Category Archives: Architecture

Megaresort opening, Deadwood-style

Posted on June 27, 2011 by David McKee

I’m afraid to ask what a “slime plant” does … but Deadwood Mountain Grand‘s repurposing of one into an event center suggests an intriguing new future for America’s relics from its industrial age. Meanwhile, just over the border in Iowa … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Iowa, TV | Comments Off on Megaresort opening, Deadwood-style

Illinois: Optimism or suicide?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

It doesn’t matter to state Rep. Lou Lang (D, right) that Illinois‘ casino revenues are puny compared to those of neighboring Indiana or that St. Louis-area players are defecting in droves. He wants racinos and more casinos, by golly, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | 2 Comments

They’ve seen the future …

Posted on June 10, 2011 by David McKee

… and it’s Singapore. That’s good news if you’re Sheldon Adelson, less auspicious if you’ve got a weak track record as a developer (coughCaesars Entertainmentcough). And if Chad Mollman‘s correct, does this mean Steve Wynn has soured on his proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn, Las Vegas Vegan; Where the Boomer bux have gone

Posted on May 27, 2011 by David McKee

As he will tell anybody who listens, Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn is not only a Las Vegan but a Las Vegas vegan. There’s no zealot like a convert and Wynn (the only casino boss to whom the term “genius” … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Atlantic City on the mend; Trump: Fish or cut bait?; Mike Ensign’s woes

Posted on May 25, 2011 by David McKee

My apologies for attenuated bloggery today but a swarm of deadlines presses upon me, including coverage of the demise of 104-year-old Huguette Clark, daughter of Sen. William A. Clark, from whom Clark County takes its name. You’ll find a lengthy … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dan Lee, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 4 Comments

California bound; M changes hands and style

Posted on May 6, 2011 by David McKee

Yes, MGM Resorts International, Boyd Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, the great state of Illinois and I don’t know who all else have been reporting revenues this week, and Mississippi is under water.. And I’ve not had time to cover any … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Dining, Environment, Illinois, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Movies, Penn National, Pets, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

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

Posted on April 28, 2011 by David McKee

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 27, 2011 by David McKee

“Provocative design and erotic revelry will converge to create a uniquely aesthetic nightlife experience at Gallery Nightclub at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Oversized frames adorn the walls, showcasing original photography depicting voyeuristic imagery as an erotic backdrop for guests. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 2 Comments

Marriott’s master plan?; Cosmo blows?

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

Last week, we were discussing United Coin‘s assertion that a Marriott-branded hotel-casino may be erected on the acre formerly occupied by the old Sport of Kings gambling parlor. I recently had a chance to scope out United’s Little Acre and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, LVCVA, Sahara, Tourism | 4 Comments

Just another night at Aria

Posted on March 18, 2011 by David McKee

This TV spot has been out a while but I didn’t chance upon it until I was home yesterday, nursing a Combo Meal of maladies. Isn’t it nice that that the oversexed young couple has 4,000-room Aria all to themselves? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Marketing, MGM Mirage, TV | 1 Comment

What $45 gets you in Vegas

Posted on March 15, 2011 by David McKee

As Dr. David G. Schwartz has more or less said, why drop $39/night at the SahaRiviCircus when the folks at Caesars Entertainment can fix you up with a Go Room and a Strip view for $45? (A friend of mine … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, Sahara, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on What $45 gets you in Vegas

Wynn hearts Pinnacle; Harrah’s demands aesthetic restraint

Posted on March 9, 2011 by David McKee

Now that former Mirage Resorts CFO Dan Lee is long gone from Pinnacle Entertainment, too, former Lee boss Steve Wynn seems to have changed his opinion about Pinnacle. While I (erroneously) thought that Pinnacle CEO Anthony Sanfilippo‘s erstwhile ties to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Dan Lee, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Ferris wheel fetishists; Rail fail; “Aerotropolis” now?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment better get a move on with that Ferris wheel it wants to build out back of O’Shea’s. A rival project, slated for problematic (and fairly blighted) land opposite Mandalay Bay received approval from Clark County. Then again, getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Dubai, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Seminoles’ big payday; ‘Net-bet stampede: It’s on

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

After a full year of Class III gambling, the Seminole Tribe has grossed $2 billion. Depending on how considerably that amount ramps up, the State of Florida will enjoy at least a $1 billion “rake” by the end of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

“But the thing I truly, truly cannot live without, is a ‘Kirin Dragon.’ That beaut there is a 7.5-foot-tall fiberglass statue. I can’t imagine where it was supposed to go or why, with this on hand, they threw that crappy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dubai, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Back from Chicago

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

My apologies to everyone who got tired of looking at Stanley Ho‘s wizened mug. S&G was on a brief, unannounced hiatus, as yours truly ventured to the cold but wondrous place that is Chicago, home to the greatest architecture in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Michael Gaughan, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn | 6 Comments

Philadelphia’s cup runneth under

Posted on February 16, 2011 by David McKee

Returning to yesterday’s theme of exaggerated expectations of gaming revenues (decanted by casino operators, quaffed uncritically by politicians) we have a glass half-full/half-empty report from Pennsylvania. The salient statistic is that, once five-month-old SugarHouse (left) is factored out, slot revenues … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 3 Comments

Gary Loveman … visionary?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by David McKee

At the risk of pumping additional hydrogen into his already zeppelin-sized ego, allow me to suggest that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, PhD. is actually onto something. But first would somebody clue him in that there has been casino gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Jack Binion, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

This just in …

Posted on January 26, 2011 by David McKee

An Illinois court of appeals has struck down a pair of Public Acts pertaining to the state’s gambling industry. One nullifies a deal that would have farmed out the state lottery to Scientific Games (luckily, SGMS stock withstood the bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, IGT, Illinois, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Best-kept secret in Vegas

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David McKee

Best-kept secret in Vegas. It’s the pool deck at Cosmopolitan, according to an S&G reader who visited it after dark and found but four patrons hanging out on its shores. The missus and I checked it last night and, sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Massachusetts, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments