The much delayed Revel hotel and casino in Atlantic City has just inked a deal with Las Vegas nightlife operator Angel Management Group to operate the entertainment venues at the hotel, including what's slated to be a 38,000 square foot nightclub with ocean views. AMG, which currently runs PURE Nightclub at Caesar's Palace among several others in Las Vegas, must have been desperate for new deals after Las Vegas casino operators began shunning their traditional nightlife partners in order to bring successful New York clubs like the Box and 1OAK out to the desert. But will their Las Vegas act fly in Atlantic City?
Angel CEO Neil Moffit sure thinks so, telling the NY Post that "this casino could easily be in the upper echelons of Vegas." Unfortunately for Mr. Moffit, Atlantic City isn't Las Vegas and it isn't New York either, and any club operator that hopes to be successful will need to realize that from Day 1 to make sure the clubs and other entertainment venues are successful from the start. The Borgata realized it early and looked to other markets like Philly to help pack the club not just during the busy summer but also during the rest of the year. The Chelsea didn't realize that until a few years in and paid the price for it.
Add to all of this the slumping Atlantic City economy, where even the much loved ACES train is going to be shut down due to a lack of money, and you have a very risky time to try and bring a Las Vegas concept to the area. But maybe with enough celebrity chef buzz in the rest of the resort and a South Jersey and Philly audience desperate for some new fun, this could make a big splash next summer. We will all know in less than twelve months.
· Vegas Nightlife King Comes to AC [NYP]
· Nightlife Coverage [~ENY~]