Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Solving the Pansy Problem

Posted on May 20, 2009 by David McKee

Amidst today's crush of news, I forgot at least one other potential solution to l'affaire Pansy. Perhaps MGM Mirage can have its cake and eat it as well, by taking a page from Sheldon Adelson's playbook. It'd be a transparent … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Solving the Pansy Problem

The MGM/Pansy Ho verdict: It's in and it's bad

Posted on May 19, 2009 by David McKee

After nearly four years of investigation, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has released its long-awaited “suitability” findings on MGM Mirage joint-venture partner Pansy Ho. As MGM itself reported to the SEC yesterday, “While the report itself is confidential, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on The MGM/Pansy Ho verdict: It's in and it's bad

"Peepshow" buys a clue

Posted on May 18, 2009 by David McKee

"Peepshow" prime donne Kelly Monaco & Mel. B By now it's old news that Planet Hollywood's new resident spectacle, Peepshow, has gone topless for real. Though some question the move, to me it always seemed retrogressive and counter-intuitive to present … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on "Peepshow" buys a clue

ColSux makes peace

Posted on May 18, 2009 by David McKee

After sporadically butting heads, Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung III and Kentucky preservationists have reached agreement on the immediate future of the old Bavarian Brewery. Yung had bought it and an assortment of nearby properties on the rash presumption … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky | Comments Off on ColSux makes peace

(Slots A) Fun Fact

Posted on May 15, 2009 by David McKee

I've just read that the 2008 cash flow for Slots A Fun, the crown jewel of what used to be Circus Circus Enterprises, was $2.8 million. Which means that current owner MGM Mirage could justify a sale price of $22.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Don Barden, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, The Strip, Transportation, TV | Comments Off on (Slots A) Fun Fact

Anybody seen my Cirque?

Posted on May 15, 2009 by David McKee

Last night’s media performance of The Lion King, unlike most Vegas media events, drew much of the local “A” list. KNPR-FM’s Dave Berns was there, as was man-of-all-media Steve Friess, along with large contingents from Fox 5 and Stephens Media, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Anybody seen my Cirque?

"Another one bites the dust"

Posted on May 15, 2009 by David McKee

That’s how a reader informed me of Las Vegas-based Golden Gaming‘s decision to bail on Wyandotte County in Kansas. Considering that you’ve got Harrah’s Entertainment, Ameristar Casinos, etc. firmly entrenched across the state line in Kansas City, Mo., and Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Penn National, Regulation, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on "Another one bites the dust"

Perp Show

Posted on May 14, 2009 by David McKee

If you're bald, weight 285 lbs. and have one arm in a cast, you're not exactly inconspicuous. So how was it that that such a hefty man was to infiltrate a VIP area of Planet Hollywood and bust into Peepshow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Perp Show

F'blown?

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Ownership at Fontainebleau is alleging heinous doings by Deutsche Bank to subvert F'bleau (which gives every indication of being destined to fail without external assistance). Supposedly, Deutsche Bank was confabulating with a consortium of 10 other banks to shove F'bleau … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on F'blown?

Case Bets: B'way in Vegas; Trump bloviates

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Opening night for The Lion King is three days away. Which means the New York Times is right on schedule with another hand-wringing piece about whether Broadway-style shows can succeed in Las Vegas. By now it should be obvious that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: B'way in Vegas; Trump bloviates

F'blown?

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Ownership at Fontainebleau is alleging heinous doings by Deutsche Bank to subvert F'bleau (which gives every indication of being destined to fail without external assistance). Supposedly, Deutsche Bank was confabulating with a consortium of 10 other banks to shove F'bleau … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on F'blown?

Case Bets: Caesars, Criss Angel, Lance Burton, Earl & Lani and Trent

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Seen last night by an S&G source, Pit One at Caesars Palace empty save for one or two baccarat players. It’s just a small indicator of a larger disconnect that I hope to address later. PR flack Robin Leach has … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Caesars, Criss Angel, Lance Burton, Earl & Lani and Trent

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

"We don't see them getting worse. The problem is we don't see them getting better." — Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith on 2009-10 tourism statistics for Las Vegas.

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, LVCVA, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 12, 2009 by David McKee

‘That’s a little out there, that’s a little fey, maybe I won’t do that, maybe I’ll butch that one up.’ I think I might have done that.” — Roger Thomas, about second-guessing himself on the designing of The Mirage and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Encore, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

You know it's a bad day …

Posted on May 11, 2009 by David McKee

… when the company riding to your rescue is Columbia Sussex. Had Tropicana Entertainment not farmed out operation of the Horizon in Lake Tahoe to its William J. Yung III‘s company, it might have been closed outright. As matters stand, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Lake Tahoe, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on You know it's a bad day …

Trouble waiting to happen?

Posted on May 8, 2009 by David McKee

Not to belittle acts of violence that occur in or near casinos, but we don't make a practice of reporting them in LVA. That's partly because people seem to need little excuse to kill one another and would just as … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Trouble waiting to happen?

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 8, 2009 by David McKee

"The caller instructed me to look out the window and across the street. "I replied that our building has no external windows …" — metaphorical explanation for the insular worldview of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, provided by Editor Thomas Mitchell … Continue reading →

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

A (much different) Gans question

Posted on May 8, 2009 by David McKee

Story after story on the tragic decease of Danny Gans has used one or another variant of this phrase, "named 'Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year' 11 years in a row." Most recently, it popped up in a Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on A (much different) Gans question

Moulin Rouge, R.I.P.

Posted on May 7, 2009 by David McKee

For those of you who live outside of Southern Nevada, here's an excellent seven-minute summation of the rise and fall of the Moulin Rouge, beginning with yesterday's fire. The conflagration effectively writes finis to any further attempts to revive the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown | Comments Off on Moulin Rouge, R.I.P.

Bleak Horizon

Posted on May 5, 2009 by David McKee

Anybody who thought Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung III was exiting the casino industry, let alone going quietly, got a bracing dose of reality today. The older of Tropicana Entertainment‘s two leases in Lake Tahoe, the Horizon, is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Lake Tahoe, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Bleak Horizon