— Nick Schoenfeldt , Principal , TBE Architects
Entertainment Options
Showrooms and large concert halls have yet to come back , but the smaller shows have returned , particularly in Las Vegas where both MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment have opened several shows at their Strip properties . Social distancing and mask wearing are required , but it ’ s heartening to see entertainment return .
Schoenfeldt says that some of his tribal clients are eschewing larger national entertainment .
“ There ’ s going to be a building trend toward smaller venues where local talent can be showcased ,” he says . “ These days you don ’ t need the huge superstars to pack a big ballroom , since you can ’ t pack it anymore , or at least for quite a while .” Sykes says while the larger showrooms can be apportioned off in order to honor social distancing , that won ’ t help casinos sign the bigger acts that demand higher fees .
“ I don ’ t think you ’ ll see the headliner or the more expensive talent for some time ,” he explains . “ Casinos will be looking for the more affordable , B- level acts , because the seating is going to be more dispersed and you won ’ t be able to pack a theater .”
As for the nightclubs that have become so important to the bottom line , there is no light at the end of the tunnel , according to Ewing .
“ Nightclubs are tough ,” he says . “ There ’ s no way around the social distancing at nightclubs . But one thing I know after having a fair amount of experience designing them is that nightclub operators are smart . If there ’ s a way to do it , they ’ ll figure it out . It ’ s already happening . At Marquee at the Cosmopolitan , they ’ ve already repurposed their outdoor area as a nighttime poolside environment . It might not be a long-term solution but it proves the desire is there . We ’ re going to have to really look hard at what the appetites of millennials and Gen Z are toward social proclivities going forward .”
Salerno agrees that the desires of the younger generation will drive innovation .
“ Prior to Covid there was already a changing of the guard occurring ,” he says . “ Baby boomers and blue hairs were getting older . Casino operators were concentrating on how we replace them with younger gamblers . The Covid situation has accelerated that . They need to figure out what they want and how they want it .”
Changing Times
Most designers believe that technology will play a role in anything they imagine going forward . Larson says the mobile devices are front and center . “ The biggest change is going to be the use of apps ,” he says . “ A lot of these properties have been looking into this for some time , but now it ’ s going to be accelerated . This situation is supercharging that rollout . We ’ re seeing apps that help you check in and make dinner reservations . These apps can track your location so maybe they can help increase mobile betting or allow players to place wagers while they ’ re at dinner . If we have a seating area or lounge or sportsbook in the middle of the casino , people could actually be gaming there on their devices . This is something that ’ s going to be rolled out very quickly .”
Health and safety are also going to depend largely on technology . Sykes says many of his clients are already installing equipment that ionizes the air and therefore kills any virus — including Covid — in the air entering the casino resort . “ It ’ s a very achievable goal and quick to implement ,” he says . Steelman believes a casino resort could be the safest place to be with regards to air handling .
“ I believe that good engineering , good operations , will all be put together in this particular place , in this particular building , to probably create the safest , cleanest casino in the world ,” he says .
“ Casinos do in fact change the air more than any other building . The casinos , especially in Las Vegas with some of the finest engineers , are probably the freshest , cleanest air in any building , other than a hospital operating room .”
Along with technology , says Schoenfeldt , it ’ s going to take human aspirations to solve these problems .
“ Change is something we always embrace at TBE ,” he says . “ It ’ s exciting when you see the creativity of the people and what they come up with . And 90 percent of it is creative perception . They know how clean it is . They understand how much attention the staff is paying to cleanliness . I don ’ t think the average gambler is going to be comfortable exactly as it used to be — ever . If we ’ re given the opportunity to do something we love and enjoy and if we can do it safely , we ’ re going to make those changes and some of them are going to be here to stay .”
20 CASINO STYLE 2020