CSCfan Posted September 12, 2006 at 04:24 AM Posted September 12, 2006 at 04:24 AM Forbidden Broadway: Echelon to shun big-ticket musicalsProducer still unsure about shows for megaresort BY DAVID MCKEE Broadway musicals looking for a home on Las Vegas Boulevard will have to keep on truckin' past Boyd Gaming's planned Echelon Place. According to an executive for Boyd partner Anschutz Entertainment Group, the Great White Way and the Strip simply do not intersect. "We're not fans of the Broadway phase," said John Meglen, co-CEO of AEG Live Tours & Special Events. "I've never believed that people come to Las Vegas to see Broadway. They go to New York. That was proven in Las Vegas with the family shows. People don't come to Vegas for family entertainment. They go to Orlando or Orange County," Meglen said, in a veiled reference to Disney's flagship sites. Boyd is planning a 1,500-seat theater and 4,000-seat concert hall as part of its $4 billion Echelon project and, on Aug. 25, signed AEG Live as the exclusive presenter for both venues. Los Angeles-based AEG, owner of the Staples Center, also runs the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. "We'll continue to program the Colosseum," Meglen explained, "but there's room to do more in the marketplace." AEG collaborated with former Cirque du Soleil stage director Franco Dragone on the Celine Dion spectacular, "A New Day," at Caesars, but don't look for AEG to extend the Cirque brand to Echelon. "Not to say there's anything wrong with Cirque," Meglen added. "It's just that there's a lot of it in the (Vegas) marketplace, so we probably want to be as far away from that as we possibly can." While AEG and Boyd are still brainstorming what they will do at Echelon, it's presently easier for Meglen to rule out what they won't. Clones of "A New Day" and Elton John's "Red Piano" show (also at Caesars) are unlikely. "Call it a bit of an older demographic," Meglen said of the Caesars constituency. "Echelon might be a generation younger." When then-Park Place Entertainment first announced the Colosseum (now owned by Harrah's Entertainment), in 2002, its strategy was to bring customers to Vegas who would plan their trips around when Dion would be performing. Looking back, Harrah's Vice President of Entertainment (Las Vegas region) Scott Schecter reported this "has proven to be a very successful business model for Caesars Palace. Our customer feedback tells us that many guests plan their trips to Las Vegas based on securing tickets to see Celine." Since its opening, the 4,098-seat Colosseum has played to 95 percent of capacity, according to figures compiled by Pollstar. Even if AEG is aiming for more-youthful customer than those who flock to hear Dion belt "My Heart Will Go On," the Canadian pop star's Colosseum show has established many of the precepts Meglen intends to follow at Echelon. "One of the important components is it needs to be a show -- and preferably an artist (too) -- that you can only see in Las Vegas. The production quality of the show needs to be something that can't be reproduced traveling around the country to play every other city," Meglen said. But, even with a top-flight production, Meglen added, there is a fine balance to be struck where spectacle is concerned. "Don't let it just become technical," lest the headliner get swamped, he warned. "We've found that (balance) with Celine and we've found that with Elton," although Meglen allowed that there is but "a good handful" of marquee-name artists who can carry such a show. Still another sensitive issue concerns where the two theaters will sit in the Echelon master plan. AEG would like them to be as prominent as Caesars' Colosseum. "You don't open up a Bradley Ogden or a Bobby Flay (restaurant) and then go hide them back at the parking lot," Meglen noted. "Entertainment has become an integral part to Las Vegas. It is no longer this loss leader to bring gamblers. It can and should be profitable. It needs to be front and center." As for rumors that Boyd was debating whether or not to scale back the multi-billion-dollar Echelon, Meglen said he'd heard nothing to that effect. Both companies agree, he said, "that we're not afraid to spend the money to do it right." [source] Quote »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» MATHIAS ««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPrxI0AIDY
Cambroneroj Posted September 12, 2006 at 04:40 AM Posted September 12, 2006 at 04:40 AM Very nice thanks a lot but we knew that already! no one will make a show like Celine and be able fill the seats night by night like she does it. Quote
Koolan Posted September 12, 2006 at 05:04 AM Posted September 12, 2006 at 05:04 AM "Our customer feedback tells us that many guests plan their trips to Las Vegas based on securing tickets to see Celine." the world revolves around Celine like someone said at the opening night, her show will usher in a new era in Las Vegas history. Quote Please support the forum by ordering through our Amazon.com referral link below. Click here to go to the Amazon homepage.
catwomanrrr Posted September 12, 2006 at 05:35 AM Posted September 12, 2006 at 05:35 AM (edited) "Our customer feedback tells us that many guests plan their trips to Las Vegas based on securing tickets to see Celine." the world revolves around Celine like someone said at the opening night, her show will usher in a new era in Las Vegas history. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> YES!!! And when the show finishes next year, it will usher in a new era in WORLD history! I AM SO PROUD OF CELINE and EVERYBODY behind this MAGNIFICIENT SHOW!!!!! Edited September 12, 2006 at 05:35 AM by Joy Quote http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n28/rhymereason/dreambig.jpg
Giada Posted September 12, 2006 at 05:42 AM Posted September 12, 2006 at 05:42 AM I am SOOOOOOOO PROUD to be a Celine's fan!!!!! Quote I can't believe I've been touched by an angel with love..Thank you Celine..You've made my dream come true! ♥ http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s113/Giada87/uuuuuuuuuusmall.jpg
SuperLove4Celine Posted September 12, 2006 at 06:31 AM Posted September 12, 2006 at 06:31 AM "Our customer feedback tells us that many guests plan their trips to Las Vegas based on securing tickets to see Celine." the world revolves around Celine like someone said at the opening night, her show will usher in a new era in Las Vegas history. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> YES!!! And when the show finishes next year, it will usher in a new era in WORLD history! I AM SO PROUD OF CELINE and EVERYBODY behind this MAGNIFICIENT SHOW!!!!! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ditto! Here here! It's amazing to look back on that night in March and to see what's happened since then. I'm quite proud to say the least. Quote
Kong Posted September 12, 2006 at 07:13 AM Posted September 12, 2006 at 07:13 AM I am SOOOOOOOO PROUD to be a Celine's fan!!!!!<{POST_SNAPBACK}>I agree! Quote
nico robin Posted September 13, 2006 at 03:05 AM Posted September 13, 2006 at 03:05 AM I am SOOOOOOOO PROUD to be a Celine's fan!!!!!<{POST_SNAPBACK}> i think we all are proud!!!!!CELINE is the bets in the whole world!!! Quote http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WTOLnq_3hiM/T-YMZXaW9JI/AAAAAAAACR4/bCmTbbqNEhY/s400/Celine+Dion+-+Signature+Commercial+Behind+The+Scenes+(23612)+%5BHD%5D.mp4_snapshot_00.20_%5B2012.06.22_00.44.23%5D.jpgI dOn'T sUfFer FrOm InSaNiTy...I eNjOy EvErY MiNuTe Of iT... Visit www.celinerific.com Erika's Desings...Rivieravibe
newyorksnl15 Posted September 13, 2006 at 05:47 AM Posted September 13, 2006 at 05:47 AM She's the only one in the world that can sell out 4,000 seats a night. What an amazing talent Quote
Bambam Posted September 13, 2006 at 06:26 AM Posted September 13, 2006 at 06:26 AM She's the only one in the world that can sell out 4,000 seats a night. What an amazing talent<{POST_SNAPBACK}>When you think of it, it is really some kind of accomplishment. What kind, I don't know. Quote
rodney2004 Posted September 13, 2006 at 09:20 AM Posted September 13, 2006 at 09:20 AM Yeah! A New Day is the best show that was ever made!!! Quote http://www.thespicegirls.com/images/gh_cover.jpgSPICE GIRLS Greatest Hits Out on November 2007! WoW PhiLipPiNeS
lauracd Posted September 13, 2006 at 01:55 PM Posted September 13, 2006 at 01:55 PM Yeah! A New Day is the best show that was ever made!!!<{POST_SNAPBACK}> You're right! She's great and the show it's amazing! I want to see it so much!I can't wait to see the show on dvd! Quote
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