Category Archives: Architecture

Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is feeling bullish on the Las Vegas market these days. Undeterred by the debut of T-Mobile Arena, he is proposing a 17,500-seat concert venue, to be built on underutilized land behind Venelazzo. Adelson has formed a consortium with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, history, Hooters, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, The Strip | Comments Off on Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Posted on May 13, 2016 by David McKee

Bowing to the inevitable, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ratified MGM Resorts International‘s redesign of MGM Springfield, on which the casino company is already hard at work. What was the MGC to do? Tell MGM to go back to Square One? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Weidner headed to Vietnam?; Nazarian on the rebound

Posted on May 13, 2016 by David McKee

William Weidner hasn’t finished Lucky Dragon Casino yet and he’s already flashing some leg at the Vietnamese government (or so it appears), seeking a $4 billion casino megaresort in Ho Chi Minh City (to most us, Saigon). Financing Lucky Dragon … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Palms, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Weidner headed to Vietnam?; Nazarian on the rebound

Wynn thinks even bigger; Showdown looming in Atlantic City

Posted on May 9, 2016 by David McKee

Perhaps to provide a diversion from a flat first quarter, Steve Wynn has been tinkering with the plans for Wynn Paradise Park, making them more grandiose. That modest little island in the middle of the lagoon has swelled into an … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Genting, James Packer, SLS Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

Followers of jurisprudence will be denied one of the more prurient evidentiary hearings in history now that Vegas High Roller sexpot Chloe Scordianos has decided to plead guilty to disorderly conduct rather than face trial for committing sex acts in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Law enforcement, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Wynn’s big surprise; T-Mobile disappoints

Posted on April 7, 2016 by David McKee

As though seeking to steal the thunder from T-Mobile Arena, the ever-clever Steve Wynn used yesterday’s earnings call investor showcase to roll out a new project. If you have a spare $500, then use it to play Wynn Golf Club as … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Shady dealings in D.C.; New bromance between GLPI and Pinnacle

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

Voters in Washington, D.C., could find themselves voting on a casino initiative this November. A 9,000-square-foot gambling house has been proposed for Anacostia. It would have slots, blackjack and other table games but, strangely enough, no slots or electronic table … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Delaware, Election, Florida, GLPI, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Perversity in Macao; MGM Springfield gets underway

Posted on March 29, 2016 by David McKee

In a seemingly perverse move, Macao Chief Executive Fernando Chui rejected a lifeline that the Beijing government was trying to throw to his city. The former had announced its intention to “optimize and adjust” the Individual Visit Scheme that brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Florida, Foxwoods, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

New Jersey sticks it to Atlantic City; No payday for Suen

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

Life just got a little more difficult for Atlantic City. Casino owners will have to dig into their pockets in order to defeat a ballot initiative to end their monopoly on casino gambling. The referendum mustered the necessary supermajorities to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Election, Glenn Straub, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on New Jersey sticks it to Atlantic City; No payday for Suen

There’s no source like home

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

“[D]espite Las Vegas‘ reputation for harsh heat, The Park will offer a cooler and more comfortable atmosphere thanks to plenty of shade and the use of materials like meta-quartzite. Because of its porous physiology, meta-quartzite absorbs and dissipates heat, making … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on There’s no source like home

Rosy prospects for Boyd; Victories in Indian Country

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

Top Boyd Gaming executives sat down with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and sketched out their program for the coming year, with includes new restaurant concepts at 12 casinos (including 20 new restaurants this year) and 167 hotel rooms at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, history, Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Philippines, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

A Revel by any other name; Hard Rock thinks globally; Hard times for Boyd

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

What’s in a name? That’s the question confronting Glenn Straub, for whom the days are counting down until he can reopen the hotel portion of his casino with a new name. We don’t agree that Revel is a meaningless word, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, Iowa, Japan, Politics, Revel, Slot routes, Tourism, Vietnam, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on A Revel by any other name; Hard Rock thinks globally; Hard times for Boyd

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 1, 2016 by David McKee

“Thirteen is my lucky number and the new name along with the new logo fit perfectly with my vision. There is a hint of tradition while also suggesting a chic and fun edginess.” — Louis XIII hotel Co-Chairman Stephen Hung, on … Continue reading →

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

Big change for Tropicana; MGM wins in Springfield

Posted on February 24, 2016 by David McKee

Tri-State News, Weather Indiana will have a second land-based casino (three, if Majestic Star gets its way) after the Indiana Gaming Commission looked with favor on the pleas of Tropicana Entertainment and the Evansville city fathers. “That money allows us to buy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Don Barden, Economy, Indiana, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Big change for Tropicana; MGM wins in Springfield

110 in the shade

Posted on February 16, 2016 by David McKee

Who needs trees in MGM Resorts International‘s The Park when you can have 75-foot-tall “shade structures,” which will look particularly spectacular after dark? It’s another only-in-Vegas innovation and you have to give MGM kudos for thinking outside of the forest … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on 110 in the shade

MGM’s brass balls; Seminoles dream big

Posted on February 3, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegans are still in an uproar over MGM Resorts International‘s new pay-for-parking policy. And yet MGM had the gall to issue a press release calling the added fees part of a “strategy to provide significant improvements.” Yes, because paying more … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Florida, MGM Mirage, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM’s brass balls; Seminoles dream big

Wynn, Walsh make peace; Borgata ups the ante

Posted on January 28, 2016 by David McKee

In the end, it was all about the money. In return for an extra $400,000 per year for the next 15 years, plus reimbursement of $750,000 in legal fees, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh dropped his efforts to block Wynn Everett. “We fought … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn, Walsh make peace; Borgata ups the ante

New York blesses three casinos; Sinatra hangout resurrected

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

Not a discouraging word was to be heard as the New York State Gaming Commission unanimously approved licenses for three casinos in various upstate market. (Tioga Downs‘ turn comes later, as it was delayed entrant to the process.) This removes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Genting, history, Lake Tahoe, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Taxes | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

“I could have sold pencils over there and made more money.” — Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath on the casino floor, which is due to be part of a $200 million, three-year revamp of the megaresort.

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

Adelson’s new toy; MGM: ‘Zarkana’ out, architectural innovation in

Posted on December 17, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ worst-kept secret is out: Sheldon Adelson is the new owner of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He’s claiming that the clumsy subterfuge was needed so as not to “distract from the important role Nevada continues to play in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip | 4 Comments