Category Archives: CityCenter

Live from CityCenter

Posted on December 16, 2009 by David McKee

I’m filing in haste from CityCenter, where I have Aria, Vdara and Mandarin Oriental tours scheduled. Hopefully, I’ll be back at the keyboard later this afternoon. I poked my head into Crystals long enough to see very, very light pedestrian … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

A Privé by any other name …

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

Rose, the new nightclub in Mandalay Bay, hasn’t even opened yet and it’s racked up its first scandal. MBay is trying to rework Rose’s lease on more favorable terms, given that the club’s owners are some of the, er, colorful … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on A Privé by any other name …

Case Bets: Pinnacle, Macao, Sahara & Mirage

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

No trouble in River City: The opening of Pinnacle Entertainment‘s River City casino complex has leapt forward from May to March. Bully for Pinnacle, if this means that the project is going to be finished ahead of schedule. If this … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

“Steve [Wynn] is a very interesting, creative guy and he has a wonderful view of the future and a view of the history which is not always aligned with my recollection of the history whatsoever or a lot of people’s.” … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Torrents of Greed

Posted on December 14, 2009 by David McKee

A few random musings … MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren can wax eloquent on the subject of sustainable development but I suspect that any pensées he might have offered Dubai World on the subject would have been pearls before swine. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Rumpus @ The Rio, Vdara & other Case Bets

Posted on December 10, 2009 by David McKee

It’s shaping up to be a news-intensive day — and I have off-site commitments that will keep me away from the keyboard, but let’s see what we can cram in … “The kiss that rocked The Rio”: The steamy scene … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, IGT, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 6 Comments

Who’s better for F’bleau: Icahn or Penn?

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the unspoken question hanging over a lengthy piece in yesterday’s Las Vegas Sun. While Penn National Gaming is willing to commit $1.5 billion or more to finishing Fontainebleau, lead bidder Carl Icahn may be able to do the job … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Crystals: Why?

Posted on December 4, 2009 by David McKee

Spare. That’s the word I’d use to describe Crystals, which opened yesterday. Having been in a self-imposed cone of deafness, I wasn’t exposed to any of the opening-day press. Thus, I came to Crystals last night as a blank slate … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Downtown, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 5 Comments

Best Casino Commercial Ever

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

It seems like if you’ve seen one casino commercial, you’ve seen them all. Recent efforts by M Resort and Green Valley Ranch were state-of-the-art examples of the same old same-old. However, it was impossible not to be stopped in one’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 4 Comments

Aria, Vdara discounting already

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

In its discussions with J.P. Morgan analysts, MGM Mirage has regularly been boasting that Aria’s room rates are running higher (very, very slightly higher) than Bellagio. Being a skeptical fellow by nature, my instinct was that Aria was being propped … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

“Boutique? Vdara is a 57-story, 1,500-room property. It is to boutique hotels what Dolly Parton is to petite women. “If a place can be lavishly understated, Vdara is that. It has abundant artwork and intriguing architectural lines, but no smoking … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

We *are* Dubai

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

“If anywhere is emblematic of the debt-fuelled extravagance of the past decade, it is surely [X], which strove to have the tallest, the biggest and the best of everything.” They’ve just got to be talking about Las Vegas, right? No, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

CityCenter Fever II

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

For those very few people who may never have heard of CityCenter, the basic exposition is laid out by Steve Friess. The Los Angeles Times goes heavy on the “urbanization” meme, although it strangely assigned its piece to a travel … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, TV | 2 Comments

CityCenter Fever

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

For all the trepidation about $8.5 billion CityCenter and its prospects, today’s opening of Vdara has been enough to set “the Internets,” the blogosphere, the teevees and even traditional newspapers aflame with excitement. After all, who can resist the scrotum … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally Technologies, CityCenter, Current, Economy, IGT, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, TV, WMS Industries | Comments Off on CityCenter Fever

Chutzpah, thy name is Loveman

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

Do the bondholders of Harrah’s Entertainment ever get tired of being played for suckers? After being asked to take haircut after haircut — whether in the form of distressed buybacks or deferred repayment — comes a new indignity. While Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

“Donald Trump is on CNBC bashing City Center, and saying how horrible it is. Like his track record, especially with casino’s [sic] is worth a shit.” — Brian Fey, on Twitter.

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, MGM Mirage, TV | 1 Comment

Back in Vegas

Posted on November 30, 2009 by David McKee

Just returned from Chicago last night and so far I’m showing few ill-effects [knock wood] from the swine flu vaccine that was administered to me at O’Hare International Airport. (Can’t get one at my doctor’s office, can get one at … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Illinois, Pets, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

CityCenter dodges bullet

Posted on November 27, 2009 by David McKee

Morton Grove, IL. Lying low while Black Friday sweeps Chicagoland … You will remember that, when CityCenter teetered upon the brink of bankruptcy earlier this year, it was saved by a compromise that put the onus on MGM Mirage for … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, International, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, WMS Industries | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 26, 2009 by David McKee

“… a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music will focus on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas.” — Frank Sinatra, right? No, Elvis Presley, according … Continue reading →

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

Now *this* is a scandal

Posted on November 24, 2009 by David McKee

During the early years of tribal gaming expansion, Native Americans had to go to Malaysia and South Africa for their startup capital — and it came at a hefty cost. Now Mohegan Sun is reeling from the delayed effects of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 3 Comments