Category Archives: CityCenter

Ides of March: Caesars, MGM, Wynn court Wall Street

Posted on March 21, 2012 by David McKee

Evidently J.P. Morgan‘s Gaming, Lodging & Leisure Management Access Forum, being held this week at Wynncore, isn’t sufficiently important to merit the attendance of Big Gaming’s CEOs. If Steve Wynn couldn’t make the stroll from his office to Encore’s meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Moody’s no longer moody on Vegas; Golden Gate upsizes

Posted on March 20, 2012 by David McKee

Caution, thy name is Moody’s Investors Service. So if Moody’s is bullish on the near-term future of Las Vegas, I guess we can well and truly believe that a recovery is here … well, on the Strip. Away from Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dennis Gomes, Derek Stevens, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Gary Goett, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

One born every minute

Posted on March 16, 2012 by David McKee

Wall Street‘s appetite for risk knows no bounds. True, year-end numbers from MGM Resorts International contain cause for confidence, including 8% higher domestic gambling revenue and 10% improved room revenues. However, MGM’s still sitting atop a $13.5 billion powder keg … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Culinary Union, Current, Dubai, G2E, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on One born every minute

Rio: The big gundown; CityCenter: The big showdown

Posted on March 13, 2012 by David McKee

While Caesars Entertainment struggles to rid itself of dilapidated The Rio, it’s attracted another problem that will diminish its “curb appeal.” A gang-related gun battle erupted in the wee hours of Sunday morning atop The Rio’s parking garage. At least … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Vegas gets its groove back; “Zarkana” comes to Aria

Posted on March 7, 2012 by David McKee

In terms of quantity, quality and proximity, the Los Angeles Times is the closest thing Las Vegas has to a major metropolitan daily. (Hell, the Sacramento Bee puts the Las Vegas Review-Journal to shame.) Indeed, the LAT treats Sin City … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, California, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Vegas gets its groove back; “Zarkana” comes to Aria

Crack is whack, Gary; Footing the CityCenter bill

Posted on February 13, 2012 by David McKee

It will be some time before we know what drugs were in Whitney Houston‘s system when she perished last weekend. More to our S&G purpose is the question of what pharmacological experiments Caesars Entertainment executives were conducting  when they entered … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Crack is whack, Gary; Footing the CityCenter bill

China to Cirque: “Pas encore!”

Posted on February 9, 2012 by David McKee

Cirque du Soleil® has laid another oeuf — or Las Vegas Sands has claimed yet another showbiz victim. Its resident show at Venetian Macao, Zaia™, is closing after a 42-month run. Either the touchy-feely, eco-friendly whimsies of Zaia™ were too … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on China to Cirque: “Pas encore!”

Illinois: Not cricket; Boyd’s not going to like *this*: Death Ray: The sequel

Posted on January 25, 2012 by David McKee

Hardly had the outlines for a gaming-expansion compromise been leaked from the Illinois governor’s mansion when state Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D, right) nixed the idea — or at least the prospect of a deal getting done in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Election, Environment, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Vdara Death Ray | 3 Comments

One dynasty meets another

Posted on January 23, 2012 by David McKee

File this under ‘When camp icons collide.’ Yes, that’s Joan Collins, O.B.E. with showgirls from Jubilee! Between the show’s tenure and that of Ms. Collins, those are two careers characterized by unusually long legs — metaphorical and otherwise. Unfortunately, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on One dynasty meets another

Belated Christmas presents, Part II

Posted on January 11, 2012 by David McKee

If the good news keeps raining down like this, I might have to start using the R-word … as in “recovery.” In November, Nevada‘s $880 million gross was good for a 7% upsurge. The Las Vegas Strip beat the statewide … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Best new casino-hotel of 1998 …

Posted on January 4, 2012 by David McKee

… goes to the Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace, which opened last month. It’s tucked far enough away from the casino floor to provide some mental lebensraum as well, and it has a dedicated check-in desk. Since it directly overlooks … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Encore, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 4 Comments

“Viva Elvis™”: It’s leaving the building

Posted on November 29, 2011 by David McKee

You’ve got slightly more than a year to catch Viva Elvis™, which Cirque du Soleil® will put out of its box office misery (60% attendance) at the end of 2012, seven years short of its planned, decade-long run. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 2 Comments

Rule or ruin in Illinois; A new deal in Detroit

Posted on November 8, 2011 by David McKee

State Rep. Lou “Death Wish” Lang (D, right) continues to dare, then double-dare Gov. Pat Quinn (D) to veto what’s now a 2.6X expansion of the number of gambling positions in the state of Illinois. Lang has offered a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Dan Lee, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

G2E 2011: No big deal?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by David McKee

I’ve been debating whether or not to give Global Gaming Expo a pass this year and this morning’s dispatch from Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli didn’t exactly quicken my pulse. His prediction? A “quiet” G2E, due to slow growth in the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, G2E, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on G2E 2011: No big deal?

At long last, Octavius; Power plays at Hilton, Beso

Posted on September 14, 2011 by David McKee

Good news for whales and business travelers: The long-in-abeyance Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace has been finished inside and out, and will open for business on Jan. 2, 2012. The ginormous, high-tech hotel rooms are perfect for the customer with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 1 Comment

Wishful Thinking 101

Posted on September 12, 2011 by David McKee

Do you ever have the feeling that CityCenter isn’t getting its message across? Incidentally, leave your cursor on the Harmon wrap for a moment and you’ll get an amusing — but wholly accidental — bit of snark from Cosmopolitan PR’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 3 Comments

Who says irony is dead?

Posted on September 9, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Review-Journal newshound Norm(!) Clarke reports that, in January, the Nevada Ballet Theater‘s annual honoree will be … wait for it … Eva Longoria. What a concept: Fail miserably at business, get an award! S&G looks forward to future … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Fontainebleau, James Packer, Lyle Berman, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Sports | Comments Off on Who says irony is dead?

Caruso sings, Lerner hallucinates

Posted on August 29, 2011 by David McKee

Since I had one foot out the door en route to Albany when Caesars Entertainment held its Rick Caruso-led media blitz on Project Linq, I’m a bit late to the party. Some of my early reactions can be heard on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Taking back (Harrah’s) America

Posted on August 16, 2011 by David McKee

Ever-vigilant in his watch over “The Borg” (aka Caesars Entertainment), Vegas Tripping author Chuck Monster has been keeping a gimlet eye on the revival of Project Linq. Granted access to internal Caesars documents, Mr. Monster reveals that the much-needed makeover … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | 8 Comments

Ka-BOOM!

Posted on August 15, 2011 by David McKee

This just in: The race to become the first Strip hotel to be demolished without ever having opened has been won by … The Harmon. Details are sketchy but MGM Resorts International‘s decision will surprise few. Allegedly culpable Perini Building … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment