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Las Vegas' Speed In Trouble?

Hyde

Matt SR
Staff member
Moderator
Social Media Team
I thought it was an alright launch coaster. Definitely not an unpleasant ride.

Sahara is situated at an awkward point on the Strip, away from the popular casinos such as Bellagio, MGM, Caesar's, and the Flamingo; so this comes as no surprise. However, Circus Circus and Stratosphere are close by as well (not with the major cluster), making it appear that these casinos went after attractions to gain visitors in the first place. Clearly, Sahara lost out.

If anything, hopefully they will keep the coaster on site so that new owners may be able to use it. I imagine it boosts property value. :razz:

Also, this article is wrong, Flamingo is the original casino of Las Vegas and the oldest on the Strip.
 
Also, this article is wrong, Flamingo is the original casino of Las Vegas and the oldest on the Strip.

Aww you beat me to it, I wanted to show off my Vegas knowledge and you ruined it! :p

I hope it doesn't close, I quite liked it, and so did my dad (I mentioned my dad just for you, Ben.. Haha). I'm not surprised that the casino is closing because like Matt said, it's in a weird spot on the strip, but then again it's kinda not because the Stratosphere is a main attraction and it's pretty close to that. But it never seemed like even close to the most popular casino or anything, so yep, not surprising, I just hope they can salvage the coaster. If not, well, c'est la vie, I got the cred and it's not the best coaster out there, but still.
 

spicy

Giga Poster
The Sahara does need knocking down, it's by far the worst casino in Vegas. But Speed is the best coaster in Vegas, they just should have put the NASCAR Cafe somewhere else. Move it to circus circus please...
 
Just out of curiosity, for those of you that have been on it, how many people were in the station? When I went, there was me, my dad, and like two others, which makes me wonder if it would even be worth the cost to relocate.
 

Ben

CF Legend
^It only ran once every fifteen minutes for some unknown reason... Possibly noise, possibly cost...

Can't say that makes it sound popular!
 

davidm

Strata Poster
The one and only time I went on it, it was me and just 2 other peeps.

(been to Vegas 3 times, rode the ride once!)

It was an good/ok ride tho'.

PS - CircusCircus next for implosion?
 

forrestc

Roller Poster
Hyde244 said:
I thought it was an alright launch coaster. Definitely not an unpleasant ride.

Sorry to bump this slightly old thread, but I agree. Actually I had a chance to ride pretty much all the 'biggish' coasters on the strip last week, and I'd say that it was in my opinion the best coaster on the strip. I'm kinda sad that it might be my first and last chance to ride (got in 3 rides while I was there).

If there was any of the coasters on the strip which needs to be cut apart and sold as scrap - it's DEFINITELY the one at NY NY. Unless of course you like head banging. It actually has replaced a woody in my list as the absolute worst ride I've ever had. I about half way up the lift hill, I could tell it was going to be a bad bad experience, just from the roughness in the hill. And, unfortunately I was completely and entirely accurate.

The other 'biggish' coaster is the one at the Adventuredome - and I found it acceptable - I need to ride again sometime when I'm not as exhausted as I was that day since I've noticed I have worse rides when I'm not all that rested.
 

Hyde

Matt SR
Staff member
Moderator
Social Media Team
^ There's a reason by Manhattan Express always comes in last for the Mitch Hawker poll every year. :razz:

I agree, Speed is a good ride. I do slightly like Canyon Blaster (the Circus Circus Arrow Looper) better, just because it has been so well maintained compared to other Arrows. The Vekoma trains are so smooth!

Here is an update on Speed, rumors are circulating of Stratosphere or Circus Circus looking in to buying the coaster. Lance even did a mock up of where he thought Speed might land at Circus Circus.

http://screamscape.com/html/las_vegas.htm#Circus
 

STC

Mega Poster
Compared to the abhorrently offensive atrocity that is Manhattan Express, and the unoriginal snoozefest of Adventuredome's Canyon Blaster, this coaster stacks up pretty well. The launch is strong, and actually the best bit about the launch is the weird feeling of being blasted from air-conditioned ice cool station into the burning hot outside in a few seconds.

The diving turn to the left is unique with a forceful loop, and I just LOVE the booster launch which really gives the second half a serious sensation of speed. I hope it can be saved, especially with all it's original features (especially the diving turn and booster launch).
 
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