Category Archives: Alex Yemenidjian

A tale of three casinos; Explosive night at Monte Carlo

But first … put this in the ‘Told Ya So’ File. The flim-flam man can now resume his fiduciary duties to Trump Entertainment Resorts and doing what he does best: Making delusional claims about his net worth. Three Vegas casinos … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Monte Carlo fire, Morgans Hotel Group, Riviera, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Riviera goes on nostalgia kick

As the Sahara wheezes towards the grave Sam Nazarian dug for it and the Tropicana Las Vegas goes “South Beach” in a blaze of blinding white, the Riviera is left in sole possession of the “old school” niche on the … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

The verdict: Céline vs. Gladys; End is nigh for Sahara; Plaza 2.0

As Yr. Humble Blogger opines in this week’s Las Vegas CityLife, Céline Dion may be quite something but Gladys Knight is Something Else. If you’re a paying customer, Knight’s Tropicana Las Vegas show is by far the better value: longer, … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Mississippi, Politics, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip | 2 Comments

The North Strip Story and Salvation Plan

Guest blogger Jeff in OKC returns, his previous dispatch on Downtown’s Western Casino having proven a smash hit; its fans included Western manager Anthony Santo himself. During his latest visit, he concentrated upon the north end of the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Cloverfield monster, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 10 Comments

Quote of the Day

“When Wikipedia is kicking your ass factually, maybe you need to look at how you train your employees.” — Dr. David G. Schwartz, on the Las Vegas Mob Experience, now officially open (after many fits and starts) at the Tropicana.

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, history, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sahara Sam: Will he or won’t he?

An MGM Resorts International press release hailing the new SBE/M life partnership holds out a slim reed of hope that predictions Sahara Hotel & Casino owner Sam Nazarian will redevelop the site are more than just additional vaporware. (The Sahara … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, CityCenter, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

From the mailbag

Today’s “Question of the Day” about the future of the Sahara Hotel & Casino‘s monorail stop (and, by extension, the future of the Las Vegas Monorail itself) provoked a long and thoughtful response from an S&G reader. (By the way, … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Arizona, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Downtown, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on From the mailbag

What makes Sammy run?

Scarcely was the ink dry on Sahara owner Sammy “The Naz” Nazarian‘s announcement of the property’s May 16 closure than rumors began to fly about his endgame for the old gal. At S&G, we’re pretty certain that “The Naz” (™ … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, Man of La Mancha

Life’s being pretty good these days to Las Vegas Sands, thanks in part to better-than-expected convention traffic at Marina Bay Sands (offsetting tepid meeting/expo biz in Macao). In addition to eyeballing Florida, Texas, Massachusetts and Japan, CEO Sheldon Adelson has … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Genting, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

Rooms at the top

It’s been a bumpy and expensive education in the Las Vegas casino business for Goldman Sachs. However, the banking house is giving its flagship property, the Stratosphere, a new look (and a new general manger to go with it). If … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Uncle Carl’s Carpet Barn strikes again

You’ll never guess where high-end furniture and carpeting once destined for Fontainebleau has now turned up. The renovation explains the Buffalo Bill’s closure rumors from last autumn. So the trail of ex-F-blew furnishings now stretches from the Plaza in downtown … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Carl Icahn, Charity, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Tamares Group | 1 Comment

‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

In the casino industry, everything was stirring, including the mice. Cordish’s revenge. It’s a dish best served by opening Cordish Gaming‘s controversial Arundel Mills gambling hall late next year with a temporary, one-year casino. That means karma comes early for … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on ‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Pea soup in Vegas; Robosaurus attacks the wrong target

If you’re thinking of coming to Las Vegas for Christmas, I have one word of advice: Don’t. For the past week, Sin City has been steadily blanketed in rain, with no end in sight. It’s just miserable. (Instead of trying … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Good news, bad news in Atlantic City; Feinstein: “Stay on the rez!”; Buffalo Bill’s rides again

For once, however, it’s mostly good. Almost entirely good, in fact. The headline item is that Dennis Gomes‘ purchase of Resorts Atlantic City has cleared licensing, sweeping out the disastrous Colony Capital era. Gomes and financier Morris Bailey say $31.5 … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Harry Reid, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Marketing, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Tropicana memory lane

Heartfelt thanks to S&G reader Pete F. for sharing his video of the Tropicana Las Vegas‘ Tokyo Suite, circa 2005. That’d be in the waning days of the Aztar Corp. era, while the footage above was taken during the short-lived … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Entertainment, history, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 12 Comments

Gaming’s big election night; Coming attractions

This just in: Fuming over a 5,000-vote-plus margin of defeat, opponents of a casino in western Maine are demanding a recount. Casino developer Black Bear Entertainment calls this “a needlessly divisive exercise.” Do I sense the subtle touch of Penn … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, history, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn National, Racinos, Sahara | 3 Comments

What if they held an implosion and nobody came?

Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian has played the publicity game very astutely of late. So it’s hard to imagine what he was thinking when he decided to implode a wing of low-rise hotel rooms in the dead of night … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, The Strip | 4 Comments

All systems go at Trop … but more trouble on Paradise

As new owner Onex Corp. continues with a full-court press of renovations, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has given the new ownership consortium its thumbs-up. The makeover has continued apace since my visit in June. An inside look at details … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, Dining, Downtown, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Galaxy Cotai postponed; MGM stages a comeback

It’s not official but, seeing as two top executives at the Macao megaresort (including its COO) just got the chop, it appears pretty likely. A project that was expected to open in late March of next year now looks as … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Suicide Sharron; Gossy-ness is back; Borgata’s buyer unmasked

Sharron Angle‘s latest kamikaze dive into the CityCenter aircraft carrier has sparked quite a bit of discussion in the S&G “Comments” threads. A couple of things spring to mind. One, if she is now alleging that MGM Resorts International imported … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Election, Entertainment, George Maloof, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 5 Comments