So They're Really Going to Call It "the D" . . .

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Originally posted by: BobOrme
I'm guessing nobody here has actually met Derek Stevens. How many casino owners are on the casino floor every night interacting with their customers? Derek Stevens does that at the Golden Gate. The very positive turn-around that the Riviera has been experiencing over the last two years has his fingerprints all over it, as he is also a primary in the new ownership group there. The guy absolutely knows how to run a casino in a very gambler-friendly way with low limits and better odds than most of the other operators in Las Vegas. I see no negatives with the Stevens brothers taking over the Fitz. As for renaming it the D, I don't recall anyone verbally trashing the Marnells when they named their new casino The M Resort.

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Originally posted by: BobOrme
I'm guessing nobody here has actually met Derek Stevens.

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Originally posted by: prefect

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Originally posted by: BobOrme
I'm guessing nobody here has actually met Derek Stevens.

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Well, you'd be guessing wrong. Derek's a great guy, and very level-headed. He has a very good reputation with the other downtown operators, and I think he'll do well with the (former) Fitz. I don't know how well the name will do, but he has a good vision for downtown, as do other owners on Fremont. Derek is focused on making downtown come back.

I think the difference with M is that the Marnell name is well known in Vegas, and M was run by Tony Marnell's son. Of course, I have to admit that I didn't think "M" was a great name for a resort either, but I got used to it, so perhaps "D" will work out.

I walked the casinos downtown today, and couldn't feel anything but convinced that things have finally turned the corner. Golden Gate just replaced all of their carpet, and the casino is being cleaned up and renovated. The old deli area no longer has the construction walls up, and instead just has drapes over that area, so it appears that construction is nearing completion. The "LongBar" at Fitz is open, and looks really good...other construction is ongoing at the property. Binion's has a new bar out front - "Whiskey Lickers", along with a patio area right next to the stage, that should be open in the next day or so. Plaza had their major upgrade completed last summer, the former Lady Luck has workers swarming around it with an opening date of next year, the Mob Museum has opened, the Smith Center had their grand opening a couple days ago, etc. It's a great time to visit downtown. There's a few other things in the works that I can't mention, but I think the next year is really going to be pretty cool.

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Originally posted by: Sura83
I certainly hope the comp points will transfer over. We were just there last month and didn't even give a thought to using our points. I'll be ticked if we lose them. I do know that the Vegas location is gone from Fitzgeralds.com, my microsite (myname.myfitzlv.com) is invalid, and theD.com just says "coming soon".

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