Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Fun with Math, Columbia Sussex style

Posted on April 2, 2008 by David McKee

If you’ve noticed less blogorrhea from yours truly of late, it’s because I’m currently combing through old “Question of the Day” entries, working on a new cross-referencing system. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t found some interesting stats. For instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex | Comments Off on Fun with Math, Columbia Sussex style

Understatement of the Century

Posted on April 2, 2008 by David McKee

"I understand that there's not a lot of respect for education in Southern Nevada." — David Schwartz, director of the UNLV Center for Gaming Research. For the full context, read Die Is Cast. Crazy Bonus Stat: 53% of Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Current | Comments Off on Understatement of the Century

Columbia Sussex loses one, wins another

Posted on March 31, 2008 by David McKee

Where to start? Well, Gov. Steve Beshear is about to throw in the towel on his casinos-for-Kentucky push, having decided he couldn’t get it past the House. And remember: That was supposed to be the easy part; the state Senate’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Indiana, Regulation | Comments Off on Columbia Sussex loses one, wins another

Elvis has already left this building

Posted on March 27, 2008 by David McKee

Two days ago, VegasTodayandTomorrow.com broke out the specifics of FX Real Estate & Entertainment‘s Elvis-themed resort, set for the southeast corner of Harmon Avenue and the Strip, gleaned from an SEC filing. Among the principals is Paul Kanavos, previously involved … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Politics, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Elvis has already left this building

That wacky Columbia Sussex

Posted on March 25, 2008 by David McKee

According to The Press of Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex is countersuing its bondholders, which it contends are trying to force the company into bankruptcy or seize an ownership in the Atlantic City Tropicana Casino & Resort. 'ColSux,' you will remember, … Continue reading →

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Looking for trouble

Posted on March 21, 2008 by David McKee

Seems that somebody, getting into the spirit of our increasingly Orwellian society, has been doing a few “sneak and peek” searches on the passport records Sens. Clinton and Obama. Those of you with long memories will recall that Bush I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cloverfield monster, Election, Regulation | Comments Off on Looking for trouble

Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant

Posted on March 20, 2008 by David McKee

It's Day Five of the "Hell No, We Won't Go" crisis and Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners members Drs. Daniel McBride and Javaid Anwar continue to thumb their noses at Gov. Jim Gibbons. As does board Executive Director Tony … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, The Strip | Comments Off on Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant

Stalemate at The Orleans; Big Easy has big month

Posted on March 19, 2008 by David McKee

It’s been almost nine months since the majority of Boyd Gaming‘s stagehands voted to unionize. Since then, they’ve been subjected to a managerial smackdown and their elected representative, IATSE, is virtually powerless to alleviate the situation — or even to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Election, Harrah's, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Stalemate at The Orleans; Big Easy has big month

Exodus from L.V. Trop continues

Posted on March 19, 2008 by David McKee

There will soon be even fewer reasons (not that there are many left) to visit the Las Vegas Tropicana. Instead of having to navigate a defunct escalator to see Bodies … The Exhibition or Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, you'll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Exodus from L.V. Trop continues

Meet Bill Yung

Posted on March 19, 2008 by David McKee

That preening Master of the Universe wannabe you see above is Columbia Sussex CEO William Yung III, subject of a lengthy (and deeply unflattering) exposé in the Louisville Courier-Journal. The article basically explains what Missouri Gaming Commission Director Gene McNary … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Horseracing, Louisiana, Sports | Comments Off on Meet Bill Yung

Scant interest in A.C. Trop

Posted on March 18, 2008 by David McKee

So the deadline for bids on the Atlantic City Tropicana has come and gone, and there are only three bids on the table. Or maybe two. Though I may have a dollar figure on the Cordish Cos. offer later today, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Movies, Regulation | Comments Off on Scant interest in A.C. Trop

A.C. Trop to go begging?

Posted on March 17, 2008 by David McKee

You have to wonder after reading this story, which suggests that — out of a field of two-dozen potential suitors for the Atlantic City Tropicana — virtually everyone is heading for the tall grass. Or maybe it's an en masse … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment | Comments Off on A.C. Trop to go begging?

Need casino furniture, cheap?

Posted on March 13, 2008 by David McKee

When I visited Detroit, the official position of MGM Grand Detroit was that its vacated temporary casino (formerly an IRS building) could be re-activated as a casino, if MGM so chose. I guess they chose otherwise. Yes, this roulette table … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Detroit, Downtown, Florida, Louisiana, Tribal | Comments Off on Need casino furniture, cheap?

Stat of the Week

Posted on March 13, 2008 by David McKee

According to a report filed by private detective Jim Perry of Perry Investigations, on the evening of Sept. 1, 2007, he spent two hours conducting surveillance at the Tropicana Resort & Casino, between 8:15 and 10:15 p.m. During that time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, The Strip | Comments Off on Stat of the Week

This week in Columbia Sussex

Posted on March 11, 2008 by David McKee

"Things are a little murky." That's how the Cincinnati Enquirer describes the Did-he-or-didn't-he issue of whether Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear met with million-dollar booster and Columbia Sussex CEO William Yung III, whose desire for a Cincinnati-area casino is the worst-kept … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, Louisiana, Penn National | Comments Off on This week in Columbia Sussex

Spitzer: It's the hypocrisy, stupid!

Posted on March 11, 2008 by David McKee

So New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer had sex with a prostitute. Yes, Mrs. Spitzer should brain him with an iron skillet, kick his philandering ass out of the house, divorce him … and that’s just for starters. But, as someone who favors … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Election, Politics | Comments Off on Spitzer: It's the hypocrisy, stupid!

Billie: Odd Man Out; Tilman Fertitta Gets Miffed

Posted on March 11, 2008 by David McKee

For one month at least, you’ve got a reason to read Playboy for the articles (well, three if you count Kurt Vonnegut’s essay on the firebombing of Dresden and new fiction by Dog Soldiers author Robert Stone). Controversial former Seminole … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Tribal | Comments Off on Billie: Odd Man Out; Tilman Fertitta Gets Miffed

Atlantic City, the glass half-full

Posted on March 10, 2008 by David McKee

Normally a 1.5% jump in casino revenue wouldn’t be cause for dancing in the streets and maybe today’s numbers aren’t reason to get carried away. Given that there’s a quadrennial aberration (i.e., Feb. 29) in play, the +0.1% in slot … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's | Comments Off on Atlantic City, the glass half-full

Treasure hunt for Columbia Sussex story

Posted on March 7, 2008 by David McKee

A lengthy item on the latest twists and turns in the Columbia Sussex saga, begun Wednesday and finished today, has — through a quirk of our blogging software — posted not as the most recent item but somewhere over on … Continue reading →

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Moulin Rouge project puts cart before horse

Posted on March 6, 2008 by David McKee

A group hoping to revive the long-faded glories of the Moulin Rouge hasn’t found construction financing. But no matter: They’ve signed a casino-management team; Epic Gaming, a company whose only other ongoing concern is a tribal casino in Oklahoma, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Kansas, Tribal | Comments Off on Moulin Rouge project puts cart before horse