Category Archives: Columbia Sussex

Mont-blew it; more E-Can; Trump struggling

Posted on September 5, 2008 by David McKee

"Montbleu screwed our pooch." That's the conclusion of Chuck Monster, who chronicles a bait-and-switch at the former Caesars Tahoe. It's now part of the prospering casino fleet that is Columbia Sussex and its "pet friendly" package turned out to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Boulder Strip, Cannery Casino Resorts, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Lake Tahoe, Pets, The Strip | Comments Off on Mont-blew it; more E-Can; Trump struggling

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 27, 2008 by David McKee

“The real story here is the workers, who put up with the worst working conditions, having the fortitude and tenacity to say we’re not going to be run out of here by someone who has come in from Kentucky to … Continue reading →

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Just as I suspected …

Posted on August 27, 2008 by David McKee

… and tried to imply the other day, we have two conflicting agendas in the ixnayed Casino Aztar sale. One is that of the creditors, who think the boat can fetch a higher price than the $220 million for which … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Indiana | Comments Off on Just as I suspected …

On the other hand …

Posted on August 25, 2008 by David McKee

… if Illinois casinos are sucking wind (which they are), why hasn't this redounded more to the benefit of neighboring states? For instance, it looks like Indiana had a good July, but once you back out two new racinos, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Don Barden, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment | Comments Off on On the other hand …

Trop to Eldorado: "Never mind"

Posted on August 25, 2008 by David McKee

In the strongest sign to date that company owner William J. Yung III has been banished to the doghouse, Tropicana Entertainment formally reneged on its sale of Casino Aztar to Reno-based Eldorado Resorts. The latter could walk away with as … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Indiana, Kansas, Regulation | Comments Off on Trop to Eldorado: "Never mind"

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 21, 2008 by David McKee

"You can't save your way to success." — Tropicana Entertainment CEO Scott Butera, commenting on the new collective-bargaining agreement at the  Las Vegas Tropicana. Funny, but that's almost a word-for-word reprise of Dennis Gomes' analysis of parent company Columbia Sussex's … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

From bad to worse

Posted on August 19, 2008 by David McKee

British Reuters lays out a dire scenario for casino bonds, the second-most-distressed sector of the junk-bond market (only media firms are doing worse). "We believe it probably hasn't hit its bottom," is the grave verdict of Moody's Investors Service analyst … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on From bad to worse

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 19, 2008 by David McKee

“The foundation of every successful company is its employees. We certainly recognize the value and hard work that each employee at the Tropicana has provided throughout the years and continues to provide every day. I look forward to getting to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trop sale stumbles forward … sorta

Posted on August 18, 2008 by David McKee

If Justice Gary Stein, the state-appointed trustee for the Atlantic City Tropicana Casino & Resort, isn’t the most inept public servant in America, it’s not for lack of effort. Add nepotism to his string of failings, as his ever-less-credible pronouncements … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Trop sale stumbles forward … sorta

Trop turnaround?

Posted on August 12, 2008 by David McKee

While the New Jersey Casino Control Commission continues to bobble the sale of the Atlantic City Tropicana, at least its stewardship has arrested and perhaps finally the property's decline. While a 5.5% decline in business is nothing to crow over, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Kansas, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Trop turnaround?

Don't tax me, bro!

Posted on August 6, 2008 by David McKee

Guess who's kvetching about his property tax bill? Why it's our old buddy, Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung III — or at least his surrogates at Horizon Vicksburg. It's been the better part of a year since Yung announced … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Kansas, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Don't tax me, bro!

Robbing Luxor to pay (for) CityCenter?

Posted on August 6, 2008 by David McKee

No sooner had MGM Mirage brass sprayed Wall Street’s fire during yesterday’s earnings call than comes a new scare: Glenn Hausmann of Hotel Interactive Inc. reported that “A variety of industry suppliers who wished to speak off the record have … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Robbing Luxor to pay (for) CityCenter?

Sands: More is sometimes less

Posted on August 6, 2008 by David McKee

One of the advantages of availing oneself of Las Vegas' public-transit system is that affords me plenty of time to read corporate filings. Such was the case this morning, when I spent some quality time belatedly curling up with Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Don Barden, Downtown, Harrah's, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sands: More is sometimes less

We're no Pyongyang!

Posted on July 29, 2008 by David McKee

A story about an unsightly, unfinished ziggurat in Pyongyang, North Korea afforded an architecture critic an opportunity to throw a roundhouse right at Las Vegas. Lumping it together with Shanghai as the bad-architecture capital of the world, California Polytechnic State … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Harrah's, Michael Gaughan, Stanley Ho, The Strip | Comments Off on We're no Pyongyang!

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 25, 2008 by David McKee

"There is better stuff than that." — Penn National Gaming CEO Peter Carlino, referring to the Las Vegas Tropicana, in a discussion of possible Las Vegas acquisition targets.

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

A dirty rotten shame

Posted on July 24, 2008 by David McKee

According to local entertainment scribe Mike Weatherford, the new ownership at the Sahara is trying to re-up with promoter Larry Marshak‘s ersatz Platters/Coasters/Marvelettes act. Thanks to the byzantine histories of these groups and their ever-rotating membership, sufficient loopholes have existed … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Sahara | Comments Off on A dirty rotten shame

Gold Coast buffet update, etc.

Posted on July 21, 2008 by David McKee

I just heard from Boyd Gaming and they say that the corned beef/chicken choice at the Gold Coast buffet's carving station was the luck of the draw and not indicative of a cutback. Roast beef, turkey and brisket are still … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Movies | Comments Off on Gold Coast buffet update, etc.

The Ameristar war begins

Posted on July 17, 2008 by David McKee

Just a quick hit on my way out the door to spend an evening prepping for The Dark Knight by watching Batman Begins … Ameristar's in play. No news flash there and, for the life of me, I can't figure … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Ameristar war begins

Indiana: It sure could be worse

Posted on July 8, 2008 by David McKee

… because you could be Illinois, where June gambling revenues went into the toilet (-21%). Which isn’t to say that Indiana‘s numbers look good only by comparison. In fact, the Hoosier State may be benefiting from the Land of Lincoln’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Indiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Indiana: It sure could be worse

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 7, 2008 by David McKee

"I'm pleased that we reached this resolution, and I look forward to working with all the parties to reach consensus on the continuing restructuring efforts of the company." — Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung III, expressing his delight at … Continue reading →

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