to be built at Hard Rock
QuoteA third hotel tower will be built at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Catoosa.
Groundbreaking will take place next week on a tower to add 100 suites and more than 55,000 square feed of gaming and entertainment space to the casino. Once the tower is completed it will feature a new media bar, ultra lounge and gaming zone.
This construction project will make the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino the largest resort and entertainment destination in the region.
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Third-tower-to-be-built-at-Hard-Rock/maL17s_iukSS2t2QOk09lQ.cspx?rss=2448&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter (http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Third-tower-to-be-built-at-Hard-Rock/maL17s_iukSS2t2QOk09lQ.cspx?rss=2448&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)
I don't gamble at the tribal casinos, but I have many friends who do. I still prefer the horse races over games of chance.
But I have been going to the Hard Rock Casino a few times a year. We have our annual state wide trash conference there each year and they are great to work with. I have also been to a couple of chamber events there lately including chambers from other cities.
The food is good and the prices very competitive.