The future of the WSOP

[mikelow]

Congrats to Harrah's for keeping the tournament. I wonder, though, how all the recent events will affect turnout.

In the end it's a plus for poker as Harrah's is a legit brand name. My concern was that poker's "big dance" had outgrown the small casino. Wild Bill on www.therx.com (http://therx.com) says that having it on a large strip casino would be a losing event for the hosting casino. Maybe not with the increasing TV coverage especially if sponsors could be found.

Could Harrah's move it to their Strip casino? That may be difficult since they don't have a real cardroom that could hold it. So I guess were stuck with a great event in a lousy facility.

Comments?

[Greg (FossilMan)]

The new host won't hold it in their poker room. They will need to hold it in a ballroom or convention hall. A temporary poker room.

And I don't see how they could possibly lose money on it, unless there was something else even MORE profitable they could've done with that space at that time instead.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[M.B.E.]

The argument seems to be that a property hosting the WSOP would lose money from having its rooms and suites occupied by poker players, instead of either conventioneers paying full price or floor players who would lose a lot to the house.

But there's no reason a Strip casino can't run a poker tournament in a ballroom or two and tell most of the players to pay full price for their rooms (or stay somewhere else).

I wonder who was the "experienced poker room director" quoted in the article.

[slamdunkpro]

Harrahs on the strip cound not possibly fit the WSOP. The RIO on the other hand (owned by Harrah's) has plenty of room!

[Greg (FossilMan)]

I understand the argument, but is it true? If that casino is not turning away a big convention because of the WSOP, won't they have plenty of empty rooms that they can now sell to poker players? What is the occupancy rate of a place like the Rio in the spring? How many total rooms do they have?

Here in Foxwoods country, the two casinos are so full, they would lose money by selling out rooms to poker players and turning away slot players, even if the poker players paid full price on the rooms themselves. But out in LV, except during the major conventions, New Years Eve, and a few other times, there is lots of capacity in most of the casinos. Or so it always appeared to me.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[TimTimSalabim]

That will be some feat, setting up 100 or so poker tables in a temporary space, and making things run smoothly. Whoever runs it may get a new appreciation for the job Binion's did.

Hotel rooms will definitely not be an issue, last time I checked there were 100,000 or so in the area.

[RollaJ]

I think moving out of Binions would kill the allure and consequently the brand. Bellagio is already breathing down their necks

[drewjustdrew]

If you haven't been to the Rio lately, business has really fallen off, in my opinion. Last year, I was there and the entire area from the World Buffet to the entrance by the old poker room was empty. Not even a slot machine was there. I can't speak for the convention rooms, but the area I am talking about area could easily hold 50 or 60 tables. I think it would be a tremendous boost for the property if they could get it. People like to stay there, but it didn't appear like they liked to gamble there. A rival medium stakes poker room could be a nice fit.

[TimTimSalabim]

There will no doubt be over 1000 entrants this year, so 50 or 60 tables ain't gonna cut it, unless they play the first day in shifts.

[drewjustdrew]

I realize that. That is why I brought up the conference rooms. I am just saying, there is room for another good poker room in Vegas with the recent boom.
If they have a spot available, it can be set up like Binions was/is during the tournament, with upstairs and downstairs games.

[Greg (FossilMan)]

Quite a while back, Matt Savage had said that they were planning on splitting the field in half and running 10 hours of play for each half spread over two days. Half the field would play on Day 1, half on Day 2, and all remaining come back for days 3-6.

I'm wondering if Binions has ANY rooms bigger than their Bingo Hall that they've traditionally used for the WSOP. If nothing else, maybe Harrah's will clear out even more of the slots/table games downstairs, and make room for more tables. It's not like the slots and such are full during the WSOP.

Later, Greg Raymer (FossilMan)

[MtnDave]

I talked to Matt Savage on Friday and he thought that the 2004 WSOP would still be held at the Horseshoe.