During a visit to Reno, Nevada, to explore Caesars Entertainment’s offerings in the Biggest Little City in the World, nothing was as it seemed. The city shattered our expectations.
In just a few days, we scoured enough of the landscape to generate a wealth of ideas for groups, with both the Caesars Entertainment crowd and the street muralists offering up their hometown in myriad ways.
[Related: Reno-Tahoe Is Welcoming Major Resort and Event Venue Additions]
Inside the Caesars’ complex that now connects the Silver Legacy Resort Hotel & Casino, Eldorado and Circus Circus Reno Hotel & Casino, groups had 25 restaurants to choose from, including Brew Brothers, one of the only microbreweries inside a casino. Caesars Entertainment-Northern Nevada Executive Director of Sales Don Goodman met us there and told us about the Caesars Eats program, which launched during the pandemic and allowed anyone to order anything from any of its restaurants and have it delivered right to their rooms.
“It’s been wildly popular since we started it,” Goodman said. “Once the pandemic ended, we decided to stay with Caesars Eats because it was more popular than room service.”
Just a few blocks away sits the National Bowling Stadium, where even most Reno natives haven’t seen the 88 lanes inside. While the lanes only open up for major tournaments, everything is available for groups, explained Operations Manager Chad Peters as he showed us around.
[Related: What Fast-Growing Reno Tahoe Can Offer Meetings and Events]
In particular, any company can have its name displayed across all 88 lanes. The theater and other rooms are also available for events. Even better, a secret barroom lounge area—The Stadium Club—resembled a Prohibition-era speakeasy where old-school Brunswick ephemera graced the walls. There was a triple-arch backbar with painted mirrors, framed bowling stories from 100 years ago, a functioning Victrola and even a meeting table for 20 people.
“This is a space that basically has been untouched other than for staff meetings for 30 years,” he offered. “So, we’re trying to activate it and get more people in here, and now that we’re showing it off a bit, it’s starting to happen.”
Start Your Engines!
Like the National Bowling Stadium, the National Automobile Museum provides a staggering degree of group possibilities in a space that many natives simply take for granted. President Phil MacDougall showed us Elvis’ Cadillac and Paul Newman’s race cars, also pointing out vehicles formerly owned by Frank Sinatra, James Dean and others.
For groups, backdrops resembling period film sets from throughout the 20th century were available for themed parties. Vehicles used in numerous films were available for cruising, all as part of any group package. Planners can even ride in the car from Ghostbusters.
A Creative Soul Emerges
All of this was only a few blocks from the Caesars complex and its 25 restaurants. Yet, if one ventures further, the creative soul of Reno soon appears. With the Burning Man community already contributing various outdoor sculptures to the local art scene, muralists were also adding their touches to buildings around town.
Jaime Chapman took us on a tour of the murals, beginning right at Caesars and ending in MidTown, where she runs the neighborhood association. Murals appeared everywhere. Any group that wants a visual tour of Reno can hire Chapman, who is connected to all the artists. Everyone seemed to know everyone else. Reno really is the Biggest Little City in the World!
“If you’re here long enough, you’ll realize that’s a really, really true statement,” she said.
Even local joints that have nothing to do with the casino industry are welcoming to group business. Liberty Food & Wine Exchange offers up artisan pizzas, rock posters and a few private rooms. The Hub, a coffee shop along the Truckee River, features a pleasant outdoor area suitable for any small group.
Back inside Eldorado, Goodman showed us a few of the more-elegant spaces.
La Strada is an exquisite Italian restaurant but not overbearing and within most budgets. Roxy is an opulent, over-the-top steakhouse with numerous additional spaces and configurations where groups can order a variety of smoked old fashioneds, pile up the sushi or even enjoy a lounge singer.
[Related: More Nevada Content]
“We’re an old soul with a new spirit,” Goodman said. “We embrace what’s new but we also celebrate where we came from.”
