'Star Trek: The Experience's' Last Days

[TrekToday]

Star Trek: The Experience celebrated its tenth anniversary this year but will close on September 1st, to the dismay of Star Trek fans.

As reported by In Business Las Vegas, even though the attraction is closing soon, business is still brisk. ""I went out the other day, and the lines extended back into the corridor," said Chad Boutte, operations manager and marketing director for The Experience.

There was a time when such long lines caused problems for the Hilton. Gaming regulators were not happy with the children waiting in line to get into the attraction, because they were standing next to slot machines which were located near the entrance to The Experience. The Hilton was obliged to pay a fine as a result.

Fans are unhappy with the pending closure. Boutte reports that he has received over five thousand emails and a stack of petitions nearly six-feet high from fans hoping to stop the closure. Many fans are blaming the Hilton for the loss of The Experience. "Some of them are saying they are so upset that they'll never stay at a Hilton again, and some of them say they'll never come back to Las Vegas again," said Boutte.

It is not yet known what will take the place of The Experience. "There's no timetable, no rush to make a decision," said Las Vegas Hilton spokesman Ira David Sternberg. "I think all options are on the table. It's an interesting venue." Options for the space include another themed experience, more gaming, or a theater show.

The Experience's last public show will occur around 8:30 P.M. and then the attraction will be open for a VIP event to be attended by fans chosen by the attraction's management as well as celebrities. Boutte is considering auctioning five tickets for the "final mission" on eBay because of the high interest.

Following the party, at 10 P.M., at the entrance to The Experience, there will be a "decommissioning ceremony" which will be open to the public.

To read more, head to the article located here.

[MattJC]

Just a little over a week left.
It was fun.
However, I have gotten annoyed how groups of people got their table first, when I was in the front of the line.
Still, I'll miss the place.

[T J]

A very sad time indeed. I'm glad I got to see it a few times and once with the wife before they pulled the plug.

[Turbo]

I'm very glad I was able to make it to The Experience this summer. There will never be another attraction like it. I'm quite sad to see it go.

[number6]

MattJC wrote:

---

Just a little over a week left.
It was fun.
However, I have gotten annoyed how groups of people got their table first, when I was in the front of the line.
Still, I'll miss the place.

It's because they are JJ Abrams fans and you know it.

[Pioneer]

All those e-mails and letters don't seem to have had much of an effect on the closing. They're going to close it anyway and have no idea what and how they're going to replace it.

On a similar note, the SciFi Channel just canceled Stargate: Atlantis which I'm sure many here watch. It will be replaced by a new show called Stargate: Universe supposedly targeted to a "younger" audience. Who asked for this? Science Fiction fans are definitely the red-headed step-children of the entertainment industry.

[Biggshow]

I was just thinking that it was a friend of mine that I met while working at The Experience that introduced me to this board.

At any rate, I'll be there on the last day to drink them dry and leave my baseball.

[ELURIA]

Star Trek is over

[T'Cal]

I have visited there at least ten times, the last this past June with my family when my wife and I renewed our vows on the Bridge. I will truly miss ST:TE. If you've never gone, you don't belong on this site!!! You failed to support the last physical manefestation of our beloved Trek. A pox on you all!!!

[rayjay]

I was in Vegas for the convention earlier this month. I heard (a rumor?) from two individuals at a local watering hole that the Hilton already has a plan in place on what's replacing the Experience.

According to them, it's going to be a performance space and themed Experience featuring the career of a high profile Entertainer. Said Entertainer has been signed to a contract to do shows for the next three years in the new space.

The person in question...?

Michael Jackson

Supposedly one of the owners/investors in the Hilton bailed him out when he had mortgage troubles with his Neverland Ranch. This is the payment in return for that help.

Take it FWIW.

[Dale]

Michael Jackson: The Experience

Following a sidewalk that lights up square by square, along with everything you touch, you enter a world where everyone has rythym and crazy dance skills. Pursued through this space by very hip zombies and gang members who resolve their differences through interpretive "dance violence," you find your self in a "personal amusement park," but scaled up to make you feel the size of a child. You are lured by a charming little chimpanzee in people clothes into a regal bedroom where the walls are adorned by wood carvings depicting scenes from "Peter Pan." You climb atop a giant round bed with red velvet sheets and just as you are starting to doze off, a pixie-like man of uncertain ethnic extraction - in an enourmous fat suit - comes in and molests you, dangles you off the room's balcony, and finally sticks you in a hyperbaric chamber for storage until he wishes to use you again.

You are utterly horrified, but the bass line is hypnotic and irresistable.

[Saul]

Shame to see it go but good memories are kept.

[T'Bonz]

rayjay wrote:

---

I was in Vegas for the convention earlier this month. I heard (a rumor?) from two individuals at a local watering hole that the Hilton already has a plan in place on what's replacing the Experience.

According to them, it's going to be a performance space and themed Experience featuring the career of a high profile Entertainer. Said Entertainer has been signed to a contract to do shows for the next three years in the new space.

The person in question...?

Michael Jackson

Supposedly one of the owners/investors in the Hilton bailed him out when he had mortgage troubles with his Neverland Ranch. This is the payment in return for that help.

Take it FWIW.

Yeah, I read that the Jackson thing was a possibility.

Great....from warp drive to a pervert. Good move, Hilton.

[Biggshow]

Dale Hoppert wrote:

---

Michael Jackson: The Experience

Following a sidewalk that lights up square by square, along with everything you touch, you enter a world where everyone has rythym and crazy dance skills. Pursued through this space by very hip zombies and gang members who resolve their differences through interpretive "dance violence," you find your self in a "personal amusement park," but scaled up to make you feel the size of a child. You are lured by a charming little chimpanzee in people clothes into a regal bedroom where the walls are adorned by wood carvings depicting scenes from "Peter Pan." You climb atop a giant round bed with red velvet sheets and just as you are starting to doze off, a pixie-like man of uncertain ethnic extraction - in an enourmous fat suit - comes in and molests you, dangles you off the room's balcony, and finally sticks you in a hyperbaric chamber for storage until he wishes to use you again.

You are utterly horrified, but the bass line is hypnotic and irresistable.

Woof! I'm there. Screw you, Star Trek.

[Hoser]

T'Cal wrote:

---

If you've never gone, you don't belong on this site!!!

I wanted to go before it closed, but some things happened and I was unable.

Hoser, scratching pox.

[Dale]

I will be there Sunday, the penultimate day, and Monday, the final day. I will probably ride and drink on Sunday and simply lock down my place at Quark's at opening on Monday and remain there (in the Morn seat, if I can get it) until they force me to leave. I will then attend the closing ceremony (this is assuming I don't luck into a "final mission" pass while I'm there) and applaud like a freaking Starfleet-uniformed maniac at the closing ceremony.

I love that place, I love those people, and I can't wait to pay final homage to them as Star Trek: The Experience comes to an end. Never before and never again will there be such a place. Never before and never again will I ever have so much fun in my life. ACTORS, BOTH INSIDE THE EXPERIENCE RIDES AND OUTSIDE ON THE PROMENADE AND AT THE BAR, YOU FUCKING ROCKED!!! You made it REAL! No one has ever been part of Star Trek as long or as much as you have, and you are as "canon" to me as anything I ever saw on TV. God bless you people.

I will toast you people until Darren tells me I have to pay up and get out. I will applaud you people until Hilton security tells me to get the hell out of their casino. I will remember you people...

...FOREVER, until I die.

PS: This is SO a drunkl thread. Nonetheless, it's entirely sincere. Thanks for everything. [/quote]

[Dale]

OK. I just want to make this clear. The board for some reason posted incomplete versions of my post over and over and now does not recognize me as the author and will not let me delete them.

I am drunkl posting, but still, I'm not THIS retarded.

Dale

[MattJC]

For some reason, the TrekToday News Items forum won't let you edit or delete your posts in this particular forum.

[Hoser]

Sure, I can delete the copies. But I have a sneaky suspicion that it's partially caused by drunk clicking.

[Dale]

Of that I have no doubt. Still, you are a god among men. Thanks.