A reader asked (possibly in jest) how the Hard Rock Hotel was vis-a-vis the Stratosphere. While I don't have the basis for an A:A comparison, I can comfortably say that if you can afford the Hard Rock, it's no contest. Under new owner Goldman Sachs, the Strat appears to have — if you'll pardon the expression — passed its peak and begun a slow descent into seediness.
The slot mix is very "blah" and decidedly third-tier, with lots of generic machines and ones you've probably never heard of before. And while the HRH's casino floor is designed so that it contains and heightens the energy, it's the opposite case at the Strat. The latter is an anachronism: a post-Mirage casino designed with a pre-Mirage "capture" mentality.* It's absurdly strung out, as though intentionally diffusing and minimizing the energy of the play that's taking place. The amount of action looked pretty respectable for a Monday night but was muted by the immensity and sparseness of the space itself.
It's like MGM Grand without any of the upside. If you're heading to the showroom be sure and pack water and provisions (or hire a rickshaw) because you're in for a long hike. While Goldman Sachs may have been cutting back on staff, the timeshare barkers — a holdover from the Carl Icahn era — continue to accost customers at will. By what twisted logic do casino executives convince themselves that allowing their patrons to be hassled in this fashion is actually good for business?
* — for this we have Lyle Berman and Bob Stupak to thank, but they've long since left the building.
