WSOP officials wisely listened to complaints about the poker tent in 2007. It was a flimsy structure, at best, and with the slightest wind gust, the walls shook and rafters rattled. Players were irritated, members of the media were amused/scared, and powers-that-be were embarrassed. When the 2008 WSOP was announced, one of the first pieces of news to be released was that the poker tent was history. All poker players would be housed in the Rio Convention Center, and another ballroom was opened to handle the players indoors.
At the same time, it was announced that the poker kitchen would be in the spot where the tent was last year. Uh-oh.
When I first saw it, I thought it looked like a more sound structure, more like a super sturdy shed than a tent. And then the wind came. Today, it is cloudy, and drops of water are falling from the sky. (I live in Los Angeles, and folklore says this is called rain. People assure me the sun will return.) And the poker kitchen is a-shakin’ in the wind. Evidently, no matter how many bolts look to be holding this structure down, it still has the ability to terrify all who visit it. It could be just my luck that I’m in the poker kitchen, paying $2 for a Krispy Kreme donut that I certainly don’t need, and some flimsy light fixture will knock me out. Hey, if you know me, you know that’s possible.
Took a little trip over to the Rio today to check out the set up. Good things so far.
The Amazon Room was empty except for the ESPN crew setting up the stage, Harrah’s employees finalizing the set-up of the room, and a few cash game players wandering in. The Rio seemed to be trying to get the cash game players to the Amazon Room before they close the casino poker room for the WSOP.
The satellites were getting going around noon in their separate room (where the poker kitchen and media room were in 2007), and a handful of players were sauntering in. Greg Raymer was roaming around the hallways, already being stopped by the few tourists who walked down to see if the WSOP had begun.
While the poker kitchen itself wasn’t open for business, I could see that it is in a building where the poker tent was in 2007. It seems like a much sturdier structure than that tent – more like a shed, a really large shed. Don’t know what’s on the menu, though, since it was closed. BUT, there are numerous other food options set up at different points in the hallways. Besides the full bar (yum!), there was a Pizza Hut stand that offered its signature pizzas, along with salads, sandwiches, and fruit bowls. Directly across was a Java Coast coffee stand with a Krispy Kreme donut oven ($2 per donut!).
Best of all, there was a huge sign for a sushi and noodle kitchen! Set-up is not complete, but the thought of having some great sushi available makes this Cali girl quite happy.
It seems that the Harrah’s/WSOP folks have listened to space and food complaints and made some very positive steps in the right direction. Good times and food ahead!
(On the way to the car, Eskimo Clark was on his way in – alive and kickin’ and presumably lookin’ for backers! Some things never change…)
