In a game of classic monopoly, every player is eager to be owner of the Park Place or Boardwalk but this land is where Bally’s Atlantic City stands in real life. The last time Bally’s was on the news was in relation to state-of-the-art renovations. The property upgrades have since been completed and there was even a grand opening for the new face of Bally’s. As the celebrations were going on, PlayNJ had a word with General Manager of Bally’s AC, Michael Monty, to discuss the new business.
When speaking about the final outcome of the now new Bally’s, Monty portrayed a super excited demeanor. He commended all the different classes of workers that were involved in the construction project. With only a few months to work with before the Memorial Day weekend, it is impressive that the deadline was met.
Thinking about the magnitude of labor that went into portions of the project paints a picture of the level of commitment that went into making it a success – a total of 750 hotel rooms were upgraded, an indoor portion of The Yard was opened as well as the Carousel Bar. Monty says that all that work restores Bally’s back to its glory days, as has happened for the Tropicana Casino.
What we cover
What is on the 48th floor of Bally’s Tower?
Every hotel guest of Bally’s wants to experience the executive suites on the casino’s 48th floor. Since no one was occupying the rooms on the day of the launch, the first human contact on the floor is a violin player welcoming guests. The lights are on in all the hotels rooms which have their doors wide open – it is hard for people walking by to hold in a “WOW” reaction during the tour.
From some hotel rooms at the Bally’s Casino, guests get a clear view of the nearby Claridge Hotel which can be accessed by way of an indoor skybridge. The view of the Boardwalk and Atlantic Ocean from this position is simply breathtaking. Monty says that the casino’s greatest asset is its proximity to the ocean and that is why the management has capitalized on the design of the rooms and imagery.
What about the Carousel Bar?
There have been posts online detailing the Carousel Bar, the new entertainment sensation at Bally’s Casino. For a fact, there is no other bar like it in the Garden City – the only one that has been built upon a 360-degree rotating platform. No cause to hold on tightly to your funnel cake espresso martini (Oh yes! The drink is accompanied by a funnel cake which some guests prefer to drop into the glass). The only people that notice that the floor is rotating are those watching it from another location of the casino.
The seats on the rotating bar do not have any special safety measures like seatbelts plus there is no need for them because the guests are unlikely to feel any movement. Those who have taken a ride on a Jersey Shore Pier will relate to the Carousel Bar experience albeit the bar is a little slower. In addition to the extra comfort of the seats at this level, the venue hops with the right crowd.
Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest times in the casino industry calendar. The 24 seats of the Carousel will be close to impossible to grab at such events when the traffic of walk-in casino customers is high. It is a good thing that the bar is open 24/7 so there is always something interesting to look forward to. This truly was a well thought out idea for a new attraction inside the newly designed Bally’s Hotel lobby.
The location of the rotating bar from other areas of the casino is also spectacular. It does not matter from which direction you are approaching it from – it cannot be missed. This is the same effect that The Yard has on casino visitors. The fact that it is on the outside makes it quite visible especially right now when construction work is still ongoing. When it is completed, this will be one of the most conspicuous features of the Boardwalk Casino.
The fourth of July is the scheduled date of the outdoor portion launch and it is all systems go right now. This section has a retractable roof so the weather will not be limiting in any way. The indoor section was the stage for cutting the second launch ribbon. Lunch at the time included items such as pizza and bacon cheeseburger sliders paired with the casino’s exclusive ale that is produced by Spellbound Brewing from South Jersey.
After the festivities, and before the outdoor portion is fully done, the back wall will be serving as the temporary backdrop. With the outdoor portion in place as per the plan, it will be instrumental in creating picturesque views of the Atlantic City Boardwalk, complemented by Caesars Casino. Just to add onto the heat of the excitement, guests can indulge in the fully operational Space Invaders, Air Hockey Table and other games.
From first impressions, it appears that the yard will be a choice destination for year-round entertainment experiences. The prime location of the courtyard sections is an indication that it has been designed to attract non-Bally’s customers as much as the registered players of Bally’s.
Final Thoughts
Just by first impressions, the yard at Bally’s will be the venue of unending entertainment taking place throughout the year. Guests will be treated to butler service right up to the beach chair – personalized service that all customers, regardless of nature of business, are looking for. It is the kind of destination that has been designed to pull in visitors from far and wide for a taste of these grand offerings. Long term employees and the executive team at Bally’s understand how far this transformation has come.
