Category Archives: CityCenter

Happy New Year?

Posted on December 30, 2010 by David McKee

Since Las Vegas is looking at a 3.5% increase in visitation from New Year’s Eve 2009 and 98% occupancy, the answer is “Yes.” Thank God, because it hopefully means that an equivocal recovery on the Strip is finally gaining traction, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

“Las Vegas has always prospered by reinventing itself every few years, and sometimes we evolve into something that the public doesn’t yet know it wants.” — unnamed MGM Resorts International executive, defending CityCenter to George Knapp. The latter needs no … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Pea soup in Vegas; Robosaurus attacks the wrong target

Posted on December 22, 2010 by David McKee

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

Cosmo: Let the debate commence!

Posted on December 16, 2010 by David McKee

Leading lights of the blog world were on hand for last night’s Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas coming-out party and had pretty divergent reactions. Steve Friess is keeping his opinion of the property to himself but he’s among those who are … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, G2E, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Cosmo: Let the debate commence!

Cosmo: the morning after; “Sinatra” too sexy?

Posted on December 16, 2010 by David McKee

Although I’m still feeling somewhat the worse for wear from last night’s Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opening-night bacchanalia, a quick observations are in order. Filled with people, Cosmo’s virtues are magnified, its vices minimized (with one glaring exception to which … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, TV | 5 Comments

Cosmopolitan: Towers of Babel

Posted on December 15, 2010 by David McKee

It’s here and it’s a sensory overload. If the severe CityCenter six-pack is a convent of Carmelite nuns, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is a drag queen. It’s unstintingly flamboyant, often fabulous, unremittingly outrageous and campy as all get-out. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, IGT, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Movies, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 8 Comments

Cosmo: The curious case of “the curious class”

Posted on December 9, 2010 by David McKee

It seems like David G. Schwartz is everywhere today. Las Vegas’ resident casino expert has not one but two stories out on The Cosmopolitan. From what he writes, Cosmo execs have convinced themselves they’ve reinvented the casino. It hinges upon … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, G2E, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Cosmo rides the wave; Old Sixty Votes rides again

Posted on December 7, 2010 by David McKee

It may be $1.9 billion over budget and 2.5 years behind schedule but The Cosmopolitan appears to be hitting the market with perfect timing. That’s good news for the 5,000 employees who are furiously getting acclimated with the new megaresort. … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

2014 is the new 2007; Good news from Pennsylvania, Detroit

Posted on December 7, 2010 by David McKee

It will take Las Vegas seven years to return to its former prosperity. Or so concludes a new report from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which sees casino revenue improving in late 2011 (in line with a Moody’s Investor Service report that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 5 Comments

It’s beginning to look a lot like Crystmas

Posted on December 3, 2010 by David McKee

It’s that time of year again at Crystals, the place America shops when it has a sudden impulse to buy a Pucci handbag or some Balenciaga shoes. This month, The Island of Misfit Shops promises three new retailers (Stella McCartney, … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Cosmo attempts suicide; a big (Para)bounce?

Posted on December 2, 2010 by David McKee

Maybe Union Gaming analyst Bill Lerner knew something the rest of us didn’t when he predicted the opening of The Cosmopolitan (aka “Osmopo”) would improve business for other high-end hotels on the Strip. After all, what could send New Year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Isle’s comeback continues; What’s in a Mystic?

Posted on December 1, 2010 by David McKee

Congratulations to Isle of Capri Casinos, winner of Missouri‘s 13th and final casino license. This morning, the Missouri Gaming Commission voted in favor of Isle’s $125 million Cape Girardeau project. Although all rival projects were budgeted higher, favorite-son Isle’s standing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boulder Strip, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Steelman: Small is profitable

Posted on November 15, 2010 by David McKee

Before he got elbowed aside in favor of ‘starchitects,’ Paul Steelman was one of the go-to designers on the Las Vegas Strip. He’s also one of the very few people who can say they’ve worked — without repercussion — for … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, IGT, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 5, 2010 by David McKee

“Suffice to say, it’s a very strange situation that someone who wants to be a representative of the state of Nevada never reached out to the No. 1 industry and even actively attacked Senator [Harry] Reid for helping it. I … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 2 Comments

Icahn’s CEO jumps ship

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

In something of a shocker, Scott Butera, CEO of Tropicana Entertainment is leaving the firm to join a rival — but undisclosed — casino company. It’s an amicable parting, judging by the fact that Butera is staying to smooth over … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Shuffle Master, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

All systems go at Trop … but more trouble on Paradise

Posted on November 3, 2010 by David McKee

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

Twilight of the gods?

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

It’s been obvious since jump street that MGM Resorts International bit off more than it could chew when it upsized its ambitions for the old Boardwalk site into a civic citadel, a Valhalla on the Strip. Behind CEO Jim Murren‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Dubai, Entertainment, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Murren: I heart CityCenter; Wynn: I heart China; Angle: I heart Latinos … plus Boyd’s new fragrance

Posted on October 29, 2010 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International and old ball and chain Dubai World have consummated a deal to extend $1.8 billion in CityCenter loans, a reworking that MGM CEO Jim Murren calls “a capital structure that’s much more … in keeping with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Lower gaming taxes in Nevada?

Posted on October 21, 2010 by David McKee

It’s conceivable. And, if former Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Brian Sandoval (left) gets his wish, it’s justifiable. So let S&G be first to put that idea into play. Since Sandoval’s “home rule” proposal would address Nevada‘s budget deficit by simply … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Election, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 3 Comments

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

Posted on October 21, 2010 by David McKee

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