Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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$290 million for Borgata

Posted on March 29, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what MGM Mirage’s half is expected to bring and it won’t happen until next year, according to J.P. Morgan‘s latest set of estimates. We could debate whether or not MGM should have started shopping the place a year ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on $290 million for Borgata

Now this is different …

Posted on March 29, 2010 by David McKee

Conventional wisdom in Las Vegas held that big fights drove big business. But who ever heard of a marquee boxing match being offered as a loss leader. That’s how MGM Mirage is promoting “The Rivals: Hopkins vs. Jones.” I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 29, 2010 by David McKee

“At Bellagio, MGM is offering no promotions.” — from this week’s J.P. Morgan “LV Strip Room Rate Survey” … and from every week’s such survey seemingly since time immemorial, making Bellagio the only MGM Mirage Strip hotel of which this … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Dept. of Wishful Thinking

Posted on March 26, 2010 by David McKee

Whatever became of Elad Properties‘ metaresort-sized Plaza project, built upon the ruins of the New Frontier? Reed Construction Data Project Research claims it’s on. Never mind that Elad’s not put so much as a shovel into the ground … or … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Environment, Gary Goett, Harrah's, M Resort, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Phil Ruffin, Plaza, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Dept. of Wishful Thinking

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 26, 2010 by David McKee

“Ever since banks lent all that money to Columbia Sussex to buy my hotel, my paycheck is smaller, I don’t qualify for health insurance anymore, and my co-workers are laid off.” — Baltimore Sheraton laundress Mary Lee Hinant. Her hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Labor, Maryland, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 25, 2010 by David McKee

“The environment, the crowd and the merchandise is on par with Florida. In the Singapore context, this service is very good. There are always common complaints in Singapore about lousy, rock-bottom service, but these people make a difference.” — “Vijay,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Singapore, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

A clarification, a continuation & a poll

Posted on March 25, 2010 by David McKee

Firstly, in defense of both LVA and our research department, they’ve been following the subject of resort fees since the June 16, 2007 Question of the Day. These past couple of weeks we’ve been trying to get a handle on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Mystery solved (sorta)

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

It would seem that all your comments, dear readers, have been getting shunted straight into “Spam” without so much as a by-your-leave to me as to whether they should be approved, edited, moderated or whatever. I’ve liberated approximately messages from … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Mystery solved (sorta)

The Roman empire strikes back

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

@CaesarsPalace Ask yourself: would a Caesar pay resort fees? Why should you? Twitter follower rates from $100. http://bit.ly/aA2Qcm 4 minutes ago via Seesmic @ParisVegas Resort fees are a sucker bet. That’s why we don’t charge them. Twitter follower rates from … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on The Roman empire strikes back

Calling all readers

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

It’s been brought to my attention by readers kerr_mudgeon and Jeff in OKC that attempts to post comments to S&G are an exercise in futility. First, I apologize and, secondly, I’ve already alerted IT to the problem. (For whatever reason, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Technology | Comments Off on Calling all readers

Aria wants your business, Las Vegas

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

From the Twitter feed of Aria: Every Wed night at The Deuce @AriaLV open champagne bar from 10-11pm and half price bottles for #LVlocals! Showing the locals some love! They’ll probably be hanging out here instead.

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | 3 Comments

Wishful Thinking 101

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

“[Applied Analysis principal Jeremy] Aguero says the local economy will start recovering as soon as people across the country start spending money like they used to.” Yes, when they start having easy credit like they used to … which will … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, North Las Vegas, The Strip | Comments Off on Wishful Thinking 101

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

“The days of $1,000 bottles of liquor and $15,000 cabanas and $500 room rates aren’t coming back. People need to stop talking about when the good times are coming back because they never are. The world returning to 2006 would … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Re$ort fee$: the latest

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

Poor MGM Mirage; it can’t stay out of the news these days. At the moment, our LVA research staff is trying to get the skinny on the spread of “resort fees” through the company’s Strip properties. (Stock analysts love them … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 26 Comments

MGM & Stanley Ho: The consequences of desperation

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

Contrary to the confident prediction of Las Vegas Review-Journal Publisher Sherman Frederick, the ramifications of the report of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement on the relationship between MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho and father Stanley Ho have been as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Maryland, Foxwoods, problem gambling

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

It’s not even been 18 months since Maryland voters gave their assent to slot houses — a time in which the state has to erect a regulatory apparatus, vet applicants, and then wait for the latter to get up and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

“There’s a misperception out there that we bust up companies. Or that I believe that all people on boards are bad. It’s just that, in some cases, the C.E.O.’s are so wrong.” — Tropicana Entertainment owner Carl Icahn, in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, Downtown, Goldman Sachs, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Snakes in a casino

Posted on March 22, 2010 by David McKee

For those of you curious about the progress of Wynn Resorts‘ makeover of Encore‘s atrium into Encore Beach Club and accompanying nightclub Surrender, a source close to Steve Wynn‘s design shop leaked a few renderings to VegasTripping.com. If giant snakes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Encore, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Tipping the scales

Posted on March 22, 2010 by David McKee

There’s a Nobel Prize in Economics (or something) for whomever can figure out how to disentangle gambling from politics. Case in point: Iowa, where Gov. Chet Culver (D, left) has a heavy thumb on the scales of regulation. Culver’s made … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbst Gaming, Iowa, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on Tipping the scales

Tragedy in Vegas

Posted on March 22, 2010 by David McKee

There’s need everywhere you look nowadays but if you’re an S&G reader in the Las Vegas area and have blankets or animal cages to spare, Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary could use them in the wake of a devastating fire. If you’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Current, North Las Vegas | Comments Off on Tragedy in Vegas