Harrah's status

[Hello]

Heard rumblings this morning that CET may be considering not reopening the Local Harrahs whenthings settle down. Any insight?

[GrandpaaSmucker]

Heard rumblings this morning that CET may be considering not reopening the Local Harrahs whenthings settle down. Any insight?

I could believe it easily. I go there often and the writing was already on the wall for the last couple of years. My insight is that the rumblings or rumors have at least a 50% of happening.

Now that you mention it Harrahs would make a great hotel for the Army Corps of Engineers to turn into a temporary hospital during this crisis.

[Omababe]

Do keep in mind that they have (had? I haven't been there for some time) a very decent restaurant which obviously has a good cash flow, a decent hotel, and a very popular concert venue.

The casino, on the other hand, is tiny and overcrowded on the weekends. If they are required to do things such as space out machines or turn every other one off for social distancing, it may not make that much.

And there's also Prairie Flower. That place has been a sardine can the few times I've been there!

[GrandpaaSmucker]

Do keep in mind that they have (had? I haven't been there for some time) a very decent restaurant which obviously has a good cash flow, a decent hotel, and a very popular concert venue.

The casino, on the other hand, is tiny and overcrowded on the weekends. If they are required to do things such as space out machines or turn every other one off for social distancing, it may not make that much.

And there's also Prairie Flower. That place has been a sardine can the few times I've been there!

I have ate at all the restaurants at Harrahs a combined dozen times in the past year. None of them have been ever been busy. You could walk right into them in fact without even having to wait. I would feel very comfortable in saying that they have been loosing money on their restaurants. Keep in mind that the buffet has not even been open on Wednesdays and Thursdays at all since last summer. They have huge maintenance issues like dealing with the never ending flood damage and intrusions. The whole building is getting older and maintenance has clearly not been kept up. Harrahs was already a dead casino walking and this could be the straw that broke the camels back.

[jomaha9]

If this is all true, there would be a great development opportunity for more of the Council Bluffs riverfront.

[Omahacritic]

I’ve been there a few times the last 6 months. Exterior is declining. Nothing fresh. Driveway is really just gravel. No lane striping. It really looks kind of sketchy dive-bar from the outside.

So, if Caesar’s won’t even do some facex spending, they probably do not have a long term plan for the Harrah’s property.

[bbinks]

Last time I was there is when Bill Cosby was promoting "A party at Harvys".

[swgiust]

I hope Nebraska voters see this and realize that Casino's are for Casino's. When average Joe is in there burning the last of his paycheck, he is not looking for good food or entertainment. All's he wants is to gamble. And all the casino wants is for him to gamble. Other than hotels casinos do not
build opportunity for other close by businesses to make money.

[Omahacritic]

I hope Nebraska voters see this and realize that Casino's are for Casino's. When average Joe is in there burning the last of his paycheck, he is not looking for good food or entertainment. All's he wants is to gamble. And all the casino wants is for him to gamble. Other than hotels casinos do not
build opportunity for other close by businesses to make money.

That is false.

[bigredmed1]

I hope Nebraska voters see this and realize that Casino's are for Casino's. When average Joe is in there burning the last of his paycheck, he is not looking for good food or entertainment. All's he wants is to gamble. And all the casino wants is for him to gamble. Other than hotels casinos do not
build opportunity for other close by businesses to make money.

That is false.

Please enlighten us with the string of success stories from the businesses around the CB casinos.

[Omahacritic]

I hope Nebraska voters see this and realize that Casino's are for Casino's. When average Joe is in there burning the last of his paycheck, he is not looking for good food or entertainment. All's he wants is to gamble. And all the casino wants is for him to gamble. Other than hotels casinos do not
build opportunity for other close by businesses to make money.

That is false.

Please enlighten us with the string of success stories from the businesses around the CB casinos.

First, swguist did not specify Council Bluffs. It was not city specific. I also object that a “string” of success in close proximity, (around) is a correct measure of success.
Outside of the Bluffs I have seen successful businesses crop up around other casinos. Usually they are built as parts of larger projects.

Sometimes, as in cases of servicing the casino, you will not witness the contribution to success.

If we talk about the Bluffs, well, the Riverboat casinos are not in proximity to measure “around”. But on the other hand, it is unfair to exclude hotels.

Horseshoe Casino is a bit easier to measure. But maybe too soon. I think it’s safe to say, if the casino wasn’t there the land would be a wasteland.

[Omababe]

CET has announced that the local Horseshoe will be opening on June 1.

However, there's no word on any date for the Harrah's, except for a note that the "sister property" would be opening as planned on June 1.

[swinquest]

CET has announced that the local Horseshoe will be opening on June 1.

However, there's no word on any date for the Harrah's, except for a note that the "sister property" would be opening as planned on June 1.

Would the sister property be Mid-America Center?

[Omababe]

Would the sister property be Mid-America Center?

No, Horseshoe.

[Greg S]

Would the sister property be Mid-America Center?

No, Horseshoe.

Wouldn't the sister property of the Horseshoe be Harrah's?

[lisanstan]

Harrah's and Horseshoe are "sister" properties, both owned by Caesars Entertainment. Currently, only Horseshoe is open. This is not unusual considering the social distancing/cleaning restrictions in place for casinos. It takes a lot of labor to run a 24/7/365 casino, and now you're adding limits on how many people can game at once, plus all the cleaning rules.

Mid-America Center is owned by the City of Council Bluffs and managed by Caesars Entertainment.

[Omababe]

They are saying (the ubiquitous "they") that Harrah's will open July 3.

[S.O.Boy]

https://www.wowt.com/content/news/Harra ... 92471.html