What began as a nostalgic dream for gamers and retro enthusiasts alike, the ambitious plan for a chain of Atari Hotels across the United States, has hit a significant snag. Six years after its grand announcement, the vision for a gaming-themed resort in Las Vegas, a city synonymous with entertainment, has officially been shelved.
Las Vegas Deal Deemed “Didn’t Come to Fruition”
The glittering lights of Las Vegas will not, it seems, be home to an Atari-branded hotel. Sara Collins, a spokesperson for Atari Hotels, confirmed to the Las Vegas Sun this week that the deal for the Sin City location ultimately “didn’t come to fruition.” This news marks a significant retreat from the initial, expansive plans that envisioned Atari Hotels in eight major US cities, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle, in addition to Las Vegas and Phoenix.
For the time being, Atari Hotels is narrowing its focus exclusively on the Phoenix, Arizona, site. This shift leaves the future of the other previously announced locations in considerable doubt, with no discernible progress reported for any of them. The Atari Hotels website’s FAQ section vaguely notes, “Additional sites, including Denver, are being explored under separate development and licensing agreements,” offering little concrete reassurance for fans hoping for a broader rollout.
Phoenix: A Delayed Hope Amidst Funding Hurdles
The Phoenix, Arizona, location was always slated to be the flagship and first property, with an original groundbreaking target of 2020. However, the project, announced just prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic, faced inevitable development delays. Construction is now optimistically projected to commence late this year, pushing the anticipated opening date to a distant 2028.
Even this revised timeline for Phoenix comes with a significant caveat. A December press release revealed that the company is still actively seeking to raise a substantial $35 million to $40 million in funding to bring this “playable destination” for gamers to life. This ongoing financial quest casts a shadow of uncertainty over even the sole remaining active project, suggesting that enthusiasts might do well to temper their expectations.
The Broader Picture: A Vision Unfulfilled?
The unraveling of the Las Vegas plan and the persistent delays and funding challenges for Phoenix raise questions about the overall viability and execution of the Atari Hotels concept. What was once presented as an innovative fusion of hospitality and interactive entertainment now appears to be a much more constrained and precarious venture. As the gaming world watches, the future of the Atari Hotel brand hangs in the balance, with its grand ambitions seemingly shrinking to a single, still-unfunded desert oasis.
For more details, visit our website.
Source: Link
Leave a comment