High Roller ridership too low

[Alan Mendelson]

I was told today that ridership on the High Roller observation wheel is about 10% of what Caesars expected.

[Dan Druff]

I was told today that ridership on the High Roller observation wheel is about 10% of what Caesars expected.

How reliable is this source?

10% is shockingly bad and honestly not what I would have ever guessed.

I will say that I rarely see it going during the day, which they probably didn't expect. At night it reliably goes, and it seemed like a decent sized line for it, but perhaps they has expectation of it being mobbed. I did notice they filled our pod with only about 20 people when 40 could have easily fit.

The prices are too high. $35 per person at night is crazy, especially in Vegas where there are so many other entertainment options. They were actually charging $40 for awhile before lowering it.

[Alan Mendelson]

My source is very reliable but the "expectations" were crazy numbers. I was told they're getting 3,500 riders per day and "expected" ten times that. What I don't know is if they make money with only the lower figure.

[redietz]

As I said a few days back, CET's CEO must have Las Vegas confused with Branson.

Nobody in his right mind would have thought a $35 ferris wheel ride was a good idea.

[Alan Mendelson]

I get free tickets and have no interest in going. But it is Vegas where $35 might not be too high for non gamblers in an otherwise pricey destination.

Checking some numbers:

Capacity 1,100 passeners at one time
Trip takes 30 minutes
Operates 14 hours per day

So what is the maximum number of passengers considering that one 40-passenger car is always being loaded?

[redietz]

I hate to give Loveman free advice, but here it is: Las Vegas is a destination. It's been featured in films for 60 years. Building tourist attractions that would be at home anywhere in the country, and that don't tie directly into LV, is a waste of time and money. Unless you put Las Vegas cocktail waitresses in the ferris wheel rooms, and deal blackjack at a table, and the ride is two hours, this was a really moronic investment. Nobody staring at the Venetian or Bellagio is going to have their breath taken away by a big ferris wheel. May as well build a ferris wheel outside the Louvre.

The Branson mentality was never going to fly.

[Alan Mendelson]

Vegas isn't just for gamblers. Maybe the High Roller "missed" but other non-gaming features could work. And maybe the wheel only needs a price adjustment?

[redietz]

I was way off on the price. I figured $10-12 would work. Forty bucks was a bit optimistic.

Las Vegas is for food lovers, architecture devotees, performance art fans, gamblers, observers of human behavior. Ferris wheels are for Branson. Maybe Dollywood on a slow day.

[Count Room]

OK OK, I can't resist saying it anymore: "If the High Roller ridership is too low, does that make the Low Roller ridership too high?"

There, the silly pun is outta my system!

[Alan Mendelson]

The high roller isn't for everyone.

[RoeIncarnate]

I would think $40 is too high, especially when you consider than most people travel as a couple and therefore have to drop $80. If I didn't have a fear of heights I would think more than $30 for my wife AND I would be too much.

We did do the tower at Paris once, but we had a 2 for 1 coupon. Nice, wife liked it but my fear of heights caused me some problems.

[regnis]

This reminds me of years ago when Vegas tried to become Disneyland and attract families with children. It ultimately failed and they went back to being an adult playground. Unfortunately, they still have moved away from gambling as their main profit center--they want clubs and restaurants and other forms of entertainment to carry the load. I am one player who they have pretty much lost because of this.

[FABismonte]

I grew up in Chicago where the big Ferris wheel at Navy Pier is a huge hit. But part of it is that visitors, and many people who live in Chicagoland, can take the ride to see a view of Chicago's skyline that they cannot otherwise see. Also it is located in an area where there are no other high view opportunities nearby. Moreover, I do not remember the price but it did not scare me when I took the ride with my family on Navy Pier.

By contrast, I have been in many hotel rooms in Las Vegas which enjoy wonderful views of the Strip. And if you want a view, you can easily also go up the Stratosphere and the Eiffel tower - and I have. I have not taken the High Roller ride even though I could use the free monthly Seven Stars/Diamond ticket. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has.

[a2a3dseddie]

Just got back from a family trip to Las Vegas. They have a family pricing deal: $80 for a family of 4 to go up at night. It was OK. You can't really see the entire Strip I. The Palazzo gets in the way as you look north and Planet Hollywood obscures much of the views of the south Strip.

I agree, it is way overpriced but having said that, most everything is on the Strip. $80 doesn't last long in a casino these days. I did find the remodeled Imperial Palace and the Linq area quite nice. The huge parking area behind the High Roller Wheel looks like it might make access to the mid Strip a bit easier.

[Alan Mendelson]

I deleted a post from this thread. It was inappropriate. If I let it remain it would open the door to threadjacking in the future. Stay on topic or start another thread.