Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Quote of the Day

Posted on June 10, 2010 by David McKee

“Hands down, he will be remembered by historians as our worst governor.” — former Nevada state archivist Guy Rocha, on Gov. Jim Gibbons, who made history by becoming the first Silver State governor ousted in a primary rather than a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, history, Midnight Jim Gibbons | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

So long, Sue, and thanks for playing

Posted on June 9, 2010 by David McKee

It’s back to her day job for Archon Corp. Secretary-Treasurer Sue Lowden, whose political aspirations experienced an embarrassing meltdown that some would call karmic,  redefining “epic fail.” Now she can focus on repairing a corporate image which The Newspaper That … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, history, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Dead governor walking

Posted on June 9, 2010 by David McKee

After three and a half years that felt more like three centuries, Nevadans gave the pink slip to Gov. Jim Gibbons. In a fitting end to a thoroughly incompetent tenure, Midnight Jim got an ignominious drubbing — a 28-point annihilation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Midnight Jim Gibbons, North Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Regulation | 2 Comments

“Complete disaster” at Marina Bay Sands

Posted on June 9, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what litigants allege about the premiere convention at Las Vegas Sands‘ $5.5 billion Singapore behemoth. In its countersuit to Sands’ opening broadside, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association essentially accuses Station of promising a five-star experience and delivering a Walmart one … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Economy, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on “Complete disaster” at Marina Bay Sands

This is what “recovery” looks like

Posted on June 9, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s our new business model: a Strip that hasn’t gotten past “dead cat bounce” yet and emaciated revenues elsewhere. Instead of longing for the snows of yesterday and invoking the magic number “2007,” the top minds in the industry are … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Harrah’s still pining for Macao

Posted on June 8, 2010 by David McKee

While we’re on the subject of white elephants today, Harrah’s Entertainment still has a little boondoggle in Macao in the form of a $577 million golf course. Cornered by a reporter at G2E Asia, Harrah’s Asian viceroy, Michael Chen, conceded … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Sands Bethlehem breaks ground … again

Posted on June 8, 2010 by David McKee

No, that’s not a joke. Las Vegas Sands held a “grand re-groundbreaking” on the hotel portion of its white elephant, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. When money ran short, Sands ditched everything but the parking lot and casino, leaving the hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Economy, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Trailer Station strikes!

Posted on June 8, 2010 by David McKee

That elusive critter, native to Nevada, the “Trailer Station”* was sighted earlier today by visiting S&G readers. United Coin had set up shop on W. Charleston Boulevard, in the former Skinny Dugan’s Pub. (This is a mandatory ritual for gaming-enabled … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Election, Politics, Slot routes, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Trailer Station strikes!

The heat is on

Posted on June 8, 2010 by David McKee

Temperatures in Las Vegas yesterday peaked at 110 degrees — the earliest date on record for hitting that mark. Today it’ll “merely” be 102 … and don’t tell me it’s “a dry heat” because I just got back from doing … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Current, Morgans Hotel Group, Tourism | Comments Off on The heat is on

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 8, 2010 by David McKee

“There’s no question … that [the Obama administration has] basically focused too much on making things good for Wall Street and ignored Main Street, and now we’re paying the price for that. This is a structural problem. This is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Recovery: Wait ’til next year

Posted on June 7, 2010 by David McKee

Executives at MGM Mirage haven’t exactly changed their tune but they’ve tweaked the lyrics a bit. Whereas they used to predict a second-half upturn in 2010, now they say 2011 is the magic number and that they’ve got the numbers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Illinois, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Recovery: Wait ’til next year

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 7, 2010 by David McKee

“You have no private life at all. You can’t go down to the store to buy a couple of tomatoes without having to talk to five, six, seven people who want to tell you their unemployment check didn’t arrive today, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Midnight Jim Gibbons, TV | 1 Comment

The Adelson Curse

Posted on June 7, 2010 by David McKee

Eleventh-hour polling in Nevada puts Archon Corp. financial wiz Sue Lowden in an exacta with Danny Tarkanian … for distant-runner-up status in tomorrow’s primary. (Mason-Dixon has her third, Daily Kos places her second.) If this data bears out, rarely will … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Election, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob | Comments Off on The Adelson Curse

Jane, stop this crazy thing!

Posted on June 7, 2010 by David McKee

Thanks to a bit of last-minute perfidy by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), it looks as though Nevadans — and, mark my words, taxpayers — will eventually be stuck with Sig Rogich‘s Choo-Choo to Nowhere, the train that boards in Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Current, Economy, Harry Reid, Technology, Transportation | 1 Comment

R-J cowers before kittens

Posted on June 7, 2010 by David McKee

Yes, a Web site that posts non-commercial items about cats and birds has become the latest target for The Newpaper That Must Not Be Cited and its errant anti-Internet jihad. Since the R-J‘s enforcer Righthaven LLC doesn’t send cease-and-desist letters … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 6, 2010 by David McKee

“If you’re single and want a one-night, that’s the place to go.” — a friend’s assessment of the Hooters Casino Hotel.

Posted in The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Bargain-hunting at Harrah’s

Posted on June 4, 2010 by David McKee

But not in the way you might think … Harrah’s Entertainment is $557 million richer — which effectively amortizes the Planet Hollywood deal — after the swap of a 16% ownership stake to three investment firms for $1.2 billion in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Steve Wynn scores 50 grand

Posted on June 4, 2010 by David McKee

If this story, heard through the grapevine, isn’t true then it should be: Supposedly, on opening weekend at Encore Beach Club business was sufficiently brisk that bungalows were fetching as much as $20,000 apiece. One man was so desperate — … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Encore, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 3 Comments

Jason lives … at Station Casinos

Posted on June 4, 2010 by David McKee

Jason Voorhees (well, one of the many) is Station Casinos‘ general manager for the tribally owned Thunder Valley Casino, near Sacramento. No, I’m not making this up. Uncle Sheldon says … that convention business will be “80% of normal” in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 3 Comments

“Yup, it’s in bad shape”

Posted on June 4, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what a correspondent wrote after seeing a ginormous photo of the sadly faded Paris-Las Vegas “balloon” marquee. For the grisly details click here. Planet Hollywood, this could be you. Just give it a few years. On the subject of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments