Site 10A | Parq Vancouver | Complete - Page 38

SpongeG · #**741** Posted **Oct 30, 2017, 9:03 AM**

Pinion · #**742** Posted **Oct 30, 2017, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

As mentioned before, that really should be a public entrance to the Casino.
I suspect that it would be the City that has somehow blocked it - since a direct entrance would be a cash cow for the Casino and restaurants inside.

The old casino only had one entrance/exit and that's probably the way they would prefer it. Now they have security at every hotel entrance and elevator on every level and would need at least two for that entrance along with four for the current entrance. Younger looking people get ID'd multiple times as they walk around.

And of course it is opened during BC Place events, as mentioned.

Marshal · #**743** Posted **Oct 31, 2017, 7:46 AM**

Educated guess: from the get-go the issue of stadium egress would have been identified and solving it would have been a major item in the scope of work that the architects would have had to deal with. Regardless of what we think of the solution, it would have been the architects working with the codes and fire dept that are responsible for it. It would likely have been a very difficult restriction, and would have taken the required space regardless of other concerns like a nice entrance to the casino and an activation of the slot space. I can think of two other options, but obviously they went for what is now there.

Being no fan of the City of Vancouver, I would love to pin it on them, but sadly, I can't. The city would never be in a position to dictate fire and emergency design. It is all spelled out in the building and fire codes and any discretionary leeway would be up to the fire chief's office.

red-paladin · #**744** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 5:10 PM**

I'm interested to know if anyone on the forum has been to the Parq Vancouver, and what their experiences are like.

WarrenC12 · #**745** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 5:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I'm interested to know if anyone on the forum has been to the Parq Vancouver, and what their experiences are like.

I went to the casino when it was about 2 weeks old. The hotels weren't open yet.

I'm not a huge casino person (in Vancouver), though I have been to Vegas many, many times.

Parq is hands down the best casino in Vancouver. Really fun, bars on the edges of the floor, nice new machines. Very Vegas-like. I enjoyed it, but haven't been back.

Pinion · #**746** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 5:52 PM**

I'm not a casino person either, despite working at Edgewater as one of my first jobs, but it's difficult not to be impressed by the interior. It's really high end/posh and spacious, really nothing like it in Vancouver. There are some $500,000+ cars just hanging around. The restaurants look nice, even the conference floor is nice. Only disappointing part was the "park" on the roof, which is really just a regular roof with a few trees and a shallow pond. And whoever put the tiles in screwed it up because they all tilt as you walk. Will be great in the summer with two restaurants flanking it though.

Here's a good video:

• Video Link

Vin · #**747** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 6:01 PM**

It's a strange mix of retirement home folks, sinister-looking gamblers with hoodies, and well-heeled fashionistas: ie kinda reflective of what is Vancouver. Didn't like most of the restaurant locations where one has to be physically on the casino floor: cheapens the whole experience. I find River Rock way better in that regard because the lounge, cafe and restaurants are located at the hotel wing. Should also check out the Crown Casino in Melbourne to understand what is considered a really nice urban casino/restaurant/retail building. The Parc does not meet the standard IMO. With those said, architecturally this is still a nice building, and would've been a really good-looking mall.

mezzanine · #**748** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 8:34 PM**

Not a gambler, but went for a looky-loo and to try mrkt east. Went on a weekday evening and was also surprised about the dispiriting clientele, seniors and dudes in hoodies. They'd make a good PSA about the bad side to gambling. Some casinos have a cover, not sure if that would work in Vancouver's market, maybe have one that includes a food credit if they did want to see if it would work.

mrkt east is not a bad restaurant. kinda damning with faint praise but I expected worse. Food is made fresh and the Malaysia/Singaporean stuff was serviceable. only one in my pricepoint...

The smoking balconies were an interesting find and opened up different views/perspectives to the building.

IMO the lights are too bright, almost like a hospital and makes gambling next to grandma more depressing. I think I'm the minority opinion but they could dim the lights on the gaming floor.

Overall a posh environment kinda at odds with clientele I saw there. still the best in vancouver though...

excel · #**749** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 10:13 PM**

Never heard of a casino ever having a cover. Maybe in monte carlo.

mezzanine · #**750** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 10:29 PM**

^ yeah, monte carlo.

interestingly, Singapore has a S$100 cover for locals only. (which is actually close to $95 CAD) It seems foreigners have free access.

SpongeG · #**751** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 11:36 PM**

I agree on the lighting it should be dimmer. It does feel kinda weird too almost like the slot players and gamblers are on display cause you can walk a circle around the gaming floor, most casinos force you to walk through the gaming floor.

Shift · #**752** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 11:38 PM**

I found the Parq casino to be quite small. The entrance is nice but the main casino floor felt like it could be Casino Nanaimo.

River Rock has much more of a grander, vegas feel, and better selection of slots.

SpongeG · #**753** Posted **Jan 16, 2018, 11:40 PM**

does no one here go to the hard rock lol? I prefer it much more than river rock, river rock feels so cramped and hard to get around in.

red-paladin · #**754** Posted **Jan 17, 2018, 2:02 AM**

Thanks for the views everyone!

My friend and I decided to check it out tonight.

I don't know much about casinos, but I've been to the River Rock and Hard Rock before.
I'm not sure it needs to be any larger than it is, unless we are looking for a wow factor. However, it was definitely smaller than the Hard Rock and River Rock. Makes sense, as we all followed the development process and the migration of the casino from the old building and we knew what size it was going to be.

It seemed nice and clean and the restaurants seemed nice if expensive but that' par for the course I'm sure.

Not much else I can say about it as we didn't stick around too long and didn't actually gamble.