Category Archives: CityCenter

Reid-Adelson lovefest; Massachusetts meddling

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

Now that he’s no longer standing for reelection, Sen. Harry Reid (D) has flung himself fully into the arms of Sheldon Adelson, calling for a ban on online gambling that might even extend to Nevada‘s fledgling I-poker industry (although Reid’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Harry Reid, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Much ado about Harmon

Posted on December 16, 2014 by David McKee

After endless months of maneuvering and legal posturing, MGM Resorts International and Tutor Perini arrived at a settlement on what was to have been the opening day of an epic trial. (That’s seven weeks of jury selection down the drain.) The case … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Cosmo: Unwin out

Posted on December 10, 2014 by David McKee

Whatever Blackstone Group plans for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, it doesn’t include CEO John Unwin, who will leave at year’s end. Don’t cry for him just yet: He’ll temporarily be on a consulting contract, which conveniently keeps him for … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Big Ease; The Mirage, 25 years later

Posted on November 20, 2014 by David McKee

Even with 19 non-tribal casinos and racinos to support, the Louisiana market continues to rebound. It was up 4% last month, with even 2% growth in the crowded Shreveport/Bossier City marketplace. El Dorado was the second-highest grosser and the percentage leader … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Downtown, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Everybody’s doing it

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David McKee

Building conference centers in Atlantic City, it seems. Add Resorts Atlantic City to the brief list of casino trying to diversify their appeal by going for the meeting business. It won’t be as grand as the one as Harrah’s Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Clashing views on MGM; Shotgun wedding in Pennsylvania

Posted on October 30, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s third quarter was “better than expected” if you were J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and “disappointing” if you are Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli. It’s a matter of how MGM performed relative to analyst forecasts. While the Las Vegas Strip … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Detroit, GLPI, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

N.Y.: Accentuate the negative; Sheldon’s change of heart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

“The economy is so depressed around here, anything is a plus. That’s how bad it is around here.” With that backhanded endorsement, the owner of Pepe’s Bar-B-Q in Binghamton, N.Y., gave his blessing to casinos in the area. In order to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off

Scandal brushes Wynn Boston

Posted on October 3, 2014 by David McKee

Federal and Massachusetts state authorities have filed charges against three men who sold land to Wynn Resorts for its Everett casino project. Mob associate Charles Lightbody, Anthony Gattineri and Dustin DeNunzio have been indicted on a spectrum of felonies that include … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off

Sam’s Place

Posted on August 22, 2014 by David McKee

“The Sahara is gone. The SLS is here. Before long … we’ll only be talking about the SLS.” That was the Great & Powerful Harry Reid, administering a verbal beatdown to anyone still nostalgic for the Sahara. Reid’s dose of Tough … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Pacifism in Alabama; Flop in Florida

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

There’s nothing that trumps ideology like the need for tax dollars. Such is the case in Alabama, where budget shortfalls are bringing state government around to the idea of a gaming compact with Poarch Band of Creek Indians. No negotiations … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Dubai, Florida, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

MGM beats the Street; The wrath of Loveman

Posted on August 5, 2014 by David McKee

Not only did MGM Resorts International swing from a loss to a profit in 2Q14, its revenues exceeded Wall Street’s expectations. Analyst consensus foresaw $0.10/share in earnings and MGM delivered more than twice that. Revenues at every MGM property were … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quad out, Linq in; Siegel in, Goldman out

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

It takes a big man to admit a mistake and Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has tacitly acknowledged that “The Quad” was a mistaque. It’s on the way out, to be replaced with a re-re-branding of Imperial Palace as Linq Hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation | Tagged Westgate | 1 Comment

Goodbye, Harmon, we never knew ye

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

It’s that long-awaited time: The demolition of the Harmon Hotel, which holds the ignominious distinction of the first Strip hotel demolished without ever hosting a single guest. This $11.5 million sidewalk show will leave an awkward void next to Crystals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off

Beso of death; Atlantic Club reborn

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

Eva Longoria‘s SHE byMorton’s (formerly Beso) has closed for the second — and presumably final — time. This time we can only put so much blame on Longoria and focus instead on owner Tilman Fertitta. This rare misstep by Fertitta … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dining, Harrah's, Illinois, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off

Genting OK’d for Vegas; James Packer packs a punch

Posted on May 7, 2014 by David McKee

So thirsty is the State of Nevada for new casino investment that it may feel pressure not to look too closely at Genting Berhad, as its license application goes before the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Not that we’ve ever heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, International, James Packer, New York, Regulation, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Strip | Comments Off

Wynn speaks … and speaks

Posted on May 2, 2014 by David McKee

With a dustup with George Clooney still making headlines and a quarterly reporting emerging, Steve Wynn could be expected to be in an expansive mood. He did not disappoint. Ironically, Wynn’s comments about people who “live in a very strange … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, International, Japan, Macau, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM blows away Wall Street expectations

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Posting more than double Wall Street‘s consensus of earnings per share ($0.21 rather than $0.09), MGM Resorts International had a good quarter, to say the least. Even CityCenter exceeded expectations by 11%. J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff took it all … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Colorado, Detroit, Downtown, Entertainment, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

MGM’s inspiring, new vision

Posted on April 28, 2014 by David McKee

I’m digging the architecture but what’s with the softcore-porn music? MGM Resorts International has released a new tranche of details on The Park, its mega-project (and substitute for extending CityCenter) that seems to progress in almost imperceptible steps. While CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Racinos, The Strip | 2 Comments

Cosmo: The right amount of money; MGM learns Arabic

Posted on April 16, 2014 by David McKee

A camel is a horse designed by a committee, the saying goes, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas resembles nothing so much as a camel — and Deutsche Bank executives are accused of dabbling in its design. If Bloomberg News‘ … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Tribal power; A new contender in Japan

Posted on April 8, 2014 by David McKee

Talking Stick Resort may have only 752 slot machines and 51 blackjack tables but it’s powered an economic bonanza in the Scottsdale, Arizona desert. It’s the focal point of two baseball spring-training facilities (Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies), a 36-hole … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Baseball, CityCenter, Election, Harrah's, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, Nebraska, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off