 
Thejesus
Member
Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 2643
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 5:41 pm: |    |
"I love their commercial voice over, " Exit on Layfette for safe and secure parking" while they show a car entering the garage. No worries about actually touching Detroit soil. You can get right off the e-way, enter the garage, drop off your money and leave without having to see anything downtown."
Yes, because security isn't something people should be concerned about in Detroit.
I mean, it's not like there was an attempted carjacking right in front of the Police station outside the Casino last month or anything. |
Gnome
Member
Username: Gnome
Post Number: 338
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 5:50 pm: | |
Oh no, TJ, that whole copy point came right out of either a focus group or marketing survey. Like it or not, folks are scared shitless about coming to Detroit. In fact, when you look at Greektown Casino ads, they don't even mention Detroit, just Greektown.
That seems wise, if unfortunate, Detroit has an image problem that gets re-enforced with every child killed in a drug house, every tourist carjacked, every grandmother firebombed and with every mayor dragged into court. |
Mackinaw
Member
Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 3941
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 5:53 pm: | |
That might be the case, Gnome. Convenience wins over design, again.
TJ, according to the stats, security in downtown should be no more of an issue than the rest of the region on average.
But I'm not complaining about all these security-minded people. Thanks to them it is incredibly easy to get street parking within a block of Greektown at night. |
Rocket_city
Member
Username: Rocket_city
Post Number: 460
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 07, 2007 - 8:42 pm: | |
The TV commercial is human humor at its best. Might as well be Cedar Point opening! "The next best thing to happen to Detroit since the Greektown Casino Opened". I don't know, but I'd say something more like Focus:HOPE's efforts have had a more substantial impact than a place you can put your empty chunk of metal. |
Johnlodge
Member
Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 3450
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 8:01 am: | |
I wouldn't read too much into the commercial. People like convenience. The fact they can get off the expressway right at the entrance to the garage is quite convenient. Elderly people who shouldn't even be driving can now confidently zip into their parking space and head over to the slot machine without fear of getting lost while driving 5 mph with their left turn signal on. |
Thejesus
Member
Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 2648
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 8:10 am: | |
It's funny...I don't think many people in the suburbs are even aware that a hotel tower is even going up in Greektown...
Just this week, I had separate conversations with two people who were at the Greektown Casino within the past week at different times...
When I asked them, "Oh, did you see the new hotel tower that's going up? How's it coming?" BOTH people looked at me with a blank stare and said, "There's a hotel tower being built? Really? We didn't see that, but we did see that new parking garage."
I guess some people aren't aware that the front of the parking garage is the hotel tower...
Should be interesting to see how people react once it's up and running. |
Jdkeepsmiling
Member
Username: Jdkeepsmiling
Post Number: 305
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 11:43 am: | |
I think that you are all missing a very big point. One of the reasons that Greektown has struggled in the past compared to the other two casinos is lack of parking. Even if it is not valid, there is still a perceived lack of parking, and that is enough to make customers go somewhere else. They are saying that they have a BIGASS parking garage that everyone can use and it is easy to get to. Nothing wrong with that. |
Detroitrise
Member
Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 482
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 11:48 am: | |
"They are saying that they have a BIGASS parking garage that everyone can use and it is easy to get to. Nothing wrong with that."
Yeah, but the effects of the consturction of Greektown is affecting access to BCBS. I had to go down there yesterday from Gratiot and had the worst time getting to the tower. You must come out Jefferson to Downtown in order to reach it (without any confusion or detours). |
Jdkeepsmiling
Member
Username: Jdkeepsmiling
Post Number: 306
Registered: 01-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 11:52 am: | |
Detroit Rise,
I can see where that is frustrating, but you are not going to get a lot of sympathy from me. I live off the Sheldon Rd exit of M-14, which last year was under complete construction. Then when they finished doing to actual highway, someone decided it was time to close down the exit ramp for 2 years to build a railroad underpass. This means that I cannot use the exit off the highway for a three year timespan. Now that sucks! |
Thejesus
Member
Username: Thejesus
Post Number: 2658
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 11:52 am: | |
^well, that should be enough to make anyone want to scrap the whole project altogether ::rolls eyes into back of head:: |
Iheartthed
Member
Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 2119
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 12:40 pm: | |
Has Greektown really struggled? I thought it was voted the best casino multiple years in a row?
Greektown is the casino I usually frequent because it's so much more integrated into the neighborhood than the others, Windsor included. |
Jt1
Member
Username: Jt1
Post Number: 10719
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 12:51 pm: | |
quote:Has Greektown really struggled? I thought it was voted the best casino multiple years in a row?
I believe that they are always last on revenue and profits. They are voted best because the people that go there and probably vote in those things like to be able to head out for dinner or a drink after gambling. Most gamblers want to pull into a parking deck, go directly into the casino and then promptly leave. Greektown has struggled to attract those gamblers. |
Rocket_city
Member
Username: Rocket_city
Post Number: 462
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 9:04 pm: | |
I see that billboard off of I-75 (I think it is) on the south side of downtown that says,
"We innovate though new construction" (or something to that effect) obviously taking a shot at Greektown.
Well, I think Greektown should rent the ad space next to it (if there is one) and say,
"We innovate through renovation. Come experience both!"
I will always prefer Greektown over the others because of the role it plays in the community and in principal for how it functions. It even supports Old St. Mary's. By building OVER Lafayette and BETWEEN existing buildings, and ACROSS thoroughfares I think is some pretty impressive innovation if you ask me. No super blocks there that only welcome the automobile...proving that casinos don't necessarily have to be fortresses in which the gambler or entertainee needs to be trapped inside. |
Mackinaw
Member
Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 3958
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 9:45 pm: | |
I agree that Greektown has the location, and their development strategy has been pretty reasonable (although I'm not sure about the skybridge). I don't think anything is particularly innovative, though. How have they helped St. Mary's, other than blocking the Monroe St. view of it with the bridge? |
Rocket_city
Member
Username: Rocket_city
Post Number: 464
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 10:04 pm: | |
I'm not necessarily saying they've helped St. Mary's, but I noticed they've advertised in the bulletin as supporters of the community. That got me thinking that maybe someday if the church ever needs some extra assistance, that the casino may be able to extend a hand.
I agree, I don't like the skybridge, especially for interfering w/ the school, but overall, I think for a casino, which we know probably SHOULD have been a hulking fortress, was innovative by getting creative in how to expand around a tightly-knit and well-established urban environment. That's not easy considering the nature of most casino land uses.  |
Mackinaw
Member
Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 3959
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 10:11 pm: | |
True. If I had to go to a casino, that would be the one. |
Jonnyfive
Member
Username: Jonnyfive
Post Number: 70
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 10:48 pm: | |
"That's not easy considering the nature of most casino land uses."
Along the lines of being urban-friendly, it's miles ahead of the MGM Grand. Is there a pedestrian friendly entrance to that place? |
Bobj
Member
Username: Bobj
Post Number: 2703
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 08, 2007 - 10:49 pm: | |
St Mary's is getting a bit surrounded by urban development, noy unlike urban churches in a lot of places |
Gambling_man
Member
Username: Gambling_man
Post Number: 1022
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 09, 2007 - 10:58 am: | |
Thanks Rocket, we already thought of that one, but not sure we'll use it........ |
Billk
Member
Username: Billk
Post Number: 160
Registered: 09-2005
| | Posted on Friday, November 09, 2007 - 12:20 pm: | |
MGM says "We innovate, not renovate." |
Detroitrise
Member
Username: Detroitrise
Post Number: 555
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Friday, November 09, 2007 - 12:23 pm: | |
^^^Well that explains why they just dropped the Temp. building like a hot, burning ball of fire. |
Rocket_city
Member
Username: Rocket_city
Post Number: 465
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Friday, November 09, 2007 - 1:02 pm: | |
Johnnyfive, when a friend of mine was in town a few weeks ago, I took her to the MGM. It was around midnight that we decided to go for a walk around the CBD. There weren't any barriers really, other than the big gap from the relatively quiet west side CBD. But it was an enjoyable walk nonetheless. When we returned, we went right into the parking-nation, hopped in the car, didn't have to pay a penny, and drove home (to Midtown of course) ;) |
Keystone
Member
Username: Keystone
Post Number: 272
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 - 8:08 am: | |
This view is fantastic. Sort of an oculus effect. Someone should set up a camera on December 21st, June 21st etc and watch the migration of the sun across the structure.
|
Ramcharger
Member
Username: Ramcharger
Post Number: 492
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 1:49 pm: | |
These commercials celebrating the “Grand Opening” of their magnificent new parking garage with a ribbon cutting ceremony are ridiculous and embarrassing. Surely, Detroit has better things to celebrate than the opening of yet another parking garage. |
401don
Member
Username: 401don
Post Number: 32
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 2:02 pm: | |
You only celebrate parking garages in Detroit with ground floor retail! (even if the spaces are empty) |
Rocket_city
Member
Username: Rocket_city
Post Number: 472
Registered: 04-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 - 7:54 pm: | |
Does the homeless guy at the corner of Monroe and the service drive count as ground floor retail? Transactions seem to take place there on a regular basis. |
Royce
Member
Username: Royce
Post Number: 2418
Registered: 07-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 1:41 am: | |
I went to the Greektown/Hotel parking structure Thursday. I parked on the third floor and WALKED right into the casino. The walkway takes you into the building that houses Pegasus and you can look over Monroe street for most of the walk, which is a nice touch. Didn't have to validate any parking ticket. Just drove in and drove out. Lots of security/parking guards inside the structure.
Now, my pet peeves. There is new grass along Monroe, which indicates there will be NO retail along that stretch of the street. Also, I emphasized the word "walk" earlier because there is no moving escalator like intially touted. You "walk" from the garage to the casino. The walkway is nice, but I wish that the Greektown Casino organization had been honest about what really was going to happen with this development. Even now, I have a strange feeling that the hotel will either be delayed or scaled back and Greektown will come up with some excuse as to why it wasn't built like they had planned. Well, we'll see. |
Ramcharger
Member
Username: Ramcharger
Post Number: 494
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 1:54 am: | |
A listing of the broken promises and excuses by Greektown Casino would fill volumes. |
Gambling_man
Member
Username: Gambling_man
Post Number: 1024
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 10:03 am: | |
Royce, the moving walkway was taken out a long time ago.....the price tag was 25MM. The grassy setback was REQUIRED by the city's inane zoning laws. There will be added retail on the south side of Monroe, and in the hotel under the walkway.......No, retail does not stretch the entire length of the garage on the Monroe Side....again because of zoning and city requirements.
Ramcharger, have you ever run a 350MM operation that is highly regulated by the state and city of Detroit? If not, leave your opinions to yourself. |
Mackinaw
Member
Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 4002
Registered: 02-2005
| | Posted on Friday, November 16, 2007 - 10:40 am: | |
What zoning requirement is that? The City has been clamoring for retail in parking garages for awhile now. I don't see how the zoning could be anything but zero-setback. But I suppose that's just me appealing to conventional wisdom. Perhaps the city didn't change the rubric for that site. Perhaps they didn't change the rules that governed the previous structure that was there. But that doesn't seem to make sense considering recent developments downtown. This is something I'd like to look into a little more. |