I read this week that Harrah’s is selling the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. That got my attention because I feel an attachment to the Rio as the home of the WSOP, and, after all, I spent some of the funnest hours of my life last year attending the final table held at the Rio.
After further research on the sale, I learned that
- Harrah’s is “willing” to sell the Rio
- Some speculate that Harrah’s has been willing to sell the Rio for some time, and that it was part of the original plan to hold the WSOP there for only one year
- The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is valued at $500M
- Harrah’s purchased the Rio in 1999 for $888M
- Players close to the WSOP events are speculating that
- The sale of the Rio in 2010 would have no impact on the location of the 2010 WSOP
- The 2011 WSOP (and beyond) would be held at Caesar’s or Planet Hollywood
- The Rio’s convention space is appox. 160,000 square feet and Caesars’ convention space is closer to 300,000 square feet
So I’m concerned from a nostalgic standpoint. Not really keen on having the WSOP at Caesars – where do you park? Having it at Planet Hollywood might be interesting… feed off the draw of the young crowd to PH…dramatically increase the number of runners.
Bloomberg Businessweek story about the sale
Slice of life…when I went to watch the 2009 November Nine…
Getting into the WSOP – 2009 WSOP at the Rio
Waiting to get into the WSOP Main Event Final Table (2009)
Getting into the WSOP Main Event Final Table – 2009 Heads Up with Moon and Cada