Does Caesars Windsor have better musical acts?

**darwinism** · January-20-13, 02:39 PM

Maybe it's just me ..... but I've been paying attention to the billboards on expressways for quite a while. Somehow it seems to me that Caesars Casino in Windsor typically have more prominent artists and show performers than the casinos in Detroit.

Why is that so?

**Spartan** · January-20-13, 02:41 PM

The fact that it's run by the largest gaming entertainment company in the world might have something to do with that.

**detlump** · January-20-13, 02:55 PM

Yes I agree. I am sure that some acts have to consult a map to find out where Windsor is, but as they are contractually obligated to perform where Caesars says, they come and perform. It was a major coup for the province to sign Caesars, I am sure the situation were reversed - say MGM for Caesars's, Detroit would be getting those performers and the Windsor casino would be less successful.

**Smirnoff** · January-20-13, 03:12 PM

Windsor: Safe
Detroit: UnSafe

Not sure, just ask the owner of the Roostertail......

**Gistok** · January-20-13, 03:31 PM

Sorry I'm not buying any of these reasons... the ONLY reason that Windsor is getting the bigger acts is 1) they're in CANADA... hassles at the border, and 2) they're smoke free... smokers no longer cross.

Now granted reason 1 is a much bigger reason that reason 2 [[since only about 20% of the population smokes)...

But safety is NOT an issue [[with either performers or attendees)... otherwise why would the Fox, Opera House, Fillmore, Music Hall and Orchestra Hall get stars to come here to perform for full houses?

Windsor has to coax people to cross the border and convert their currency... and having a big act is one of the ways to do so. Add to the fact that the Canadian dollar is now worth about equal to the US dollar, and a lot of the benefit of currency differences disappear.

Also... Casino Windsor has been losing money over the years, and this 2011 article mentions it [[another reason to coax people to come to their casino with high profile entertainers)...
http://www2.canada.com/windsorstar/n...7-7ad2d7183c9e

Also, in Vegas not all the big acts go to Caesars... so the size of the company is not very relevant.

And unlike Windsor Casino... at least 2 of the 3 Detroit casinos have continually been in the black... so the need to get high profile entertainers is not as great. Plus they don't advertise as much for specific acts.

**401don** · January-20-13, 04:21 PM

Casino Windsor built a 5,000 seat venue while the Detroit casinos did not.

**Gistok** · January-20-13, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

Casino Windsor built a 5,000 seat venue while the Detroit casinos did not.

While MotorCity's Sounding Board Theatre seats 2,400 and MGM and Greektown can only seat 1/2 that at 1,200, there was no need for large theatres at the venues.

Within a mile of each Casino are 20,000 theatre seats and the same seat numbers at JLA. With the 5,174 seat Fox, 4,404 seat Masonic, 2,765 seat Detroit Opera house as the biggest venues... if the Detroit casinos need any larger venues for acts... they're already here.

Having a 5,000 seat theatre at each of Detroit's casinos would have been way overkill with all the nearby options.

**Kathleen** · January-20-13, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

Casino Windsor built a 5,000 seat venue while the Detroit casinos did not.

It's one of the worst concerts venues I've been to!!! From now on, only my most favorite performers will get me back there, and only if I am able to snag seats front and center.

**401don** · January-20-13, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by Gistok

While MotorCity's Sounding Board Theatre seats 2,400 and MGM and Greektown can only seat 1/2 that at 1,200, there was no need for large theatres at the venues.

Within a mile of each Casino are 20,000 theatre seats and the same seat numbers at JLA. With the 5,174 seat Fox, 4,404 seat Masonic, 2,765 seat Detroit Opera house as the biggest venues... if the Detroit casinos need any larger venues for acts... they're already here.

Having a 5,000 seat theatre at each of Detroit's casinos would have been way overkill with all the nearby options.

I agree Detroit doesn't need another 5,000 seat venue but the whole purpose for a casino is to have it on-site to attract people to gamble. A lot of these contract acts will sell 1-2,000 seats and then they pad the crowd with 3,000 comps. Now you have 5,000 happy gamblers inside your casino.

**Kathleen** · January-20-13, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

I agree Detroit doesn't need another 5,000 seat venue but the whole purpose for a casino is to have it on-site to attract people to gamble. A lot of these contract acts will sell 1-2,000 seats and then they pad the crowd with 3,000 comps. Now you have 5,000 happy gamblers inside your casino.

Just as I suspected...given how many concertgoers at the shows I've attended are using wheelchairs and walkers!!!

**Gistok** · January-20-13, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by 401don

I agree Detroit doesn't need another 5,000 seat venue but the whole purpose for a casino is to have it on-site to attract people to gamble. A lot of these contract acts will sell 1-2,000 seats and then they pad the crowd with 3,000 comps. Now you have 5,000 happy gamblers inside your casino.

You're absolutely right in that regard... once they get you inside... they don't want you to leave, even temporarily...

**Zacha341** · January-21-13, 12:43 AM

Indeed it is a very large venue, though VERY bland compared to say the Fox. It has a broad stage with good views front and center, but elsewhere not good... no balconies. Just flat-land setup....

Originally Posted by 401don

Casino Windsor built a 5,000 seat venue while the Detroit casinos did not.

**Zacha341** · January-21-13, 12:49 AM

Yeah, it's just ok. I saw Creedance, Clearwater, Revival there a few years back and it was only good because my seats were only four rows back, center. I've seen other concerts there in the back row and it was pretty horrid.

Originally Posted by Kathleen

It's one of the worst concerts venues I've been to!!! From now on, only my most favorite performers will get me back there, and only if I am able to snag seats front and center.

**Gistok** · January-21-13, 09:42 AM

Thanks for the comments Zacha341 and Kathleen. That means that the theatre can double as convention space... all on one level. That's the way MGM Grand, and possibly Greektown theatres are set up as well.

Only MotorCity's "Sounding Board" theatre is set up with a main floor and a balcony, with something like the seating setup of "Dancing with the Stars" location. The theatre has 1,500 seats, and it says general admission is 2,400, which likely includes standing room. This theatre has more of a "horseshoe" shape seating as found in Masonic Temple Theatre, than as "fan" shaped seating [[better sight lines) found in Detroit's former movie palaces. The Sounding Board Theatre website shows the setup in the theatre...
http://www.soundboarddetroit.com/venue.aspx

Flat convention floor type theatre seating means that there are many seats with very poor sight lines. And once you reach a certain distance from the stage area [[over 100 ft.) the intimacy between the audience and performance is lost in the farthest seats. This is why multilevel mezzanine and balcony levels are VERY important to large theatre areas.