Star Trek: The Experience

[Geekyfanboy]

'Star Trek' attraction to be decommissioned Sept. 1,2008

By Richard Velotta / Staff Writer

Star Trek: The Experience has lived long and prospered.

But now, like a television series that has worn out its welcome, it is
being canceled - that is, the tourist attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton
is closing its doors.

Only unlike a TV show that has run out of gas and scores poorly in the
weekly Nielsen ratings, Star Trek: The Experience seems to be as popular
now as it was when it opened Jan. 3, 1998, even though there was a
reported lull in attendance in midlife.

"I went out the other day, and the lines extended back into the
corridor," Chad Boutte, operations manager and director of marketing of
the Experience, said of the visitors who pay $40 or more per person to
get into the 65,000-square-foot attraction that features two interactive
experiences and a "History of the Future" museum of "Star Trek" lore.

Those long lines once got the Las Vegas Hilton in trouble with gaming
regulators, who frowned on children who were waiting to get in standing
next to slot machines near the attraction's entrance. The Hilton
eventually had to pay a fine.

Even the merchandise racks have a price as Star Trek: The Experience
tries to sell out its inventory Aug. 15 before closing the attraction at
the Las Vegas Hilton.

So why is it closing if it's so popular?

That's what millions of "Star Trek" fans are asking, and no one seems to
have a good answer.

On June 30, it was announced the Experience would close Sept. 1 because
the landlord Las Vegas Hilton and tenant Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.,
operators of the attraction, couldn't reach agreement on a lease. The
current lease is up Dec. 31, and when an agreement couldn't be reached
by the end of June, it was determined that the company would need three
months to break down the sets, box up the props to send back to "Star
Trek" franchise owner CBS, sweep the floors and turn the site back to
what it was before the place opened.

Isn't it ironic? For a show filled with optimism about mankind's future
with characters endowed with attitudes of universal coexistence and the
ability to resolve disputes peacefully, a stalled lease agreement is the
attraction's demise. It seems so un-"Star Trek"-like.

Boutte said the "Star Trek" franchise still has legs, especially since
an 11th "Star Trek" movie is scheduled for release in May and the
various TV series spinoffs appear regularly on cable channels such as
Sci Fi.

Boutte said he has received more than 5,000 e-mails and a nearly 6-foot
stack of petitions from fans trying to stop the closure. Many of them
are directing their anger at the Las Vegas Hilton.

"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," Boutte said.

Boutte has enjoyed his Las Vegas experience and has his own interesting
history.

He may be the only person to be able to truthfully proclaim that he went
from Borg drone to corporate management. The former director of the
Alzheimer's Association in New Mexico had a passion for his acting hobby
and moved to Las Vegas five years ago when the Experience opened the
Borg Invasion 4-D attraction. He was one of the Borg drones attacking
guests.

He later took the role of a Starfleet officer before deciding to get
back in the administrative side of business.

Now, he doesn't know what he'll do next.

"I'll probably be here awhile after it's closed to finish up a few
things, but I honestly don't know what's next," he said.

He and his colleagues are proud of what they've done over the more than
10 1/2 years the attraction has been open.

"I've worked in many different venues, but this was first time I have
ever had a staff so dedicated to their jobs," said Boutte, who
guaranteed that many tears would be shed as the closing date nears.

He said although the performances in the interactive experience aren't
the longest running in Las Vegas, he's confident the actors have
performed the most shows in town, considering they occur every 20
minutes, every day.

Boutte said he would forever cherish memories of seeing cast members
interact with people with disabilities who have said that in the "Star
Trek" universe, they feel as if they're accepted as they are and could
escape the world of their physical ailments.

Boutte said he has no idea what would happen next in the Experience's
space. Las Vegas Hilton spokesman Ira David Sternberg echoed that,
saying it hasn't been determined what will go there.

"There's no timetable, no rush to make a decision," Sternberg said. "I
think all options are on the table. It's an interesting venue."

Those options could include another themed experience, some kind of
theater show or more gaming positions, he said. Rumors that the company
is in negotiations with Michael Jackson for a show (which, incidentally,
has put Jackson on many Trekkers' black list) are just that, rumors,
Sternberg said.

My wife suggested that the Hilton could be in negotiations to offer
"Batman: The Gotham Experience," but I don't think I'd put my money there.

When Sept. 1 arrives, the Experience's last public show will occur
around 8:30 p.m. Then, it will be open for a VIP event with a guest list
of hard-core fans compiled by the attraction's management to give those
loyal over the years one last crack at mixing with Borg, Klingon and
Ferengi. Some celebrities have been invited as well.

Boutte said hundreds of fans have asked to get on the VIP list and have
offered big bucks to go on the last "mission." He's considering
auctioning five tickets for the final mission on eBay because of the
tremendous interest.

At 10 p.m. at the entrance to the attraction, Boutte said there would be
a decommissioning ceremony, the kind that occurs when a crew leaves a
ship for the last time, open to the public.

And that will be the end.

Or will it? As most "Star Trek" fans know, a big piece of the franchise
is that the heroes emerge from overwhelming odds to fight another day.

Is it possible that Star Trek: The Experience could emerge at another
Cedar Fair location? After all, the company runs Knott's Berry Farm in
Buena Park, Calif., and its signature theme park, Cedar Point, in
Sandusky, Ohio.

Trekkers the world over are awaiting the answer.

[moyer777]

are you going to post any pictures of your last visit Kenny?

[Geekyfanboy]

are you going to post any pictures of your last visit Kenny?

Yes I can.. I'll try and do it this weekend.. I finished my Blog about it and was going to post it.. but I plan on sending in a report to Rico about our final trip to the Experience.

[moyer777]

excellent blog Kenny.

[Geekyfanboy]

excellent blog Kenny.

Thanks Rick.. I sent in two ten minutes reports to Rico to use on the next two podcasts.. but you can also check out my website.. I wrote some stuff and posted some pictures about our final mission at Star Trek The Experience.

http://www.geocities.com/dathon1/STExpFinal1.html

Also in the blog, website and audio bites I talk about a characature that was done of Harry and I.. I'm the Andorian and Harry is the Klingon

[moyer777]

I found this article and got happy.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/31119589.html

'Star Trek' attraction may find new home at Neonopolis

By BENJAMIN SPILLMAN
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Don't mourn the Trekkies yet.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Neonopolis developer Rohit Joshi say Star Trek: The Experience is close to a deal to move the defunct attraction to downtown.

Goodman let the news slip Thursday morning during a chat with reporters at city hall.

Later Joshi, developer for the struggling Neonopolis mall on Fremont Street, confirmed a deal was close.

But he clearly wasn't prepared for the news to leak.

"You kind of shocked me," Joshi said when asked about the potential move. "I don't know how to respond to that."

He continued: "We are in very serious negotiations. We think it would be a fantastic addition to downtown."

Joshi also produced a bound agreement with CBS Licensing, a division of the media giant that owns the rights to the Star Trek name, dated Monday. Calls to a representative to CBS weren't immediately returned.

Stacy Frole, a spokeswoman at Cedar Fair, the company that owned the Star Trek stagecraft used at the Hilton, said she was unaware of a potential deal.

Star Trek closed at the Hilton in September with no announcement that it would be revived.

Frole said Cedar Fair wouldn't be operating the attraction downtown. The company isn't interested in reviving Star Trek. Frole said it is possible the hardware could be sold to a different operator.

"We wouldn't be moving it," she said of the material.

If a deal does close, Joshi said the attraction could be revived downtown during the first quarter of 2009.

Goodman practically beamed when he dropped the news earlier today.

Neonopolis has long been viewed as a black hole in terms of development downtown.

The complex is between the east end of the Fremont Street Experience canopy and the west end of Fremont East, a bar and entertainment district that includes the El Cortez hotel-casino.

The mall has struggled to attract tenants and its lack of life has been blamed for reducing foot traffic between the canopy and Fremont East.

"It would be ironic," Goodman said of the potential for landing Star Trek, which attracted millions of visitors during a 10-year run at the Las Vegas Hilton. "Perhaps the most successful place downtown could be Neonopolis, even though it has been an albatross around my neck all these years."



Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.

[Geekyfanboy]

 hmmm I hope there is some truth to this.. I would love another Star Trek the Experience again in Vegas..

[Rico]

YESYESYESYES!!! 

[Jen]

I work with a former higher up from Paramount Parks, which was later bought by Cedar Fair,  as well as another individual who worked as a higher up for the Experience. The first person I mentioned said they were there when ST The Experience was opened and when the plans were made to close it. They have inside knowledge of the internal workings at Cedar Fair and the Amusement industry and has told us that the President of Cedar Fair Corp, Dick Kinzel, really wanted nothing to do with Star Trek The Experience when they purchased Paramount Parks and closed the attraction, not because of some issue with the contract, but because he didn't want it associated with Cedar Fair.  So, I REALLY hope that the spokes person mentioned in Moyer's article is just clueless or a lier and someone really has decided to move the attraction and is currently negotiating...but I'm afraid she is probably telling the truth. :(

[Geekyfanboy]

But Ceder falls could sell the attraction to this company.. couldn't they.. if they don't want it.

[Jen]

But Ceder falls could sell the attraction to this company.. couldn't they.. if they don't want it.

From what I've been told Cedar Fair has been slipping for several years as far as stocks are concerned. STTE would have been a money making attraction for them if they kept it. Kinzel and the stock holders have been described to me as "old" and "backward thinking". I was told they were just flat out closing it. Cedar Fair could have made some deal...but why wouldn't they have announced it? I would think that the news would not only be good business, but good publicity as well.

[Meds]

Jen, can't you create a water park with the ST Experience involved. Imagine that. ;)

[Rico]

I still don't get why someone doesn't scoop this up at a bargain price?  Especially with the new movie coming.

[Meds]

Yeah it's such a good business opportunity.

[Feathers]

I've always tried to stand back from judging what are and aren't good opportunities in someone else's business but I agree, with the film starting to get into its full pre-release stride and the attraction already in existance, I'd have thought someone somewhere would be willing to take a punt at bringing it back to life.