Sometimes I look at City Center and just shake my head. Even in good times...What were they thinking? So I came up with 5 changes I would make. My theory is that these changes would be permanent but open to modifications and refinement. They could also be done in a way that would be "green" or greenish. My changes are to make Crystals more mainstream, find a niche for Vdara, provide access to Aria, find a reason to go to Aria, and do "something" to Mandarin Oriental.

Crystals needs a reason to attract the tourists on the strip sidewalks. An ice feature and several enclosed whirlpools doesn't cut it. There are too many mandatory elevation changes and dead ends. There also needs to be fancy but affordable shops and restaurants. Dare I say food court?

For Vdara, I would try to make it an extension of Bellagio. The current trend is for nightclubs and pools, so go for it. Night clubs all over the place and outdoor play areas will need to be added. It needs a moving sidewalk to connect it to the Bellagio, That long walkway doesn't cut it.

Aria access. To get people there, they need a reason and access. Make the walkway from the strip look more appealing than a long walk at an airport. Put in some kind of Astroturf or soft walkway going in and out. Have several "sights to see" along the walk. I'm not big on kiosks, but there needs to be things that will make the tourists forget they are walking a long way to a casino. Line it with trees that provide shade. Maybe have a cover that works like a mini FSE.

Aria is what it is...to a degree. It needs a reason for tourists to go there other than an attractive entrance. First of all it needs good affordable food. The buffet needs an overhaul. The coffee shop needs good food and good service. Union is too expensive and noisy and needs to be turned into something along the lines of a Grand Lux. I can't comment on the gaming, except it seemed to be typical MGM. It could also use a lounge with some simple free live music. I was also thinking about the "spin the wheel" to get your airfare back gimmick at the old Vacation Village. Remember how far it was from the strip in those days? The spin almost never worked, but it brought in the people who would spend money elsewhere. How about 5% of your airfare applied to restaurant credit or something like that? As for Viva Elvis, the results are sad. I think Aria could survive without another show.

Mandarin is a tough one. It's a little too fancy for the strip. Maybe some more restaurants would do the trick.

JMT, I sort of agree with you, but I fear that even if they made all those modifications, CityCenter would not attract people in the numbers that MGM had anticipated during the planning concept.

I personally think that CC will never be a success until Las Vegas returns to the good times that we experienced just a few years back, but even then some big modification would be necessary.

I agree that Crystals needs to undergo a major "thought process". The "shopping options" are definitely beyond most people's needs and pocket-book and they don't have a "food court" or any store for the average Las Vegas tourist or resident.

Crystals ought to be more like Fashion Show Mall which is always full of anxious buyers.

In short .... Crystals has to be more affordable with much different shopping options.

There is not much room in Vdara to make any major modifications but someone might consider changing Silk Road into a trendy nightclub. I don't think that dining spot has been doing a lot of business lately. In fact I hear that they have cancelled one of their meals.

And a moving sidewalk from the Bellagio to the Vdara would probably help, but have you walked from the Bellagio lobby to the Vdara lately? That in itself is a long haul down a long hallway before you even get to that long too hot or too cold hallway leading into the Vdara.

And that slight uphill walk from the Strip to the Aria seems to discourage a lot of people. In the summer it's too hot and in the winter it's too darn cold, so a lot of tourists don't even bother.

Then again, that's probably what they wanted in the first place. It keeps the baby strollers and the 'gawkers' out.

Bally's solved this problem solved long ago with the 'people mover' from the street to the entrance. ( I wonder why they never developed all that wasted space long ago? )

I managed to take a look at just about all of the Aria restaurant menus and came to the conclusion that dining elsewhere was more appropriate.

Many others must have felt the same as none of the restaurants seemed too busy during the dinner hours( 'empty' is more appropriate) and it was the first time I've ever seen a buffet completely vacant in Las Vegas.

This past couple of weeks I've noticed that the Strip casinos between Bill's Gambling Hall and the Casino Royale seem to be getting somewhat busier. And the two local hotels that I visit frequently (about three times a week- Orleans and The Palms) have been very busy.

It appears to me that casinos offering $5/$10 minimum bets are drawing the tourists and local gamblers, but the smallest minimum bet I've seen at the Aria is $15 which doesn't appeal to the locals 'too very much'.

It would be interesting to see the figures on just how well the Mandarin is doing. The Strip seems to be an out of way place for a fancy, but non-gaming, hotel of its type. I have heard that they serve $15 dollar martinis there, so I have yet to go beyond the entryway of that prestigious establishment.

And last but not least ..... I am totally confused why anyone in their right mind would purchase a CityCenter condominium for residential purposes.

Do people really live there all year long?