Category Archives: Architecture

The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

Posted on March 26, 2009 by David McKee

Did somebody build the inaptly named Lucky Club  (above) over an Indian burial ground? A deprivation of access is but the latest indignity suffered by this North Las Vegas grind joint. While it was still the Speedway Casino, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Lake Las Vegas, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

CityCenter contest!

Posted on March 25, 2009 by David McKee

While building the Stratosphere, maverick casino owner Bob Stupak ran out of money, leaving the tower only partially erect. Wags were quick to dub the stymied Stratosphere “Stupak's Stump.” Stupak, of course, eventually finished the tower — although it proved … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on CityCenter contest!

Station vs. Boyd IV: This time it's spite

Posted on March 16, 2009 by David McKee

Inside the wacky world that is Station Casinos' executive suite, business judgment is evidently trumped by getting even with your main adversary. How else to explain Station's eight-month push to get zoning approval for Losee Casino Station? The company is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Politics, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

Nationalize the casinos?

Posted on March 12, 2009 by David McKee

Some news stories are too far-out crazy to ignore. This week, it’s XinhauNet‘s prognostication that Uncle Sam will go into the casino business any day now. Or, as the over-imaginative reporter puts it, “some people are talking about the possibility … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Nationalize the casinos?

More M Resort pix

Posted on March 11, 2009 by David McKee

Armed with my first digital camera (which the Significant Other won during the brief run of "The Real Deal" at the Venetian), we scoped out M Resort on opening night. If Encore marked the return of "the red casino," M … Continue reading →

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M-enations

Posted on March 2, 2009 by David McKee

Last night’s grand opening of M Resort wasn’t quite your usual Vegas casino debut. The 4,000-7,000 (sources vary) who turned out for the VIP preview were an older, more outwardly affluent and buttoned-down crowd than one expects. Nor is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Charity, Entertainment, M Resort | Comments Off on M-enations

M in pictures

Posted on March 2, 2009 by David McKee

Well … sorta. You'd think a billion dollars might buy a decent press kit but M Resort's didn't arrive at LVA HQ until the day after the opening. To add to the farce, most of the pictures aren't bonafide photos … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Encore, M Resort, Station Casinos | Comments Off on M in pictures

Joint 2.0

Posted on February 20, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday, a large gaggle of local media traipsed through the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's in-progress new version of The Joint (or Joint 2.0, if you will). Those on hand included Mike Weatherford and Jason Bracelin from the Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Morgans Hotel Group, Technology | Comments Off on Joint 2.0

'Gang' at Encore

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday saw an unusual — but altogether pleasant — change in the Vegas Gang routine, as we taped “on location” from a seventh-floor room in Encore, overlooking Echelon and the increasingly ominous Fontainebleau (so disproportionately massive it looms over its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cloverfield monster, Current, Detroit, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on 'Gang' at Encore

'Gang' at Encore

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday saw an unusual — but altogether pleasant — change in the Vegas Gang routine, as we taped "on location" from a seventh-floor room in Encore, overlooking Echelon and the increasingly ominous Fontainebleau (so disproportionately massive it looms over its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cloverfield monster, Current, Detroit, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on 'Gang' at Encore

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

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 →

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Quote of the Day

Posted on December 11, 2008 by David McKee

“I won’t quote back some of the things that were said about me. This is a family program, I know.” — President-elect Barack Obama, referring to the thuggish and expletive-laden locutions favored by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), whose crimes against … Continue reading →

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

Where do we go from here?

Posted on November 18, 2008 by David McKee

Let's say, for purposes of argument, that the casino industry has supped full on meta-megaresort development and needs several years to digest the feast. What then? The answer, to judge by yesterday's G2E panel of design, construction and development experts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Wall Street | Comments Off on Where do we go from here?

Fire sale at Harrah's, MGM?

Posted on November 17, 2008 by David McKee

That was one of the bombshells dropped this morning at Global Gaming Expo. According to a member of a "state of the industry" panel of G2E's Casino Design track, Harrah's Entertainment has several unprofitable properties that were for sale. "Now … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Donald Trump, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Fire sale at Harrah's, MGM?

Harrah's wants your two cents

Posted on October 3, 2008 by David McKee

Not as in your opinion, this time, but just to book a room. That’s right, guys, Harrah’s Las Vegas is offering two-cent Tuesdays. The catch is you have to stay in the Strip casino that most closely resembles an urban … Continue reading →

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Case Bets: PR, Trump

Posted on September 30, 2008 by David McKee

Press releases are always manna on a slow news day but sometimes you get one (OK, many) that make you want to pull your hair. For instance, I received such a specimen late yesterday from an agency that shall remain … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Harrah's, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: PR, Trump

The view from your window

Posted on September 29, 2008 by David McKee

That’s the name of a popular feature on the blog of Andrew Sullivan, who posts photos that readers send him from around the world. Well, if you happen to be my boss, Anthony Curtis, the view from your office window … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Comments Off on The view from your window

We're no Pyongyang!

Posted on July 29, 2008 by David McKee

A story about an unsightly, unfinished ziggurat in Pyongyang, North Korea afforded an architecture critic an opportunity to throw a roundhouse right at Las Vegas. Lumping it together with Shanghai as the bad-architecture capital of the world, California Polytechnic State … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Harrah's, Michael Gaughan, Stanley Ho, The Strip | Comments Off on We're no Pyongyang!