Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

MGM CEO sez, "Make me an offer"

Posted on January 8, 2009 by David McKee

“We are certainly not looking to aggressively sell assets, but the point is that we do have assets that are attractive and we are going to be very responsive.” That's MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren's way of saying that he's … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cirque du Soleil, Economy, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM CEO sez, "Make me an offer"

Bobby Ray Who?

Posted on January 7, 2009 by David McKee

Tamares Group's raggle-taggle bunch of downtown Vegas casinos is onto its third management company in four years. Its first stalking horse, Barrick Gaming, made a lot of grandiose noises but turned out to be a big bag of hot air. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Regulation, Tamares Group | 1 Comment

A house divided

Posted on January 7, 2009 by David McKee

Give credit where it’s due to the Las Vegas Review-Journal for today’s interesting revelation that Columbia Sussex had been running the Las Vegas Tropicana with rival GMs overseeing the casino and hotel operations, respectively. This appears to confirm rumors I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Indiana, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on A house divided

Plaza officially in trouble (or not)

Posted on January 6, 2009 by David McKee

It wasn't good news when El Ad Properties asked its bankers for a second extension on a $625 million purchase loan for what used to be the New Frontier. Now (by way of TheMarker, Reuters and Howard Stutz) comes a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Fontainebleau, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Plaza officially in trouble (or not)

Unwanted Vegas bargain

Posted on January 5, 2009 by David McKee

So, after making the big bad Fire Department the fall guy for Dec. 31's sucktastic fireworks display (more of an obfuscation than a display, really) it turns out that the culprit was organizer Las Vegas Events. Perhaps, in a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, LVCVA, The Strip | Comments Off on Unwanted Vegas bargain

Happy New Year

Posted on January 2, 2009 by David McKee

Will it be a happy new year for the Strip? In terms of "supply shock," the timing could be a lot better, let's put it that way. Back on Aug. 14, JP Morgan issued an analyst report which showed 11,412 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Happy New Year

21

Posted on December 31, 2008 by David McKee

That's the number of predictions for 2009 issued by Spectrum Gaming Group, an Atlantic City-based outfit. They are, in no particular order: • Advancements in technology that impact revenues and cut costs will continue to be attractive to operators even … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on 21

Atlantic City Death Watch III

Posted on December 30, 2008 by David McKee

It's business as usual at the Atlantic City Hilton tomorrow night. Only "private parties" to mark the New Year. "It's indicative of a very dire situation," says one industry veteran.

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Economy | Comments Off on Atlantic City Death Watch III

More gems from Ruffin

Posted on December 29, 2008 by David McKee

During his days at the helm of the New Frontier, owner Phil Ruffin was pretty shy with media access. So when he talks, it behooves one to pay attention. To wit: • He says his deal with MGM Mirage has … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on More gems from Ruffin

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2008 by David McKee

LVA's Stiffs & Georges bureau is on holiday in Cameron Park, Calif., for the remainder of the week. As I write this, I'm only four miles or so from the new Red Hawk Casino (which looks to present as much of … Continue reading →

Posted in California | Comments Off on Merry Christmas

Deep Red: Encore

Posted on December 22, 2008 by David McKee

As much as casino-watchers have been vexed by the total media clampdown on all but the smallest scintillae of revelation about Steve Wynn‘s Encore, it was worth the wait. Or, to put it differently, Aria and Fontainebleau have just been … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, Cloverfield monster, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Deep Red: Encore

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 22, 2008 by David McKee

"My job is not to design the best hotel. My job is to design the best hotel experience … I hope people propose in my spaces." — Roger Thomas, design supremo for Steve Wynn, conducting a tour of Encore, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Pinnacle's Bahamas debacle

Posted on December 19, 2008 by David McKee

It wasn’t so long ago that Pinnacle Entertainment was the fair-haired boy of the casino industry, especially after it hit a home run in the Lake Charles, La., market with tony L’Auberge du Lac. Then it nearly followed Columbia Sussex … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Pinnacle's Bahamas debacle

Next up: Gladiators, orgies & bear-baiting

Posted on December 19, 2008 by David McKee

“In Atlantic City, whose casinos saw revenue decline by 8 percent last month compared with the same period last year, the Tropicana staged its own version of Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls on Saturday — participants dressed as Santa Claus … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Next up: Gladiators, orgies & bear-baiting

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 18, 2008 by David McKee

"[T]he fact that he's from a somewhat Western state is good." — a congressional spokesman, reacting to the nomination of Sen. Ken Salazar to head the Interior Department. Salazar is from the "somewhat" (but apparently not very) Western state of … Continue reading →

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

Right from the beginning

Posted on December 17, 2008 by David McKee

Time Magazine, no less, has designated the LBO of Harrah’s Entertainment by Texas Pacific Group and Apollo (Mis)Management the third-worst business deal of 2008. Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman sought out this deal — and these particular buyers — out at … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Wall Street | Comments Off on Right from the beginning

When all is said and done

Posted on December 16, 2008 by David McKee

The way old friends do. Last Sunday, I received an early Christmas present in the form of tickets to Mamma Mia!, entering its antepenultimate week on the Strip (where it's still the best entertainment value around). Happily, the cast was … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on When all is said and done

Scary clown at Echelon!

Posted on December 16, 2008 by David McKee

Let me say at the outset, I do not like Ronald McDonald. He gave me creeps as a child and still does. (The thought of him wanting to buddy up to you … it's just disturbing.) The Ronald McDonald Houses, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Scary clown at Echelon!

Phil Ruffin's big deal

Posted on December 15, 2008 by David McKee

As you've already read umpteen times over by now, MGM Mirage sold Treasure Island over the weekend to Phil Ruffin. The latter's sitting on a massive chunk of change ever since playing El Ad Group to the tune of $1.24 … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | Comments Off on Phil Ruffin's big deal

Isle of Capri Biloxi previewed

Posted on December 15, 2008 by David McKee

Ironically, now that Isle of Capri has put its Biloxi plans on hold, we finally get a look at what the revamped Isle (minus the “of Capri” and the parrot) would look like. It’s not beauty-contest winner but, if it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Wall Street | Comments Off on Isle of Capri Biloxi previewed