The Ocean Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey has been a prominent fixture on the boardwalk since its opening in 2018. The resort’s history is intricately tied to the evolution of casino gaming in Atlantic City, with significant milestones marking its rise to prominence.
Early Development (2000s-2016) Prior to its construction, the site where Ocean Resort now stands housed a hotel and conference center known as Revel. Built at a cost of around $2.4 billion, Revel was one of several mega-resorts in Atlantic City during that era, boasting an array of gaming facilities, dining options, and Ocean Resort (Atlantic City) entertainment venues.
However, despite initial success, Revel struggled financially due to various factors such as overexpansion, competition from other resorts, and regulatory hurdles. After a series of ownership changes and attempts at revival, the property eventually went into receivership in 2014.
Sale and Rebranding (2016-2018) In August 2015, Bruce Deifik’s investment company purchased Revel out of bankruptcy for approximately $82 million. Following extensive renovations, which included significant investments to revamp the resort’s gaming areas and hospitality offerings, the venue reopened on June 28, 2018 under its new name: Ocean Resort.
This transformation was a deliberate effort to reboot the property’s image while focusing more intensely on high-end amenities, entertainment experiences, and guest service. By highlighting these attributes and adjusting its appeal towards families as well as gamblers, the rebranded Ocean Resort aimed to attract visitors beyond those interested in pure gaming activities.
Infrastructure and Amenities Today, the Ocean Resort boasts 1,399 rooms across two buildings – the north wing housing approximately 850 standard rooms and suites while the south wing caters to higher-end clientele with an additional 550 luxury accommodations. All of these rooms have undergone renovations focusing on comfort, aesthetics, and technological advancements.
Visitors can choose from various dining options, including several fine-dining restaurants serving cuisine such as sushi, Italian food, or upscale seafood experiences, in addition to casual eateries for quicker bites. Moreover, the Ocean Resort features an indoor pool area, fitness center, shopping arcade, beauty salon, spa services, and ample event spaces with capacities ranging from intimate gatherings up to 1,000 guests.
Gaming Operations As is typical of Atlantic City resorts, gaming takes a central role at Ocean Resort. The property has undergone significant changes since its rebirth under the name change to include a wider array of slot machines as well as classic table games like Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Baccarat.
A key draw in Atlantic City’s competitive landscape is the ‘Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’ integration – an agreement between Ocean Resort’s parent company, BR Life Acquisition Limited (an affiliate of Blackstone), and Hard Rock International. As a result of this partnership, guests enjoy exclusive access to Hard Rock Atlantic City gaming areas as well.
Accolades and Recognition Ocean Resort has not only been recognized for its architectural renovation but also praised for the overall visitor experience it provides. In 2018 alone, Ocean Resort garnered several notable awards – including ‘Best New Casino’ from both The Press of Atlantic City’s readers’ choice contest and New Jersey League of Municipalities (NJLM) annual meeting attendee poll.
The rebranding effort received praise as well since Deifik chose to take an innovative approach focusing on the luxury tourism segment. This is especially true when considering how Ocean Resort has catered its property toward vacationers rather than merely positioning itself purely within the realm of gaming, acknowledging Atlantic City’s shift towards diversifying its appeal beyond pure casino revenue.
Criticisms and Controversies As with many developments in this space, some critics have raised concerns regarding safety measures following numerous crime incidents at Ocean Resort during 2018. Local authorities as well as resort management have been working diligently to address these issues by increasing security presence around the boardwalk area adjacent to its property.
In conclusion, since reopening under its new name, Ocean Resort has firmly established itself within Atlantic City’s competitive gaming and hospitality landscape through both tangible improvements made to its facilities and intangible enhancements targeting upscale demographics.