Well, who’s to say what’s "embarrassingly archaic"? Perhaps we should conduct a poll to find out how many respondents think the Excalibur theme is "tired" and how many think it's still vital or even just viable.
After all, it's almost a given that Circus Circus is outdated. Its main building is 40 years old, nearing the possible limit of its longevity. It might be torn down in the next few years; with MGM-Dubai World planning a metaresort right next door, it's possible they'll decide they want to use that land, like Boyd did with the Westward Ho land for Echelon Place. But the point is this: Circus Circus is still standing now and it predates Excalibur by 22 years.
Excalibur is only 18 years old. And it has four 1,000-room towers; that’s not so easy an implosion to pull off.
Also, just like Circus Circus, the place is a perpetual nuthouse -- full of action in the huge casino from low rollers who like the price of the rooms and the minimums of the tables; families with kids partaking in the midway downstairs; families with kids attending the long-running and hugely popular Tournament of Kings show (and hordes of hip ladies taking in Thunder from Down Under); bargain seekers galore eating at the Roundtable Buffet, one of the largest and most heavily patronized in Las Vegas (although they did just discontinue the Sunday champagne brunch), and partyers hanging out at Octane and Dick's Last Resort.
Besides, themes don’t dictate when casinos bite the dust. If they did, we could argue that the Four Queens, Fitzgerald’s, Sahara, and Bill’s Gamblin' Hall & Saloon should be knocked down yesterday. And how about Mandalay Bay? Now there’s a curious premise if there ever was one -- the real Mandalay, a large royal city in Burma, is on the Irrawaddy River, with no bay in sight, and Mandalay is in Southeast Asia, not Polynesia, as the joint’s theme would have you believe. For that matter, what about Hooters? Or Planet Hollywood? (Ha ha!) The Luxor isn't letting the little matter of the large pyramid prevent it from "de-theming" the interior and re-branding itself as a hip party spot.
Bottom line? It always comes down to the bottom line. Excalibur cost $290 million to build; today, that barely buys you a high-tech showroom or a new 700-room tower. It’s been paid for 10 times over and is probably among the most profitable properties in Las Vegas. It’s certainly one of the most popular. We don’t expect to see it reduced to rubble anytime soon.
