ST: The Experience / Hilton

[B.C.]

Does it seem odd to anyone else that the Hilton decided to shut down STTE less than a year before a major relaunch/summer blockbuster?

I understand that the profits were slipping at this place and the yes, the economy sucks. It just seems weird to me that the Hilton would would keep the place going for 10+ years, and 9 months before the new movie was released they closed it down. The new movie would(/has) sparked some major interest in all things Trek.

So why not bite the bullet for a couple extra months and reap the rewards now that the new movie has been released?

Thoughts?

 

[KirkusOveractus]

From the info I had read, it was a matter of when the contract expired, which the Hilton had no interest in renewing.

It just happened to be right on the cusp of the movie release (which was probably not at all a factor - the contract was probably signed years ago).

Just really lousy timing.

 

[B.C.]

Totally. Still hard to believe they wouldn't want at least a 12 or 24 month extension to see what business the new movie might turn up.

Ah, I guess it all really doesn't matter now. Hopefully the new Experience gets off the ground someday.

 

[Astraea]

Totally. Still hard to believe they wouldn't want at least a 12 or 24 month extension to see what business the new movie might turn up.

Well, there's a couple factors there: one, that nobody knew if the new movie was going to be any good, and two, 12-24 months is a lot of time to keep a place open if they're not making much revenue off of it (or even losing money; I don't know how badly off the Experience was) and they think it could be put to better use.

 

[barnaclelapse]

Did anyone ever go? Was it any good?

I often wondered.

 

[Dale]

It was freaking amazing. Trekkie heaven. Click the "star trek: the experience" tag, below, and read up on what you missed.

 

[Atariboy]

The sad irony is that the Hilton is probably a decade away from making a bigger profit from anything else they could put in that space. Vegas isn't quite what it used to be.

 

[B.C.]

I'm aware of Vernon Wilmer's awesome documentary series (http://vimeo.com/channels/vernonwilmervideo) along with a few photo sets on Flickr. I'm curious, does anyone have any other pictures, videos or memorabilia they'd like to share with the rest of us?

 

[Keith1701]

It was freaking amazing. Trekkie heaven. Click the "star trek: the experience" tag, below, and read up on what you missed.

I thought I read that they were going to reopen The Star Trek Experience in a new place in Los Vegas?? Is this true??

 

[SFRabid]

I got the feeling that the Adventure and trekkies was not the image the Hilton wanted to portray. Maybe they should have done a Bond adventure.

 

[Borg7of7]

It was freaking amazing. Trekkie heaven. Click the "star trek: the experience" tag, below, and read up on what you missed.

I thought I read that they were going to reopen The Star Trek Experience in a new place in Los Vegas?? Is this true??

Yes, it is projected to be reopening at Neonopolis (Downtown) in 2010. All of the rights have been obtained but, as of now, I believe it is still in the planning stages. Originally, it was supposed to open in phases with the bar, restaurant, & shops to be followed later by the rides & museum, but that plan has been nixed, for an all-at-once opening at a later date.

 

[Borg7of7]

As far as why the Hilton management (the Hilton is not owned by the same entity as all of the other Hilton hotels) decided not to at LEAST renew for 12 months is beyond comprehension. (Who knows why any manager does anything...) Whether or not they renewed the contract had more to do with image than making money, as they did not directly own or run the Experience (It was owned/operated by Cedar Fair), and thus they were paid their lease amount regardless of how much money the Experience made or lost.

 

[Trek4Ever]

I just wonder why the Experience isn't relocated in a more theme park friendly place. Orlando would be prime but the distance from Vegas to O Town may be cost prohibitive. Then again California isn't too far away. Paramount should be able to find someplace in LA or Anaheim or San Diego or even San Francisco to base the Experience in.