Nyny arcade has a full wall of pins now and the same operator opened an arcade down in the Fremont downtown area too

Our high school has them

See http://www.decadirect.org/2013/08/19/spirit-box-brings-automated-retail-to-school-based-enterprises/

It's his place he can run it how he wants but let's not pretend his reasons are anything more than what he feels like and his excuses are laughable. The cost of the bathrooms, the hassle of a till...lol. It's 2016 who needs a till when you have a phone that can take visa and do all the taxes, pay the distributer and deposit your profits. If he wanted he could turn the hall of fame into a micro brewery with quality food and the place would be complete revitalized. The way it is now I'm sure most people never return.

I'm not sure this is true. I think selling t-shirts could very likely be categorized as part of his charitable purpose and not unrelated business income. But even if it wasn't it wouldn't include a slew of additional paperwork. He would just have to file a 990-T in addition to his 990.

I love the HOF and Tim's a great guy but he has definite limitations: he's not good with people and is not a good business guy. He could use someone else to do that and while everyone bitches about HOF, I don't see anyone volunteering to do a better job

I'm not complaining how he runs it, like I said it's his place and he has put in the work. If he wants to tinker all day and be left alone he has earned it. Just as a pinball fan looking at all those machines you can't help imagine what it could be.

He needs a better bathroom in general, but it's basically a closet in a corner (not sure there's room to put a real one even if he wanted to)

As far as fire suppression, that's only if there are burners involved. Subway chains have exploded because they are so cheap to build. No physical heat, it's all cold meat sandwiches (and if you want it toasted, it's a super high powered microwave oven)

Next time you are there, ask Tim about it.

I don't pretend to know the NV building codes, but Tim can recite them like they are his birth date.

He says it's a ton of money for tiny returns and many more yearly inspections.

Why would someone volunteer when most of us visit Vegas to relax? I visit about 4 times a year and that's the last thing I would want to do is f#cking fix and clean his machines. I'll be laying poolside sipping gin and tonic. The last time I went I brought 6 friends and spent a couple hours killing some time before a show and Tim was working on a machine next to one I was playing, I tried to make small talk I told him I brought in some friends to experience pinball and the guy was just a stick up the ass and acted all bothered that someone was talking to him. That was about 2007 and that was the last time I went. As a business owner myself the last thing you want to do is discourage someone from coming back when you brought in others to spend money. I really see this place closed or out of business in 10-15 years but at the end of the day its his business and he can run it his way.

What most people fail to understand about PHOF is it isn't a business - it is a hobby for Tim and all money taken in goes to charity. As almost everyone says that has ever visited the place - including me - things could be run better and Tim could take in a lot more money if he made a few changes. But if you read about Tim or know anything at all about him things will never change. Tim is Tim and Tim will do what ever Tim wants to do as far as the way he runs the place.

It is really pretty simple - if you don't like the place just don't go back. But personally I respect Tim for what he is doing. I know 99.9% of us would not be willing to work 7 days a week 12 or 14 hours a day and not even take a dime out of that money taken in. It is my understanding Tim even brings his own food to save money by not having someone make a food run. So in my eyes who are we to say what Tim is doing wrong? Climb into his shoes and see if you are very talkative after doing what he has done for 10 or 15 years! Let alone the fact that he is doing it without taking a pay check!

The one and only time I have been to Vegas I was at the PHOF 3 or 4 times over the 4 or 5 days we were in Vegas. One of those days I did get Tim to talk to me for 5 or 10 minutes and I asked him a few questions he gladly answered. One of those questions was why did he open PHOF after running an arcade for so many years and why give 100% of proceeds to charity. His answers were pretty simple and to sum up what he said it was something like this "after he retired at the age of 35 (or so) he spent the next 8 or 10 years just hanging out having fun and drinking beer but after doing that long enough that even got boring so he decided to open PHOF". As far as the charity end of things again his answer was pretty simple "I have plenty of money and don't need the money - I just needed a place for some of my games. When I looked into opening an arcade Vegas Zoning was too expensive because they wanted a lot of money for each machine in the place (same as a slot machine) but doing it for charity I didn't have to pay those fees".

So it is actually pretty simple - PHOF is really just a place for Tim to keep part of his collection and to enjoy pinball machines. He is nice enough to share that collection with the general public and does some good with money taken in. Pretty cool idea when you really think about it! I think Clay used Tim's idea and improved on it with VFW. Clay's machines are more what most of us in the hobby love to see but Clay isn't giving away all the money taken in to charity. I have never been to VFW but it is on my "bucket list" of things to do ASAP.

Personally I just want to say THANK YOU to guys like Tim & Clay for sharing their machines with the rest of us. Most of us have machines in our homes and share them with a few select friends. Guys like Clay and Tim share their machines with anyone that wants to walk through their doors. For that all I can say is THANK YOU!

i think that was nicely written and THANK YOU for saying that!

Clay-
What's up with the Ninja site?

Clay,

There are several "class acts" that are HUGE in this hobby and in my eyes you and Tim are on the top of that list. Tim for giving so much time & effort to sharing his collection and giving tons of money to charity over the years and you for doing all you have to help so many of us learn to repair machines. Then when you were lucky enough to grab that VFW and share your collection with everyone that put you very high on my list of good guys in the hobby. I wish both you and Tim many years of health & success and hope some of the haters will some day wake up to realize who actually made the hobby what it is today.

A last want to thank all the show promoters past & present. Unless you have ever done something like that you just can't begin to realize how much work putting on a show actually is. I only know a couple of you guys personally but want to say thanks to all of you for the effort you put into making shows great!

Yes - there is always room for improvement - but overall considering what it takes to run something like PHOF, VFW, or an annual show all of you guys are truly assets to the hobby. And Clay hopefully some day soon I'll be able to get out to visit your place. It really sounds like you (and your crew) do an over the top job with that show.

THANKS AGAIN!

When is Pinball Hall Of Fame itself gonna have live DJ outside at the left side of PHoF, costume contests, ('cause I wanna see pinball players in costumes at Pinball Hall of Fame) and even pinball trivia to give out prizes for correct answers? It should be done yearly.

No, it most certainly is not. However, you CAN park at Tropicana for no charge.

Thanks for the tip! I'll be there in 2 weeks..

Not sure if they charge for parking but you can also park at Luxor or Mandalay bay. Those two have the free rail over to excaliber which stops right at the pedestrian bridge into NYNY. There is also an indoor walkway between the three.

All MGM owned properties charge for parking now.... that includes Luxor & Mandalay Bay.

As of October 2, 2016:

Screenshot_20161002-182751 (resized).png

My pins sometimes break down and I don't even play them. Things go wrong just from corrosion and aging parts. It is an endless battle and part of the hobby. I can't imagine trying to keep that many pins operating for public use. It would take a lot of tech staff working 7 days a week.

it looks like about a 2 mile walk from the strip, PHF has a parking lot to park in don't they?

Yes, Tim has a large parking lot, and he has an extra large parking lot in case that one fills up.

Yeah, Circus Circus is the black sheep of the MGM family. They don't even accept or participate in MGM's own M-Life rewards program.

Soon to be sold off I imagine. Kinda like when Phil Ruffin bought Treasure Island.

The strip parking came up for going to the New York, New York casino...to play the pins there. Think you missed that part.

PHOF has plenty of parking...never close to filled when I have gone there.

Gotcha.. I had to scroll up and reread.. Does anyone know if he still has his DVDs for sale?
Only 10 days away till I get to check it out first hand, looking forward to it!

http://www.pinrepair.com/top/

I saw that, I was just wondering if he sells them Over The Counter..

Couldn't they sell smaller portions and make due with the current sized bathrooms?

Exactly. Well put. I love this place, just that it exists is astounding. Yes some games are always broken when you go and the ambiance is non-existent, but he has HUNDREDS of games to maintain in a MAJOR tourist market. Doing it for the love of pins. Nobody has the EM's that he does. I've noticed that while some of his DMD machines suffer a little (although many work very well), his EM's usually are in excellent condition. So expand your horizons, play some older games instead. The DMD's you will see again somewhere else, the EM's you won't.

This exactly. I'll be seeking out EMs to play my next trip!

Let him do what he wants with the phof, it's great to get a chance to play these old to new machines , there is nowhere else that has that much variety. Dnt change a thing!!! It's only pinball

I try to go eveytime when in las vegas...Oh I don't go there to use the bathroom and the dmd machines get all the play , so that's why some dnt function properly, play something else!!! Tim isn't too friendly but makes it up with all those great machines and his contribution to the dying hobby of pinball.. keeping it alive...i like the place as it is, the ambiance is... all the machines and the vintage aroma that goes with it...don't change a thing!!!

I'll apply for his willy wonka award. I'll win his respect and take over his pinball emporium and live the rest of my days in pinball heaven.

Just left PHOF and had a great time. Played mostly EM machines and got to chat with Tim and one of the women that works there. Yes Tim is a little quiet but he was nice and answered questions that I had. Seems they are trying to move next door and will be able to house ALL of the machines also will have Tshirts available soon. She said to follow them on Facebook for more info. https://m.facebook.com/pinballhalloffame/

20161013_161716 (resized).jpg

Awesome...thanks for the info!

I would like to know if Pinball Hall of Fame allows loud music 'cause when I get there next month, I'm gonna be playing loud music while I play pinball.

Good to hear that Tim finally hired someone to manage the place and pay her a salary. Looks like either the charter changed or her salary is being drawn from something other than the LVPCC. Well done.

Tim does not want to pay $400 a year for an ASCAP license allowing public music.

Well they should allow that! Without music and senselessness silence, it stinks!

Theres more than enough pin noise for ambience... I personally prefer that over loud music. Some folks who do wear headphones.

Every bar, restaurant, and whatnot has to buy a license to have music, jukeboxes or TVs playing for their customers.

It starts at $400 yearly, and goes up depending on the legal occupancy allowed.

I'm 95% sure Tim wouldn't allow loud music, I watched him tell a guy to drop the hood covering a guys head because of his dress code. His place, his rules.. Wear headphones, in my opinion. What he's doing is amazing, we should all be as fortunate and be able to give so easily to to help a charity..... Just my 2 cents...

That would be completely senseless at Pinball Hall of Fame, just hearing some bells, sounds, and music from the machine. My opinion. I rather listen to the music from my ipod or smartphone through my portable speakers, but not though my earbuds.

Be sure to post a video of you blasting loud music inside for all of us to see how that works out for you?

Yeah......that aint happening lol. If Tim is there expect to be yelled at and thrown out pretty dang quick lol. Like others have said, this is HIS place, HIS rules. The PHOF is not your traditional museum/hall of fame/business. Heck its not even a business at all. Its Tims personal collection and he lets people come in and play with his toys......IF you follow his rules. So yeah...good luck and please post what happens haha.

I don't get why people feel the need to blast their music out in public places... maybe some of us don't like your music... maybe it ruins our enjoyment of the place. Have some courtesy man.

Selling food at all changes the zoning classification. Changing the zoning classification triggers new occupancy limits. New occupancy limits triggers new restroom and fire code requirements.

This is the reality of doing business with government regulators.

Hmm, I supposed this Is true.