*** OFFICIAL Borgata Opening Weekend Thread ***

[CCx]

Just a note the poker room will be extra busy on Friday from 3-7pm as Philly sports radio station WIP will be broadcasting live from the poker room as they hold a $25k one-table tourney.... should be interesting, but just a heads up. (and your chance to talk junk to howard eskin if you so choose)

[poker327]

If the governor has his way, no one will be playing poker in Atlantic City on Saturday if he shuts down the government.

[CCx]

I think the chances of that happening (no one gambling july 4 weekend) are just about nil.

However, if it does.... I'll run a few games from my room, half-rake [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[afish]

Here is an article from the Asbury Park Press
[ QUOTE ]
ATLANTIC CITY — A space between the ceiling and the blue curtain covering the next phase of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa from the public until Friday morning reveals a hint of what the $200 million expansion will look like.

The clue is a multicolored glass chandelier, the kind of fixture that's all over the Borgata and is synonymous with the casino's modern decor.

A look behind the curtain reveals more slot machines, more restaurants run by celebrity chefs and, overall, more of the casino, which opened in July 2003 and has already set revenue and style standards among city gaming venues.

The same could be said for the new poker room.

With white columns and elements of Italian design, the room looks much like the one downstairs, except it's nearly three times the size, and with 85 tables.

There are larger poker venues elsewhere. With 243 poker tables, the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles bills itself as poker capital of the world.

But at the Borgata, the poker room behind the curtain and protected by security guards will become the largest in Atlantic City. It is a sign of the casino setting itself apart as a poker destination, according to casino officials.

Players will have more choices when it comes to what games they want to play and how much they want to bet, said Ray Stefanelli, director of poker marketing at the Borgata.

Meanwhile, managers in the city's other poker rooms are bracing for a hit.

"I think it's going to impact everybody," said Vincent Alonge, a shift manager in the 63-table poker room at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, which will soon give up its title as home to the city's largest poker room. "But whatever impact it has on all the rooms in town, with the growing demand, everyone will still do fine."

Although the Borgata will not unveil the expansion to most reporters until Thursday, and to the public until 10:30 a.m. Friday, the casino on Monday gave the Asbury Park Press a special tour, including the 21,500-square-foot poker room.

With 58 tables and high ceilings, the size of the room's main section looks more like the layout of a department store than a typical poker room in Atlantic City.

In the back of the room, partitioned from the main section, 18 tables will be dedicated to those who can afford to bet the most. Borgata Babes, waitresses in black uniforms resembling lingerie, will offer food service there.

Another nine tables to the right of the high-limit section will become the room's tournament area. During the final rounds of a popular competition, the casino could pull out retractable bleachers for spectators.

Throughout the room, dozens of plasma-screen televisions are set near the ceiling for players who want to check a score when it's not their turn.

Automated shufflers will mean more hands per hour.

Behind the action, a computer system will enable poker room managers to know where each player is sitting at any time, allowing them to notify players in person when a type of game they've been waiting for has opened up.

"It's only going to get better," said Shaun McNeill, a 27-year-old construction worker who lives in Middle Township and plays poker at the Borgata about three times a week.

The new room will replace the Borgata's existing 34-table poker room. Plans for that space have not been announced.

Stefanelli said the room will attract players interested in experiencing other aspects of the Borgata, which includes a spa, several restaurants and bars.

Outside the poker room, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck and Michael Mina will each debut a restaurant.

For less formal dining, players can head down an escalator to The Cafeteria, which might resemble a food court if not for the white marble floors.

Mur.Mur, the Borgata's second nightclub, is expected to open later this summer.

Despite its large size, Stefanelli said the number of players who gamble at his casino and at others in the city will make the room a success.

"Supply has risen year after year in the market," he said. "I truly feel that there's enough demand to open an 85-table poker room."

Stefanelli and managers at other city casinos agree that Borgata, at least at first, will take players away from other poker rooms.

"To be honest, I think it'll hurt us a little bit," said Anthony Previti, a manager at the Arena, one of the city's newer poker rooms at Caesars Atlantic City.

But Alonge, from the Taj, predicted that the "Cheers" factor, referring to the classic television show about a bar, will keep poker rooms full across the city.

Players, he said, like to go where everybody knows their name.

[/ QUOTE ]

[afish]

Here is a link to the official opening announcement, which lists an 11 am opening time.

[sirpupnyc]

Corzine puts shutdown off til after July 4

[revots33]

Am heading down tomorrow for the $250+30 tournament at noon. Will be there by 11am so it looks like I'll be one of the honored 1st visitors. Hope they have door prizes! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[mlagoo]

i'll be there pretty much all day/night saturday. playing some 5/10 or 6/12, hopefully. pm me if you wanna meet up. looking forward to it.

[esch]

Hmm. Looks like the various methods to get a full day of $2/hr comps might be dead now with the new computerized system that keeps track of where players are sitting.

Well, maybe it will also mean the end of the 6AM rollover and losing points ecause you were too tired/drunk to checkout.

[IdealFugacity]

i'll be playing 2/4 on friday