From Diana Ross To Amy Schumer This Atlantic City Hotel Is Committed To Attracting Fine Entertainment

For over a century Atlantic City has brought exceptional talent to its shores. During the 1920s it was a place where Broadway bound productions could test out their shows to the influx of visitors. In the 1920s and 1930s the shows would feature actors in smaller roles who were then unknown like Mary Pickford, James Cagney, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and Ethel Barrymore. In addition to its boardwalk and beaches it was a spot to hear legendary jazz artists like Count Basie and Duke Ellington.

As a nightclub mecca over the decades everyone including Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Madonna and more have performed in Atlantic City. It was a place where in the 1950s a brilliant pianist named Eunice Kathleen Waymon reinvented herself as a singer, changed her name to Nina Simone, wowed the crowds and signed with a record company to make her debut album.

Ocean Casino Resort is helping to continue that legacy of fine entertainment. Over the summer Amy Schumer performed in the resort’s Ovation Hall. This past fall Diana Ross gave a much lauded performance there singing her classic hits including “You Can't Hurry Love,” “Love Child,” “Baby Love” “Stop! In the Name of Love" and Billy Holiday’s “Don't Explain.” Beyoncé, the Eagles, The Black Keys, Barry Manilow, Maroon 5, Nickelback, Poison and Def Leppard have also performed in the state-of-the-art venue with the only skyboxes in Atlantic City.

Kelly Burke, the resort's senior vice president of marketing says Ocean Casino Resort is committed to seeking out top tier entertainment in its event spaces, from Ovation Hall to the outdoor HQ2 Day and Nightclub to nightlife venues including Nola’s Bar & Lounge.

“Ocean keeps a pulse on current entertainment trends, consistently hosting the hottest and most relevant musicians and celebrities in today’s news as well as some of the most popular musicians of years past,” says Burke. “Most recently, Ocean celebrated the first birthday of Nola’s Bar & Lounge with an exclusive party hosted by Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz from Vanderpump Rules, otherwise famously known as “The Toms. Other recent celebrity performances include, Tiesto, Nelly, Steve Aoki, Meek Mill, and many more."

Set on 20 beachfront acres, the Ocean Casino Resort is the northernmost casino on the Atlantic City boardwalk. The sleek 61-story skyscraper is also the tallest building in the city. And there are great touches like the restaurants Amada, American Cut, Dolce Mare and Serendipity3. This past year, the resort invested $85 million in development, debuting The Gallery Bar, Book & Games, providing a dedicated space a unique sportsbook experience.

When booking entertainment Burke shares that the resort seeks acts and shows that have a universal allure. “We strive to create a year-round entertainment calendar that appeals to everyone across all walks of life. Whether it’s British Pop icons Duran Duran (December 30, 2022), Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Elvis Costello (February 25, 2023), A Bronx Tale written and performed by Chazz Palminteri, (April 1, 2023), or Blues legend Buddy Guy (June 16, 2023),” says Burke.

And was there a performance that really stands out for her? “There have been a lot of awesome shows here at Ocean Casino Resort, but one of my personal favorite performances was Diana Ross in Ovation Hall,” says Burke. “To see an iconic superstar, in a venue that has one of the best acoustics in the region, created such a magical night. It will be a memory I keep with me forever.”