Category Archives: CityCenter

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 7, 2010 by David McKee

“It could never have worked if we had done it in phases. We could never have created what I wanted, which is this urbanization that is going to be so vitally important and makes it so different from another resort. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 7 Comments

Girls, girls, girls!

Posted on May 5, 2010 by David McKee

Whereas, I have just finished (finally!) watching Firefly and am in deep withdrawal, and … Whereas, my girlfriend — who generally likes neither Westerns nor science fiction — has become even more of a newly minted “browncoat” than I, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Entertainment, Movies, TV | 2 Comments

Vegas’ secret shame revealed

Posted on May 5, 2010 by David McKee

Thanks to last night’s episode of Dancing with the Stars, all America knows that Cirque du Soleil has unleashed a campy, fugly Elvis Presley “tribute” show upon the Strip. (I wonder which of the six credited choreographers was responsible for … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn may take his ball …

Posted on April 22, 2010 by David McKee

… and move to Macao. Or so he says. Given Steve Wynn‘s long track record of thinking aloud, I’d assign a low probability to this trial-balloon idea. Besides, in the U.S. the mogul can pop off at the government without … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

MGM pre-reports

Posted on April 14, 2010 by David McKee

Aria: Nice rooms; anybody there? First, the good news: A managerial shakeup at MGM Grand Macau yielded a $54 million swing in operating income, turning what had been a modest loss last year into a considerable profit in 1Q10. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Detroit, Economy, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | 8 Comments

Betting on Adelson

Posted on April 13, 2010 by David McKee

Analysts at J.P. Morgan are downright bullish on Las Vegas Sands, raising their stock price target by over 25% (to $29/share). Their ebullience is motivated in large part by expectations for Marina Bay Sands, which they estimate will garner 55% … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, CityCenter, Economy, Indiana, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 12, 2010 by David McKee

“Then again, being unable to keep his hands off a lifeless hunk of plastic is just what [Spencer] Pratt does. [Heidi] Montag vowed to recapture his attention by having a Blu-Ray player installed in her left boob.” — Daily Fiasco’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cretins, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Condos in Vegas … still? Manilow in Vegas … again

Posted on April 8, 2010 by David McKee

Undeterred by the complete tanking of the high-rise-condo market in Las Vegas, joint-venture partners Station Casinos and Fisher Bros. had still planned a pair of condo towers on or very near where Richfield Village currently stands (above). That’s probably the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Michael Gaughan, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

S**t hits MGM, Sands fan

Posted on April 1, 2010 by David McKee

Local newspapers — and bloggers — have been slow to pick up on a couple of Reuters dispatches that show — as some doomsayers prognosticated — that involvement in Macao is coming back to bite the U.S. casino industry in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Detroit, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Mob | 5 Comments

Now this is different …

Posted on March 29, 2010 by David McKee

Conventional wisdom in Las Vegas held that big fights drove big business. But who ever heard of a marquee boxing match being offered as a loss leader. That’s how MGM Mirage is promoting “The Rivals: Hopkins vs. Jones.” I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Aria wants your business, Las Vegas

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

From the Twitter feed of Aria: Every Wed night at The Deuce @AriaLV open champagne bar from 10-11pm and half price bottles for #LVlocals! Showing the locals some love! They’ll probably be hanging out here instead.

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | 3 Comments

A Cosmopolitan by any other name …

Posted on March 22, 2010 by David McKee

… is still a long way from completion. A silly lawsuit has been settled, an extremely cosmetic change of name has been agreed upon (meaning that Cosmo The Casino is the de facto winner over Cosmo The Mag). We’re told … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Station Casinos | 3 Comments

What are …

Posted on March 18, 2010 by David McKee

… three casinos, two golf courses, a shooting range, a bunch of condos and some miscellaneous real estate worth? If they’re in Mesquite and they’re owned by the disaster area that is Black Gaming, they’re worth no more than $90 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip | 4 Comments

Exonerating Adelson

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

While Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson might approve of Gary Kreep‘s recent PAC-tivities, inasmuch as they redound to the detriment of competitor MGM Mirage, he’s not behind them. Or, to put it another way, if Adelson’s been involved it … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Election, Florida, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | 5 Comments

Mania in Macao

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

Las Vegas casino floors nearly look somnolent compared to the intense baccarat play captured by CNN at Melco Crown Entertainment‘s megaresort, City of Dreams. For added fun, one gets a bit of James Bond (Sean Connery) throwing down against “smug … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Todd English, P.D.Q.

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

First of all, huge thanks to all who have sent their condolences regarding Mr. Bit. We’re all in quite a funk at home. Rascal‘s reaction was the most heartbreaking. When we brought the empty cat carrier back, he ran up, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pets, The Strip | 5 Comments

Mr. Bit, 1993-2010

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

Another of my cats crossed the proverbial Rainbow Bridge today, ending 14 years of faithful companionship. Our vet says we did the right thing but that doesn’t lessen the sense of betrayal, even though Mr. Bit could no longer eat … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Pets | 17 Comments

Case Bets: Lake Las Vegas, Todd English, the CityCenter smear, Harrah’s Chester, etc.

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

Far on the outskirts of Sin City, the Kingdom of Make-Believe (aka Lake Las Vegas) is the newest and — in terms of acreage — biggest metaphor yet for the unrealistic expectations and sometimes insane assumptions which have laid our … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Dining, Dubai, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Lake Las Vegas, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | 14 Comments

CityCenter: Guilty by association

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

This new attack ad, fired today, represents the latest salvo in what might be called The War Over CityCenter. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), not having been shy to take credit for CityCenter’s completion, is fair game. Where the ad may … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

This is getting nasty

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Update: S&G sends its condolences to Sen. Reid after his wife and daughter were severely injured in an automobile accident this afternoon. Back when Archon Corp. Treasurer Sue Lowden (left) threw her hat into the 2010 U.S. Senate race, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Labor, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 1 Comment