Casino Connection Atlantic City

Hail to the Hall

Difficult year brings new efforts, events to the Boardwalk

by Dave Bontempo

Arturo the Great entered Atlantic City's Hall of Fame. Floyd Mayweather sparkled in the season's biggest boxing showcase. The Bullies left, the Surf captured a second-half baseball title and Boardwalk Hall expanded its use with diversified entertainment. Atlantic City survived the loss of its biggest tenant to create future activities at the Hall. The season began poorly when the Bullies, the Hall's biggest tenant, announced their departure for California. The Bullies had opened the refurbished Hall in 2001, but absorbed $5 million of red ink in four seasons. Because the team had captured a Kelly Cup and produced consistent, high-quality hockey, the move jolted purists. It also underscored the logistical quagmire of drawing fans in a small market bordered on the right by the Atlantic Ocean. Boardwalk Hall officials feverishly sought a new tenant and nearly had one in early November before the prospective buyer sought more time. Atlantic City's tourist base and casino allure will bring a number of prospective owners to the brink of sponsoring a team. Casino support and a relationship with the business community will be critical in any arrangement. While courting prospective financiers, the Hall opened new projects. The New Jersey state high school wrestling championships played to a huge crowd. Reality Fighting twice sold out the 3,000-plus seat Ballroom. Ultimate Fighting created a full sellout in the Hall. Skate America drew 24,000 people in four days. College basketball returned with Villanova in December. A base of future events has emerged. "We consider the season to be a mixed bag," says Greg Tesone, assistant general manager of Boardwalk Hall. "We were very disappointed to lose the Bullies, naturally, and we hope to be able to put another team in here. In the meantime, we have had a little something for everybody." Reality Fighting made a substantial impact. The mixed martial arts showcase matches fighters of varying styles in a submission contest. Stand-up strikers, grapplers, kick boxers and jiu-jitsu specialists compete in this "melting pot of mayhem." Safety innovation enabled the sport, once banned in several countries, to obtain official commission sanctioning. The televised UFC tour, most recently on Spike network, makes this form of combat practically mainstream. "Reality Fighting has become one of the hottest international sports," Tesone says. "We've done very well with it here. On the whole, we've succeeded at bringing a lot of people into the city, exposing Atlantic City to new customers and also some great television coverage." [Financial Pied Piper] Some of that occurred when Arturo Gatti, Atlantic City's adopted son, made two more appearances here. Gatti defeated Jesse James Leija in January and was overwhelmed in June by Floyd Mayweather, but brought big business to the city. Between the two bouts, Gatti produced a live gate of more than $6 million and worldwide television exposure for Atlantic City. It was the third straight year Gatti fought twice in Atlantic City. It was his sixth consecutive sellout on a major scale. No other boxer, not even Mike Tyson, has meant so much to the resort. This was recognized in June, when Atlantic City enshrined Gatti into its own Hall of Fame. Gatti produces sellouts hours after tickets for his bouts go on sale. A suggestion unfolded regarding tossing Gatti a parade upon his retirement. "I'd be the first in line to do something for him," says Bally's Atlantic City President Ken Condon. "Arturo has done an awful lot for us." Gatti's instant-sellout status produced a guaranteed big hit for Bally's. Once the live gate covered its cost of hosting the event, it became the prime beneficiary of a post-fight gambling crowd. A whirlwind style, which placed him in many Fights of the Year, endeared Gatti to fans. He showed typical class after Mayweather, boxing's best pound-for-pound performer, stopped him in the middle rounds. "I take my hat off to him," Gatti remarked afterward. "What could I do? He was just too damn fast." He was. Mayweather, the 1996 Olympic alternate, remained undefeated as a professional. The blistering speed, surgical accuracy and ruthless efficiency made him appear unbeatable. It was hard to imagine any fighter in his division defeating Mayweather that evening. [Surf Enjoys Surge] While boxing, reality fighting and skating offered single-event excitement, the Surf finished their eighth season at the Sandcastle. They won a second-half title and took the ultimate league champion Somerset Patriots to a deciding playoff game. High attendance in key moments kept the Surf viable in the eyes of Frank Boulton, who needs Atlantic League of Independent League opponents to face his Long Island Mighty Ducks, who often clear $4 million profit. The Surf drew 30,000 fans in July, including three sellouts and the league's All-Star game. Dario Delgado captured the Atlantic League's Home Run Derby. Atlantic City grows to 72 home dates next year, with its season beginning in May.

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