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Whither Star Trek: The Experience?

Biggshow

Biggshow

Fleet Captain
Fleet Captain
Hey, kids,

It's your friendly neighborhood Experience shill.

So I just got back from another trip to Vegas (and, of course, The Experience) and heard from a couple of friends that still work there that the end may be near. This rumor is unsubstantiated but it does seem likely.

Apparently there's going to be an announcement in May that STTE will be closing in Oct.

Originally, there was talk that they would wait to see how the buzz from the movie would affect attendance but with that release date moved back, they didn't feel like waiting.

I'm a big Trekker and I worked there so the place has a lot of sentimental value to me. Those of you who have been also know what a unique place it is. Where else can you talk to members of various Trek races who stay in character and know their stuff? Where else can you get a Warp Core Breach and Romulan Ale on tap?

If you are like me and are a big fan of the place, I strongly encourage you to drop a line to the folks below imploring them to keep the place open. At the very least, if you've never been, GO!

For those of you who have been, I probably met a bunch of you back when I wore a rubber forehead. Thanks for your support over the last 10 years (this from someone who hasn't worked there since the convention in 2003).

Bart Kinzel
General Manager; Star Trek: The Experience
bart.kinzel@paramountparks.com
(702) 697-8743
or
Chad Boutte
Operations Manager; Star Trek: The Experience
chad.boutte@paramountparks.com
(702) 697-8761

CBS Consumer Products
1700 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-315-4000
Attn: Paula Block

Las Vegas Hilton
3000 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
888.732.7117
E-mail contact is tough to find on the website (www.lvhilton.com) but it's there.

Cedar Fair (the company that actually runs the Experience)
Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Marketing Department
One Cedar Point Drive
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
marketing@cedarfair.com
 
Darn. I may have to beg the parents to take me to Vegas for my birthday. I've never been to the Experience and I've wanted to go ever since it opened.
 
That's terrible news.
I plan to eat there as often as possible when I am there for the convention. :(
I wonder if this will affect Creation's plans for future Trek conventions in Vegas?
 
They should move it to one of the hotels on the Vegas strip. Hilton is not an ideal site for an attraction like this.
 
It cost $70 million and a lot of hard construction to put it in in 1996-1998 (not to mention the time and money it took to add the Borg Invasion a couple of years ago). Just packing it up and moving it is not a viable option. Besides the monorail lets off right at the entrance. But I understand the point.
 
I think they should bring things like this to the UK, if possible both in England and Scotland, then it might give fans like me who are unable to get to the States a chance to experience these events, cause I have always wanted to go see The Experience at the Hilton and hoped that I could get, as well as the chance to get to America, as soon as I managed to save up enough cash and whenver I could afford to. Now it seems another oppurtunity will have passed me by that I may one day regret having missed out on.
 
These rumors have been going on for some time now. Wake me when something official is announced.
 
Crewman47 said:
I think they should bring things like this to the UK, if possible both in England and Scotland, then it might give fans like me who are unable to get to the States a chance to experience these events, cause I have always wanted to go see The Experience at the Hilton and hoped that I could get, as well as the chance to get to America, as soon as I managed to save up enough cash and whenver I could afford to. Now it seems another oppurtunity will have passed me by that I may one day regret having missed out on.
Click to expand...

Yes, it would be nice to see something like STTE here, I don't have the money or time to go to Las Vegas and now it seems I will never get the opportunity... :brickwall:
 
Smiley said:
These rumors have been going on for some time now. Wake me when something official is announced.
Click to expand...

Agreed-this is the third time in as many years this has come up. Everyone I know who went there said it was packed, as it was the one time I went (and this was not during the big Vegas con). How is this rumor different from those?
 
As someone who had worked there when the place opened, I can tell you that rumors of STTE's emminent demise have been rampant ever since the first big drop in attendance about three months after it opened, so I understand your scepticism.

The difference this time is that the initial ten-year contract will be up in Jan., the attendance has been in a steady decline, and only holiday weekends or weekends when there is a big convention (not just ST but things like the recent Magic convention) at the Hilton seem to bring the place to break-even status.

Look, again as someone who has a ton of fond memories about the place and who spends at least a couple of hours (or, to be honest, days) there whenever I go, nothing would make me happier than to hear that they have changed their collective minds about the place and are in fact going to wait and see how the movie will affect attendance before making a final decision. It's just that the current buzz from friends who still work there is the scenario I outlined in the first post on this thread.

In any event, would it hurt to let the various PTB know how much you appreciate the place and would be sorry to see it go?
 
It's a shame if it's true. If it does close, I'm glad I'm getting a chance to go back one more time. I'll be out there in May and will definitely be visiting it again (and we're even working out a book signing there....Nootch!).
 
I've never been but I hope to be there in August during the STC. It does not surprise me with the decline in the popularity of Star Trek and the change of ownership of the franchise.
 
If that horrendous motion ride at the Luxor is still open, then I would hope Star Trek: The Experience is still paying the bills.
 
I hope The Experience doesn't close, as it's my favourite thing to do in Las Vegas while my wife is out losing all my money in the casinos. However, I couldn't give a rat's arse how it affects any plans of Creation Conventions, as they'll find a way to gouge the fans no matter what happens.
 
Letters have been sent.

In all honesty, this is something that might keep me from Vegas altogether. We've got plenty of clubs, restaurants, and casinos already here in Detroit. I hardly need to step on a plane for more.

I love The Experience. I'll be there again this august, and hopefully not for the last time!
 
No offense, but Bullshit. :p

In this town, of course it's a viable option. Routinely properties are torn down to build bigger and better ones even when there's nothing wrong with them and they aren't losing money. Moving ST:TE would be cost effective for all that's been invested into it and a relatively easy taske here.

Two years ago I was waiting for the big announcement that the Hilton was going to be imploded to make room for another project as was the rumor... didn't happen.

Every year I keep hearing about the demise of ST:TE and it doesn't happen and everytime I'm there (once a month during non-holiday times) they're packed with lines going out into the hallway.

I'll believe it when I see it but I'm not writing a letter to anybody even if it's true. If they can't make that work in Las Vegas then they don't deserve to be around.

-Shawn :borg:
 
Hmmm, I guess I'll start to keep an eye out for an official report then. I've been wanting to go back for ages, and this would definitely give me an excuse to finally get back.
 
CaptainHawk1 said:
No offense, but Bullshit. :p
Click to expand...

Oh yeah. Well...double bullshit on you.
:)

In this town, of course it's a viable option. Routinely properties are torn down to build bigger and better ones even when there's nothing wrong with them and they aren't losing money. Moving ST:TE would be cost effective for all that's been invested into it and a relatively easy taske here.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree. This is not a case of one entity like Steve Wynn or MGM resorts tearing down one building to put up another building in its place. There are at least three business entities involved in the continued existance of the Experience and one of them, Cedar Fair, is taking all the financial risk. All three have to agree at this point to renew the contract. If any one of them decides not to, that's it. For the Experience to move, Cedar Fair, CBS and some other hotel/resort entity would have to pony up at least another $70 million and probably closer to $100 million to do so. That doesn't seem likely. Best to keep it where it is and do an upgrade. I'm guessing it is Cedar Fair wanting to close it since they are taking most of the financial risk.

Every year I keep hearing about the demise of ST:TE and it doesn't happen and everytime I'm there (once a month during non-holiday times) they're packed with lines going out into the hallway.

I'll believe it when I see it but I'm not writing a letter to anybody even if it's true. If they can't make that work in Las Vegas then they don't deserve to be around.

-Shawn :borg:
Click to expand...

Once again, I'm hoping you're right. For a long time I was the one debunking the rumors of its demise. This time I'm not nearly as confident. I trust the persons I got this information from as they were also among the first to step up and debunk the earlier rumors.

If you are right about the lines (which I have not seen except for the anniversary day) AND I'm right about the closing rumor, doesn't it still make sense for you to let someone know you still like the place enough to stick up for it? :)

Anyway, I can't just stand aside and let the place go down without some kind of fight. Too many good old memories and too many new ones yet to happen.

You know, if I could find 70 people with a million dollars each, maybe we could just buy the place... ;)
 
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