Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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The Death Ray goes global

Posted on October 4, 2010 by David McKee

One of the most reliably entertaining news sites is Hong Kong-based NMA World Edition, which covers current events in a manner so imaginative and — shall we say — unrestrained by good taste that it makes Fox News look as … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Election, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 2 Comments

Uncle Carl’s Computer Barn?

Posted on October 1, 2010 by David McKee

Thanks to the Vdara Death Ray, the big-ass garage sale Carl Icahn is holding at Fontainebleau has dropped off the news pages. But one blogger asks, What about those iMacs in every F-blew hotel room? To which I might add: … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Current, Fontainebleau, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 1, 2010 by David McKee

“The Internet’s coupling of anonymity and controversy sparks a chemical reaction that produces plenty of stupidity, with heat as a common by-product. Mean-spirited just doesn’t seem to cover the deplorable viciousness that seems to pour from many comment threads.” — … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

When Roger Thomas speaks …

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

… we listen. Here he holds forth on Wynn Resorts‘ newest objet d’art, in footage fresh off the Web. You may well find yourself trying to insinuate the phrase “lustrous patina” into your conversations after you watch this:

Posted in Architecture, Current, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on When Roger Thomas speaks …

My lucky day

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

No, not at the slots. Thanks to Dr. David G. Schwartz of UNLV’s Institute for Gaming Research, a man who clearly reads the fine print, I’ve just found out that I won two Nevada Press Association awards. (You have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | 6 Comments

DIY Global Warming at Vdara

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

Vdara‘s newly infamous “Death Ray” has become the hot spot felt ’round the world: You can tell that Brian Williams is a nice guy because he says MGM Resorts International is “rushing to fix the problem.” If he were snarky, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Environment, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 3 Comments

What becomes a Hellmouth most? Gary Loveman’s hostage drama

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

Perhaps it’d be exiting the World Series of Poker Europe must faster and with far less bombast than he entered it. Muddled metaphor? Compared to the 1990s, the casino industry’s image problems really aren’t that bad, especially when you consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, G2E, Harrah's, International, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

“At the heart of much of the conservative movement bellyaching over health care reform has been this generational warfare — older people who think it’s fine and dandy to demand that the younger generations pay for their heart medications and … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 2 Comments

Musical chairs at Trump (again)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

High-ranking executive jobs at Trump Entertainment Resorts aren’t for “lifers.” Having steered Trump through yet another bankruptcy, CEO Mark Juliano is exiting stage right, “leaving to pursue other opportunities” — the latest executive to be purged. Nobody stays long atop … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

Correction

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

Dave Kirvin of Kirvin Doak called and, in a most gentlemanly manner (certainly much better than I’d have handled it), pointed out an erroneous assumption in a now-deleted item about the Liberace Museum. Fortune reported that a PR firm was … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment | 2 Comments

Inside Icahn’s F-bleau rummage sale

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

Hmmmm … I hear tell Pinnacle Entertainment just upped the budget* on its Baton Rouge casino. Maybe it can amortize that increase by bargain-shopping at Uncle Carl’s Honkin’ Big Hotel Furniture Emporium (aka “Hot Carl’s Fabulous Fontainebleau Garage Sale”) right-cheer … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Economy, Harrah's, Penn National, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

“This guy. [long pause] Brian Urlacher. [longer pause] He’ll hit ya.” — Jon Gruden, demonstrating characteristic gridiron insight during the most recent installment of Monday Night Football.

Posted in Sports, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

F-bleau on ice

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

Back in June, when I toured the “new look” Tropicana Las Vegas, it was intimated that much of the convention-area furniture and the HDTV sets in the Paradise Tower had been obtained on the cheap from Fontainebleau, when the latter … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Penn National, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

After sinking a reported $150 million into Cirque du Soleil‘s Zaia, Las Vegas Sands may find itself in possession of a very expensive “loss leader.” According to The Australian, “attendances [sic] have been poor and tickets have been heavily discounted.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

CityCenter gets a visitor, deploys Vdara Death Ray

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

He’s not just any sightseer but the type of East Coast tastemaker MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren hoped to impress: New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger. Heretofore, Goldberger’s most memorable pronouncement in re Vegas came 13 years ago, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Encore, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 27, 2010 by David McKee

“Apparently, even the Invisible Hand [of the marketplace] doesn’t want to pick beans.” — Stephen Colbert, on the dynamics that cause our reliance upon migrant labor. His virtuoso performance illustrates how satire can elucidate complex issues better than any amount … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, TV | 1 Comment

Barrack 1, Bankers 0; Criminal stupidity

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

A skirmish over the fate of the Atlantic City Hilton ended in victory for Colony Capital. A Superior Court judge decided there were too many unresolved issues in the dissolution of Colony’s East Coast casino portfolio to warrant taking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

11 Lady Gagas … and Phil Hellmuth

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

If James Bond were hosting a poker tournament it may look like the World Series of Poker Europe,” WSOP commissar Jeffrey Pollack once told Pokerlistings.com. It may. Then again, it may not. If you’re Phil “Hellmouth” Hellmuth and lack a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

“[N]obody ever said politics was easy, or civil, or respectful. But there’s a certain value in listening to the other side that we should encourage and appreciate.” — Las Vegas CityLife Editor Steve Sebelius, reacting to a fistfight that broke … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harry Reid, Politics | 4 Comments

Live, naked girls

Posted on September 23, 2010 by David McKee

Every few days brings a story pitch from some long-suffering PR professional. Today’s mail finds this plea on behalf of IAM Corp.: Since the beginning of online gaming, every other market has flocked to Live Dealer Casinos, but the US … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Marketing, New York, Plaza, Politics, Tamares Group, The Strip | 2 Comments