Above, the U.S.-1 & S.E. 3rd Street entrance to Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino and The Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex, Hallandale Beach, Florida. August 13, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.In response to all the MANY curious emails I've received since the horse racing season closed here in the Spring, from both overseas readers of the blog as well as ones here in South Florida and environs, yes, there will be more blog posts here in the coming weeks about what a mess I believe Magna Entertainment (MEC)/The Stronach Group & Forest City have made of the opportunity they had with Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino and The Village of Gulfstream Park retail complex.
Not that there was ever any doubt about my doing more posts on them, but...
Above, the U.S.-1 & S.E. 7th Street entrance to The Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex, Hallandale Beach, Florida.Hmm-m-m... is an upscale, outdoor shopping center in South Florida during the oppressively humid summer swelter of South Florida as hot or as wet as you can imagine? Yes. "And yet they built it that way on purpose?" Yes, again.
August 13, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.
I must admit that I'm continually surprised at how many people living quite a distance from me and the facilities in Hallandale Beach ask about how the facilities are doing; are they getting any better/worse?; and are there any known plans to make some drastic changes there that will make it more appealing to consumers.
Yes, lots of disappointed people that, like me, want the facilities to succeed, but are dumbstruck at how very poorly things have been planned and manged thus far.
Here's a hint: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...
If you thought the new crew would usher in a new era of common sense AND smart, savvy strategic marketing -or even JUST common sense- you are very much mistaken.
Not that you would know that from the paucity of South Florida's news media's coverage of Gulfstream Park.
As my friends and colleagues in the area know, I genuinely want the facilities to succeed, really I do, since it's better for everyone in the community if the facilities offer a good entertainment value for the dollar, one that that the public enjoys and is willing to spread through positive word-of-mouth advertising, the best kind there is for what they're offering up.
But just because I'm on record with wanting the facilities to succeed -NOT necessarily the not-too-bright corporate principals behind it- is no reason why I should avert my eyes from what's right in front of me.
What anyone paying close attention to details -and in particular, details that matter- and which positively or negatively affect consumer behavior and psychology would notice and remark upon.
In this case, it's NOT in a positive way.
Above, the Hallandale Beach Blvd. & S.E. 10th Avenue entrance to Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino and The Village of Gulfstream Park retail complex, Hallandale Beach, Florida. Storm clouds are brewing in more ways than one. (And do you see what I do?)
August 13, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.
Seriously, at times, to use a perhaps over-used metaphor here on the blog, they're like a dog chasing its tail.
Sort of funny at first before you grow tired of the one-act nature of the comedy that ends with a whimper instead of a happy ending.
Here's a quick bit of free advice: Instead of worrying about extending the hours that certain of the bars in the complex can serve alcohol -the subject of last week's Hallandale Beach Planning & Zoning Advisory Board meeting, which I blew-off attending- so they can continue serving until 6 a.m., how about giving normal consumers, non-bar flies, some fun and reasonable entertainment choices on weekdays between 6 & 10 p.m.
Is that really too much to ask?
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