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I'll go with Vegas on this one. I don't like gambling at all, but the Strip is interesting just in how kitschy it is so it's fun to wander through the resorts. Outside of the Strip is where it gets really interesting and weird though and the Strip is adjacent to but not technically in the city of Las Vegas itself. The actual city has old casinos among other things downtown and then a lot of strip malls and single family home tracts for most of the rest of the city though on the whole it's still built more densely than Nashville it seems. Also, one thing to note is that Las Vegas isn't just dependent on gambling/gaming/resorts in terms of direct visitors to the Strip and elsewhere--it's also dependent on it in terms of corporate jobs because a lot of the companies who operate and own these things in Vegas and throughout the US, with some of these corporations operating such overseas as well, are actually based in the area. It's probably the largest concentration of corporate headquarters for the gambling and for the resorts sector.
Of the largest casino operators in the US, you definitely have a lot of them headquartered in Vegas.
MGM Resorts International
Caesars Entertainment
Wynn Resorts
Pinnacle Entertainment (although they are about to be bought by Penn National)
Las Vegas Sands (Sheldon Adelson’s company that owns Venetian and Palazzo)
Red Rock Resorts (owners of the Station brand)
Outside of Vegas:
Eldorado Resorts (Reno)
Penn National Gaming (Wyomissing, PA)
As someone who has spent a good bit of time in both cities? Nashville. And it's not even close. Las Vegas is f-ing gross, basically just nothing more than a gigantic, gimcrack tourist trap designed by organized crime figures to gull people into flinging away their pension money on the slot machines or shove it into the g-strings of strippers. Drive a few blocks off the strip and everything has this ugly, dispirited run-down appearance. It's all flash and no substance. Hey, if you want a lost weekend, it's the ideal place to go. If you want a lost and pointless life, it's not a bad choice either.
As someone who has spent a good bit of time in both cities? Nashville. And it's not even close. Las Vegas is f-ing gross, basically just nothing more than a gigantic, gimcrack tourist trap designed by organized crime figures to gull people into flinging away their pension money on the slot machines or shove it into the g-strings of strippers. Drive a few blocks off the strip and everything has this ugly, dispirited run-down appearance. It's all flash and no substance. Hey, if you want a lost weekend, it's the ideal place to go. If you want a lost and pointless life, it's not a bad choice either.
As someone who has spent a good bit of time in both cities? Nashville. And it's not even close. Las Vegas is f-ing gross, basically just nothing more than a gigantic, gimcrack tourist trap designed by organized crime figures to gull people into flinging away their pension money on the slot machines or shove it into the g-strings of strippers. Drive a few blocks off the strip and everything has this ugly, dispirited run-down appearance. It's all flash and no substance. Hey, if you want a lost weekend, it's the ideal place to go. If you want a lost and pointless life, it's not a bad choice either.
You clearly have never seen Vegas outside of The Strip and the couple blocks around it.
A pretty diverse group of people call Las Vegas home, from celebrity chefs, to the most famous rock climber in the world, to Daniel Craig. There are 2 million people in Las Vegas and most of them would never live in the place you are describing.
Vegas is good for business conferences and the like. By the third day, it's actually been pretty horrible in my experience. Super transient, soul-less and shallow. Everything is uber over-the-top because nothing has substance there. Just concrete grid after grid in the middle of a hot, dusty desert. It's a "world class" city not because of it's historical/geographical importance, it's people and culture, it's infrastructure, economy, institutions, etc. Rather, it was the place you could go hangout in casinos and strip clubs, on a grand scale.
Nashville, on the other hand, is very much the opposite. Yes, it was an old entertainment capital but it's always been much more than just that. Lots of great neighborhoods, very friendly/grounded people, some beautiful flora, a large river, great food, a diverse economy, rich history, lots of character and always plenty to do. It is sprawl-mania too but feels much more homely and intact than Vegas.
You clearly have never seen Vegas outside of The Strip and the couple blocks around it.
A pretty diverse group of people call Las Vegas home, from celebrity chefs, to the most famous rock climber in the world, to Daniel Craig. There are 2 million people in Las Vegas and most of them would never live in the place you are describing.
I've been in those homes, thanks. But, I've also been elsewhere. Nope. Not with a gun to my head.
Nashville has a large music business, sure. But it's about a lot more than the Grand Ole Opry. Las Vegas is mostly a life support system for gambling.
Vegas is good for business conferences and the like. By the third day, it's actually been pretty horrible in my experience. Super transient, soul-less and shallow. Everything is uber over-the-top because nothing has substance there. Just concrete grid after grid in the middle of a hot, dusty desert. It's a "world class" city not because of it's historical/geographical importance, it's people and culture, it's infrastructure, economy, institutions, etc. Rather, it was the place you could go hangout in casinos and strip clubs, on a grand scale.
Nashville, on the other hand, is very much the opposite. Yes, it was an old entertainment capital but it's always been much more than just that. Lots of great neighborhoods, very friendly/grounded people, some beautiful flora, a large river, great food, a diverse economy, rich history, lots of character and always plenty to do. It is sprawl-mania too but feels much more homely and intact than Vegas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MinivanDriver
I've been in those homes, thanks. But, I've also been elsewhere. Nope. Not with a gun to my head.
Nashville has a large music business, sure. But it's about a lot more than the Grand Ole Opry. Las Vegas is mostly a life support system for gambling.
Please note, I don’t live in Vegas and don’t want to live in Vegas. Definitely not a homer. I’ve never been to Nashville so have not voted in this poll.
I am posting here because i spend a lot time in Las Vegas for work and have observed that the city is very unfairly mischaracterized by people who never leave the tourist areas. I have been traveling to Vegas for work for the past 18 years. The city has changed tremendously. Summerlin is actually a very nice suburb. Henderson is as well. Red Rock Canyon offers world class rock climbing and road biking.
People always say the same thing “I can only take Vegas for a couple of days”....... I can only take The Strip for a couple of days. I could spend months exploring Red Rock Canyon and eating at all the awesome restaurants in the suburban strip malls.
Did you know that Vegas has a great Chinatown? I guarantee it’s better than what Nashville has to offer in that space. I’ve had some of the best Asian food in my life there and I’ve been to Asia. It’s listed as one of the best in the country:
Again, 2 million people live in Las Vegas. I work with several of them and they are just regular people with regular families who are in to regular things. Their kids play sports, do speech and debate, and go on camping trips. If Vegas was really the city you all seem to think it is, none of them would live there.
Nashville may very well be the better city, but Vegas is not a hellhole by a long shot.
You clearly have never seen Vegas outside of The Strip and the couple blocks around it.
A pretty diverse group of people call Las Vegas home, from celebrity chefs, to the most famous rock climber in the world, to Daniel Craig. There are 2 million people in Las Vegas and most of them would never live in the place you are describing.
Most haven't.
Vegas is far superior to Nashville for this reason. Vegas is a world city. Nashville is regional/American
They really aren't that comparable.
I was just in Vegas at the Wynn. The Wynn ALONE has better shopping than the ENTIRE southeast outside Miami. Anyone who compares Vegas to Nashville respectfully hasn't been all over Vegas.
Vegas definitely for a visit but Living Nashville by far..
I'd actually prefer to live in Nashville too but that has to do with me liking older cities and its much more similar to cities I love.
That said, I am not sure how someone cannot admit the world class amenities Vegas has that Nashville lacks? Much of it international food and flair, events, Chinatown and other ethic enclaves, and some of the best nightclub scenes in the country?
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