Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Tiger: On the game

Posted on December 9, 2009 by David McKee

Memo to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority: Boys, it’s time to re-retire that “What happens here …” slogan because it is so yesterday. Sure, there was an era when a man of privilege might come to Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Regulation, Sports, The Strip | 3 Comments

Blast from the past

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

In this case, it’s a blast of hot air from the pages of the defunct and dreadful Liberty Watch magazine, whose back numbers still adorn the Web, but whose ink-and-paper incarnation has devolved into a loose smattering of blogs. Let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Indiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Who’s better for F’bleau: Icahn or Penn?

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the unspoken question hanging over a lengthy piece in yesterday’s Las Vegas Sun. While Penn National Gaming is willing to commit $1.5 billion or more to finishing Fontainebleau, lead bidder Carl Icahn may be able to do the job … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

“I really believe it is not a casino-hotel. I really would not be upset at all if people never visit Aria that live here.” — MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren, appearing on Jon Ralston‘s Face to Face program.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: The Wayner, G2E, Packer & Kerzner

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

Say what you like about Wayne Newton‘s Once Before I Go at the Tropicana Las Vegas, it has the biggest band you’ll see on the Strip: 20 strong, plus backup singers. Most Strip headliners have to make do with one-third … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Genting, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: The Wayner, G2E, Packer & Kerzner

Douchebags-R-Us

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

If you have a closetful of Ed Hardy apparel and fancy the lifestyle of a pimp, The Palms wants your business … Of course, ever since George Maloof introduced his garish Fantasy Suites, The Palms has been pushing the envelope … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Marketing, TV | 1 Comment

Harrah’s gets away with it

Posted on December 7, 2009 by David McKee

In a move certain to embolden scofflaws all over Clark County, District Attorney David Roger has cut a deal with Harrah’s Entertainment that lets the corporate behemoth slide on a variety of criminal charges in return for paying a $1.2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 4, 2009 by David McKee

“I have so much to do that I am going to bed.” — old Savoyard saying, to say nothing of my present state of mind.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Crystals: Why?

Posted on December 4, 2009 by David McKee

Spare. That’s the word I’d use to describe Crystals, which opened yesterday. Having been in a self-imposed cone of deafness, I wasn’t exposed to any of the opening-day press. Thus, I came to Crystals last night as a blank slate … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Downtown, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 5 Comments

Scarlett, Princess of Wrath

Posted on December 4, 2009 by David McKee

As you read this, Rachel Jessee, aka Scarlett, Princess of Magic, former Riviera headliner, is reflecting upon some quality time spent in the Henderson Detention Center. In what may be the best story of 2009, Scarlett threw down on her … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Riviera | Comments Off on Scarlett, Princess of Wrath

Best Casino Commercial Ever

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

It seems like if you’ve seen one casino commercial, you’ve seen them all. Recent efforts by M Resort and Green Valley Ranch were state-of-the-art examples of the same old same-old. However, it was impossible not to be stopped in one’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 4 Comments

Aria, Vdara discounting already

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

In its discussions with J.P. Morgan analysts, MGM Mirage has regularly been boasting that Aria’s room rates are running higher (very, very slightly higher) than Bellagio. Being a skeptical fellow by nature, my instinct was that Aria was being propped … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

“I really feel sorry for Elin, since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with [Tiger Woods]. We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologize to her … Continue reading →

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

Gossy-ed out; Peep-less Show; Phat Phantom

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

According to the latest issue of Las Vegas Advisor, bland-as-butter Palms headliner Matt Goss is not announced for any dates past Dec. 5. However, if Goss has Timberlaked his way across the lounge floor for the last time, S&G believes … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Gossy-ed out; Peep-less Show; Phat Phantom

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

“Boutique? Vdara is a 57-story, 1,500-room property. It is to boutique hotels what Dolly Parton is to petite women. “If a place can be lavishly understated, Vdara is that. It has abundant artwork and intriguing architectural lines, but no smoking … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

We *are* Dubai

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

“If anywhere is emblematic of the debt-fuelled extravagance of the past decade, it is surely [X], which strove to have the tallest, the biggest and the best of everything.” They’ve just got to be talking about Las Vegas, right? No, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

CityCenter Fever II

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

For those very few people who may never have heard of CityCenter, the basic exposition is laid out by Steve Friess. The Los Angeles Times goes heavy on the “urbanization” meme, although it strangely assigned its piece to a travel … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, TV | 2 Comments

CityCenter Fever

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

For all the trepidation about $8.5 billion CityCenter and its prospects, today’s opening of Vdara has been enough to set “the Internets,” the blogosphere, the teevees and even traditional newspapers aflame with excitement. After all, who can resist the scrotum … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally Technologies, CityCenter, Current, Economy, IGT, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, TV, WMS Industries | Comments Off on CityCenter Fever

Chutzpah, thy name is Loveman

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

Do the bondholders of Harrah’s Entertainment ever get tired of being played for suckers? After being asked to take haircut after haircut — whether in the form of distressed buybacks or deferred repayment — comes a new indignity. While Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Is Adelson mad? Trump trumped & Kerzner booted

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

In an interview with Reuters, Sheldon Adelson said Las Vegas Sands might launch operations in India, Thailand and Japan as soon as 2010. Given the ropey financial condition of his company, the fact that Marina Bay Sands will open at … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kansas, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment