Polercoaster coming to Atlantic City?

[Philrad71]

^ I agree that an observation deck (or maybe even a restaurant/bar) overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and boardwalk would be cool.

 

And I also agree with others that AC needs to do more than build casino's to try to bring the GP back to the area. Rust Belt cities were mentioned in another post, but most of those cities (Buffalo, Cleveland and yes, even Detroit) are now making a concerted effort to revitalize their downtown areas with new attractions, stores, hotels and restaurants to draw people back in from the 'burbs.

 

The same needs to be done for AC, so this would at least be a decent start!

[XII]

I'm very happy to hear that more Polorcoasters are being built. Hoping that this actually gets built and doesn't fall through. It'll be interesting to see how the Orlando one turns out once that gets built and if all these Polorcoasters being announced will actually wind up being built.

[bill_s]

I shudder to think how much it will cost to ride these things. A very amazing, low capacity ride in a "park" with no other major rides, what could go wrong? Either worse than Hypersonic was in wait time, or Extreme Skycoaster priced at the least.

 

But it's good to see it's still known that a major coaster is what puts you on the map, in the amusement world.

[I305forever]

Why is everyone here crapping on AC? Except for Bally's, all of the resorts are pretty nice, especially the Borgata.

[ElvisLuv]

What's the status of the proposed law that would open up other parts of Jersey to Casinos. I remember reading that if it passed, Hard Rock was going in next to the racetrack in the Meadowlands adjacent to the Xanadu/American Dream project.

[I305forever]

It's going to be voted on next year. I really hope it doesn't get passed. Resorts World and Empire city will only be half an hour away from it.

[vertigomkie]

Why is everyone here crapping on AC? Except for Bally's, all of the resorts are pretty nice, especially the Borgata.

 

Ummm, I'll give it to you straight, no chaser. Three of the four resort towers in this photo below are vacant, and the Taj (far left) filed bankruptcy last year. The now closed Revel resort (far right) was a multi-billion development on Las Vegas Main Strip standards and 2nd largest resort project completed in the U.S. this century. It remained open for two years and four months. Sure, Atlantic City has/had some decent casinos, but it doesn't matter if they're closed.

[I305forever]

^ Actually, only two of those are closed, while the Revel has a chance of being reopened again by pretty much the Florida-based version of Donald Trump (Glenn Straub).

[vertigomkie]

^ You're right, I forgot that is the Chairman Tower of the Taj and not the closed Orleans Tower of the Showboat. There are still three vacant towers on that corridor (not including the others further down). Straub didn't even want to re-open Revel (the city has been attempting to strong-arm the developers into opening Revel for the past year. Why?). I doubt Revel is any closer to re-opening than Stockon University is close to their resort-to-residential college conversion of the Showboat.

[I305forever]

Straub is still planning to reopen it. He bought the enrgy company thay was giving him trouble earlier this month.

[YoshiFan]

I go to Atlantic City multiple times a year and am looking forward to this but I wonder how successful it will be. It seems like Ocean City has taken so much of the family entertainment business away with how crowded the boardwalk and 2 amusement piers are compared to Atlantic City. Although that's somewhat the casino's fault for closing many of the family friendly attractions that used to be there in the late 80's to 90's like the indoor amusement park Tivoli Pier in Tropicana, bowling alley in Showboat and some of the arcades in the casinos and then places like Taj Mahal having a no one under 18 policy allowed in the building except the restaurants connected to the boardwalk (this was around 10 years ago and I think they no longer have this policy).

 

I prefer Atlantic City casinos to the casinos in the Philadelphia area because they tend to have older slot machines that are difficult to find elsewhere in the area but I know I am the exception. I have been at Golden Nugget or Caesars in the summer when it wasn't very crowded yet on a weekday in the winter Parx and Sugar House have more people at the slot machines. The parking doesn't help either. Caesars charges up to $40 in the summer and even up to $20 in the winter when the PA casinos all have free parking. Even Harrah's away from the boardwalk charges more. They comps and other perks seem to be decreasing too. Platinum status used to have separate lines at check in, player card services and at restaurants at the CET properties, now the only real benefit it free parking.

[Brad Bishop]

Respectfully, I'm still not sure what the point of these things are. With a traditional park development you can change and evolve as the years go on but when the big coaster is effectively your only attraction I feel like the buzz is going to die down sooner rather than later. Sure, the nightclub will help, but I don't think that it's going to be enough for the development to remain popular with anyone other than locals with too much money and the occasional tourists ten years down the road.

 

As always, willing to be proven wrong...

 

I'm with you on this. I think they'll be built and, shortly after the newness has worn off, they'll be abandoned in 5-10 years just sitting there as an eyesore.

 

I think the same will happen to a lot of the huge ferris wheels going up, especially at locations with nothing to view. I'd think it'd be hard enough to keep one running for a decade at a location like Myrtle Beach, but it could be done.. Putting one in the middle or Orlando makes no sense to me. There's no skyline. There's no coast to see.

 

Maybe I'll be proven wrong.. I grew up in Panama City, FL and would see these kinds of contraptions go up, be popular for a few years, and then sit there, dead for another decade or so because the newness had worn off and there wasn't anything else there to support the business.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Well I don't know about Panama City but I know there's plenty in Orlando to support the giant wheel, just like there is in Las Vegas.

 

The giant wheels are huge eye-catchers, just like this will be. They will only add to a list of reasons why people should travel to places like Orlando, Vegas, or Atlantic City and make those trips better than they were before. I agree nobody would travel to these places *just* for the giant wheel or polercoaster, but these are not being built to be destinations themselves. They're area attractions, and they will do well as attractions as long as those who run them don't totally screw up the pricing model.

[tanthonyam]

Any information on the one coming to Vegas? I'm sure the Stratosphere hotel is going to hate that.

[blk_mamba]

I would have liked to see how Orlando's pole coaster's did before seeing another one confirmed. Even though the NJ one is shorter most of the elements are the same. In some way the NJ coaster undercuts Orlando's before it is even built. The Orlando pole coaster may have the height record but not the highest drop record so as a resident of MD I could go to NJ now and get a experience like the Orlando pole coaster minus 150 feet.

 

I am curious how successful this will be as a stand alone attraction. I'd be more interested in this project if they copied the Orlando model and paired this with more extreme attractions to make this more of a 1/2 to a day long experience. Maybe they will, most likely they won't. I'd ride it if for some reason I am in Atlantic City but I would not go out of my way, I'd rather go to an amusement park.

[boldikus]

Update.

 

Atlantic City Boardwalk Vertical Rollercoaster Moves Forward

 

April 21, 2016 By Mel Taylor

 

On April 20, City Council of Atlantic City approved a tax abatement & incentives for the construction of a Polercoaster….or vertical roller-coaster.

 

The attraction will be 350 feet tall and will take up about an acre of land next to the Boardwalk. Development will be at the site of the former SANDS casino.

 

“The Polercoaster is a one of a kind amusement ride,” said Council President Marty Small. “A much needed family fun entertainment destination to Atlantic City. It’s something to be excited about.”

 

Waterparks, Observation Wheels and now, a vertical roller coaster known as a ‘Polercoaster’. In 2015, Atlantic City moved a few steps closer to having all three interspersed among our Casinos, Boardwalk and beaches. This coaster-centric attraction will include an entertainment, music and nightlife experience. Let’s not forget the mojito bar too.

 

Developer Josh Wallack plans on building a 350 ft. coaster on the Atlantic City land that Sands Casino once occupied.

 

These non-gaming attractions are just what the doctor ordered. For a city with a three decade addiction to casino cash, it’s not an easy habit to kick. Re-adjusting into a diversified economy is not for the feint of heart, especially those who got fat & sloppy during NJ’s virtual 3o year casino monopoly.

 

Outside investors like Wallack, along with Catanoso’s Steel Pier, Straub’s Revel & Blatstein’s Playground, see opportunity in Atlantic City. They might be the cure for what ails this Jersey Shore destination. They’re putting their money where their mouth is.

 

Does Wallack have the chops? Yup. Florida just OK’d his plan for a $500 million Skyplex amusement and hotel complex, complete with a massively high polercoaster in the Orlando area.

 

When will the Boardwalk Polercoaster open?. ‘As quick as possible,” Wallack said. Maybe Memorial Day weekend 2018?

[Jew]

Hope it works out. I've never been to Atlantic City, so this would give me an excuse to check out the casinos there.

[larrygator]

Atlantic City approves tax abatement for Polercoaster

 

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/city-council-approves-tax-abatement-for-polercoaster/article_d4e13704-0765-11e6-9067-6fa8b4a255ab.html

 

City Council approves tax abatement for Polercoaster

Thursday, April 21, 2016 10:00 am

John DeRosier, Staff Writer

 

The Atlantic City Council meeting had a bit of a different feel to it Wednesday night.

 

There was no talk of dissolving the MUA and very little of the political struggle between Gov. Chris Christie, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Atlantic City officials over whether the state should come in and take control of the city’s assets.

 

Instead, the council approved measures that could change a small part of the landscape of Atlantic City.

 

The construction of the much-anticipated Polercoaster took another step forward at the meeting after the council approved a tax abatement, or incentive, to move the project forward.

 

Once completed, the Polercoaster will stand 350 feet tall and take up about an acre of land. It will be located by the Boardwalk, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Mount Vernon and Kentucky avenues.

 

“The Polercoaster is a one of a kind amusement ride,” Council President Marty Small said. “These guys are ready to get things started to bring a much needed family fun entertainment destination to Atlantic City. It’s something to be excited about.”

 

The council also approved a resolution allowing the planning board to prepare a redevelopment plan for the area around Metropolitan Ave, Pacific Ave. and the boardwalk. That plan will come back before the council after the planning board completes it.

 

Additionally, the council adopted a temporary budget. The full budget, however, cannot be completed until the state passes its budget.

 

“The budget is a process,” Small said. “We don’t know how much transitional aid we’re going to get, so it’s not a whole picture as of yet due to the dynamics with the state. Hopefully we’re moving toward a better situation to know where we are.”

[robbalvey]

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[boldikus]

Construction to start on 350-foot Polercoaster for Atlantic City boardwalk

 

 

An innovative roller coaster that will send thrill seekers around a large tower along the Atlantic City boardwalk is one step closer to reality.

 

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority approved Thursday $38.4 million in grants to help pay for a 350-foot-high vertical Polercoaster, The Press of Atlantic City reports. The funding will come in the form of tax breaks for the developer, ACB Ownership.

 

Overall, the project is projected to cost $138 million and would occupy space where the Sands Casino once stood. The area is area bordered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and Mount Vernon and Kentucky Avenues.

 

The 52,000-square-foot attraction will also host a bar and restaurant, a food court, retail shops and video games.

 

The Polercoaster, designed by U.S. Thrill Rides, transforms a traditional roller coaster design into a vertical amusement ride. The track hugs an observation tower and features loops, dips and twists. Introduced in 2012, no coasters are operational yet but five are currently in development.

 

In Atlantic City, construction is expected to begin next month and completed in summer 2019.

[A.J.]

So it's a retail / dining / entertainment complex now, not just the coaster, cool. That certainly makes me more optimistic than before, but we'll see how long the novelty lasts.

[Ccron10]

Sounds like this thing could possibly open sooner than Orlando's. I've had no desire to go to Atlantic City, but this thing could change my mind.

[boldikus]

Atlantic City Evolves Beyond Gaming With 6 New Developments

 

Few places come as close to being an “all-inclusive city” with built-in added value for meetings like this New Jersey city, and a number of new developments toot this horn.

 

The Green Urban Retreat

The new BierGarten AC, an outdoor beer garden set to open next spring just off the Boardwalk is one case in point. The green urban sprawl will hold room for 300 and tucked among the beery bliss will be an outdoor kitchen, two bars, fire pits and games areas. The garden is also in proximity to the Tropicana Casino and Hotel, fresh off of $90 million in renovations that redesigned hotel rooms, upgraded casino floors, added five new multimedia light shows to the Boardwalk, and the latest, new restaurant concepts.

 

The New Hard Rock Hotel

Next year will see the pulse picking up in Atlantic City’s South Inlet as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City readies itself to open with a bang via state-of-the-art casino space, new dining and entertainment options, including two 7,000-seat arenas, and the usual Hard Rock perks of Fender guitar room service, memorabilia galore and the full-service Rock Spa.

 

The Heart of the City

Just a whistle away, the third tallest observation wheel in the country is likely to become the heart of the city. The Observation Wheel at the iconic Steel Pier amusement park will feature climate-controlled gondolas and dusk till dawn views of Atlantic City and the Atlantic Ocean.

 

The Polercoaster

Meanwhile, a new 52,000-sf attraction anchored by the 350-ft vertical Polercoaster rollercoaster has broken ground where the Sands Casino once stood. A bar and restaurant, food court, retail shops and video games will also help attendees unwind after a day of meetings and conventions.

 

The Tech Park

And when it comes to added value, science groups will have a new place to meet with the opening of the 58-acre Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park, a 66,000-sf hub dedicated to the advancement of aviation sciences. The building will offer high-speed connectivity to the Technical Center laboratories, state-of-the-art classrooms and conference rooms, and a rooftop lounge.

 

The Tennessee Beer Hall

An alternative to the Boardwalk scene is also taking shape at the beach block of Tennessee Avenue. The first phase will see the opening of the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, a fun and hip area with dozens of craft beer options, video games and pinball, pool tables and jukeboxes. The brick- and graffiti art-accented building promises an over-the-top cocktail menu, an ocean-facing outdoor beer garden where attendees can enjoy the ocean breeze, and an inflatable movie screen for special events, live music and sporting events. Street fairs, pop-up art exhibitions and festivals will eventually be woven into the mix.

[Blatch]

It's nice to know that one of these things is actually going up. I also like how it's not meant as the tallest coaster in the world. This is already too much of a gimmick, so you'll want it to stand on its own (heh) as a general attraction.

[Canobie Coaster]

I can't wait to finally see one of these open...even if it means I have to return to Atlantic City.