Vegas Coasters and the lack of care given

I have been there before, and I have ridden them all as well, but after last week, I really started pondering why, in a town so overwhelmed with cashflow, every coaster there is in a dire state of disrepair. All the rides are rough, or rougher than ever, and casinos could, if they wanted, build wonderful "destination" type rides. Instead, we get Manhattan Express, among others that simply hurt, and lack everything that makes a coaster great. I realize that the casinos spend little money on these rides, and they are indeed huge money makers, but they could "do it right" and build sweet rides with all that capital. Do you think they ever will? At least they got it kind of right with Desperado down at the border. I mean, really, can't you just imagine what they could build using B&M or Intamin as a designer for a casino-top ride. Ah, to dream.
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www.tripowered.com ~ where dreams are made

Because in a town like Vegas, rides (coasters included) are just a diversion - the side show to the main event. These places aren't in the amusement park business and the coasters are probably the least of the concerns.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park visits in 2002: 15

Oh, I agree, but you would have to agree also that they could be. That is my whole point. Why not? The money is certainly there. They could just add that much more to the town by building in a few more destination type rides. I guess it's just beating a dead horse, but it could be done.
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www.tripowered.com ~ The name of the game

Desperado is really good taken care of I think but it isn't on the strip. Like Lord Gonchar said they aren't making new coaster or parks. They are just there really.

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-Sean

Ahhh Rob, give the heartline some love!
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TOGO!

I think it has a lot to do with knowledge and resources. Amusement Parks have maintenence crews whose sole job is rides. In Vegas, chances are their mechanics and such are primarily devoted to the hotels and casinos. In other words, they do not have the expertice that amusement parks have.

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wof fan

Desperado well taken care of? Have you even ridden that thing? If you did you'd realize the ride is rougher than any other coaster ever created. They also cannabalized the 2nd (and 3rd?) train(s) to keep the 1st one running. The ride also had a recent derailment due to bad maintanance. The turbo drop and log ride there are better rides fortunately. All this BS coming from a resort that makes millions a day in the casinos (it's a collection of hotels and casinos linked by monorail).

Speed the ride is a good one, as is the adventure dome coaster. smooth and non head banging for their makers.

Manhattan Express costs like $11.25. If they're charging that much and still getting riders they should have made an Intamin hyper looping coaster.

I understand all your arguments, but they still don't hold water. The fact is that casinos do make millions of dollars, DAILY.... The could do it right, they just don't. My question is why? We can speculate, but does anyone know anyone within the casino industry that can explain this? Speedy has it right... If they charge that much (which they are certainly entitled to given it is their resort to run as they please), then they can build a 'real' ride. One that will draw enthusiasts as well as the GP that doesn't know any better. Why not make even more money? On top of that, why not convert the GP into enthusiasts so they can make more money still? It is possible, but it seems, for no apparent reason, that casinos could care less... Why?

Lewis, yes the heartline is cool, but that's it. Actually, I will admit to enjoying the drop as well as the climb to the top (what degree is that, as it is really steep?), but that first curve to the left is a killer taken at full speed and THAT SUCKS!!! (and I never use the word suck :))
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www.tripowered.com

I'll let you know what I think of the coasters there after the 18th of August. However, I do see your point on the upkeep of the coasters. I do hear that they aren't maintained very well, and they should be to keep them safe and to keep people coming back for more rides. More rides equals more money for the casino, which is why the rides are there. In any case, from what I've heard of Desperado, it's running much better. As for Manhattan Express, I hear nothing but bad things about that ride, but it's Togo so what can you expect really? Speed and Canyon Blaster are the only good rides there from sources close to me.

You have to understand, the main concern of owners, manager, ect. is the casino and most of the time only the casino. People come to Las Vegas to gamble, not ride roller coasters. The reason we get rides fixed and maintained in amusement parks is because that what people come for, the rides. If the rides are rough and just plan bad at an amusement park, then people will stop coming. But if a ride is bad at a casino, people will still gamble there.

I think that what the people in charge are saying is, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." They aren't in the amusement industry so they don't make all their money off these rides. As long as they have tourist who are willing to pay $13 to ride the roller coaster, then why do anything to it? Now, I'm sure if people stopped ridding it, then they would investigate to find out why but until then, they are going to leave it as it is.

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"The opposite of war isn't peace, its creation," Rent.

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nasai said:

The fact is that casinos do make millions of dollars, DAILY.... The could do it right, they just don't. My question is why?

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I'm willing to bet that most of these coasters/rides account for less than 1% of the daily income for the casinos and hotels. For that reason alone, I can't see Vegas ever really becoming a destination for coasters. I'm willing to bet that less than 10% of the visitors to Vegas ever actually set foot on one of the major rides.

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"Look, we all go way back, and uh, I owe you from the thing with the guy in the place and I'll never forget it." "That was our pleasure." "I'd never been to Belize."

The only "bad" ride that I know of in Vegas is Manhatten Express, and it's the only one I have yet ridden, so my opinion of the ride isn't valid, but I see no problems with the other coasters there, Canyon Blaster is the smoothest Arrow I've ever ridden, Speed is as smooth as glass, and Desperado is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. So I guess I see no problem with how the casinos in Vegas maintain their coasters.

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"Time it makes you old, experience makes you wise, and it's only a fool who judges life by what he sees in other people's eyes"- Jason Cruz, Strung Out

nasai...I think that a few of these arguments do "hold water" Just because you do not agree with them does not make them wrong. Casino's are focused on one thing and one thing only...Casino's. Vegas casinos do everything they can to get you into and keep you in the casino. There are no clocks or windows so you lose track of time, you often have to pass through the casino to exit or enter the hotel.

The rides are simply a diversion. Most require you to do what? Walk through (or nearby) the casino to reach them. They know that for the most part, people do not travel to Vegas to ride the rides. Why have the ride's go through or near the casino? While the parents send the kids on to ride, they can gamble.

As I said before, I firmly believe that you must have a dedicated maintenence staff to properly maintain a ride. When your maintenence staff spends most of their time fixing escalators, air conditioners and elevators, they are not going to have the best knowledge to evaluate or repair a coaster. Money talks, they are not making a huge amount from the rides. Don't take what I am saying wrong...they do make money on the rides, just not nowhere near the amount they make from gambling and hotels. That explains why there are many 2000+ room hotels in Vegas.

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wof fan

Matt, don't get me wrong. I don't want to come off as though your response is wrong. My point is that Vegas has become a family destination. The idea that Vegas is just about casinos is over. Vegas screams "family" now, and it will continue, so why not make more rides for those of us who prefer other sources of entertainment, as well as properly maintain the rides that exist. There is no reason why they don't....not anymore anyway, and that's my point. The only thing I can figure out is that the casinos build all these attractions (i.e. the musical fountains, coasters, light shows) to bring in the families, but they have yet to understand that those attractions need variety, and maintenance.
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www.tripowered.com ~ I dare you

I see it totally opposite: Vegas wants everyone to think they are a family destination, but, deep down, they could care less about bringing in families. Gambling and casinos are the bread and butter and that is where they will always make money.

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"Look, we all go way back, and uh, I owe you from the thing with the guy in the place and I'll never forget it." "That was our pleasure." "I'd never been to Belize."

Vegas has given itself the "Family Destination" tagline. This was not given by the public, it has been their marketing plan for a few years. And it is a good plan. Families used to avoid Vegas because of it's seedy reputation and lack of activities for kids. Now, by promoting themselves as as a family destination, they are bringing the families in. What happens when the families get there is purely planned. While the kids are at Adventuredome or riding Desperado, their parents are where? The casino. Circus Circus has used this marketing ploy for years. In other words, the amusement attractions are a quick diversion, simply put. Can you honestly tell me the kids enjoy watching Wayne Newton, Celine Dion, Sigfreid and Roy?

Vegas is still and will always cater to adults. That is what the town has had it's fame in for years. Even now you are seeing a retreat of the marketing of the family image. It worked to get people to visit there, but those who did quickly realized there is not much for the kids to do and have not returned on their "Family Vacation". This is also why you have not seen as many amusement attractions being planned as in previous years. For awhile, all the rage was the Stratosphere space shot, high roller, desperado, speed the ride, manhattan express, adventuredome, star trek, etc. What besides the multiple failed attemps to place another coaster at the Stratosphere has been built recently?

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wof fan

Agreed....still, all in all, they could do more. They just don't. Sad.