Category Archives: Columbia Sussex

Coming soon: Venetian Baghdad?

Posted on May 5, 2008 by David McKee

It’s not quite so crazy at it sounds. Well, OK, it does sound off-your-rocker crazy, at least while mortar shells continue to drop on the Green Zone: A $5 billion commercial development in the heart of the world’s most, um, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Coming soon: Venetian Baghdad?

Wynn tells Wall Street where to go

Posted on May 2, 2008 by David McKee

Not so long ago, Steve Wynn stated an obvious truth: The our deepening recession would impact Las Vegas sooner or later. Wall Street promptly punished him by selling down Wynn Resorts stock. Fast-forward a few months and now it’s the conventional wisdom … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn tells Wall Street where to go

Same as it ever was?

Posted on May 2, 2008 by David McKee

Nothing lasts. I’m finding that out the hard way as the acid in the paper labels in my CD collection eat through the discs, gradually rendering them unplayable and sending me into a race between preservation and catastrophe. (When last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Same as it ever was?

‘Luxoricana’?; When unions attack (each other)

Posted on April 22, 2008 by David McKee

Labor unions aren’t very popular these days but sometimes even the mere threat of one is enough to effect improvements. Such seems to be the case at Luxor, where the International Union of Security, Police & Fire Professionals of America … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on ‘Luxoricana’?; When unions attack (each other)

MGM Mirage: What's it all about?

Posted on April 16, 2008 by David McKee

By now it’s old news that MGM Mirage took a paring knife to its personnel roster and gave 440 staffers the sack on Monday. Admittedly, saving $75 million seems like trimming a fingernail off a company whose 2007 profit was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM Mirage: What's it all about?

Columbia Sussex evicted (sorta)

Posted on April 11, 2008 by David McKee

In what has been described as an “abrupt” end to the Columbia Sussex/Park Cattle Co. lawsuit, playing out up in Douglas County, Nev., the former has paid out $40 million of an eventual $165 million and given Park Cattle the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, The Strip | Comments Off on Columbia Sussex evicted (sorta)

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 7, 2008 by David McKee

“Corporate thinking is to squeeze every penny, paying attention only to today’s bottom line and ignoring the negative effect that impersonal and greedy service has on future revenues. But is this not the style of business that has forced the … Continue reading →

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

High spirits in Evansville

Posted on April 7, 2008 by David McKee

The acquisition, by Reno's own Eldorado Resorts, of the Casino Aztar riverboat, is playing to the expected hosannas. Interestingly, while 21% of the workforce was pink-slipped by outgoing owner Columbia Sussex, that seems to be the least of players' concerns. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Indiana, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on High spirits in Evansville

The Westin scandal …

Posted on April 4, 2008 by David McKee

… is growing legs. No, not these kind of legs. (Well, that too.) It’s also unearthed another strange-but-true story of business as usual at Columbia Sussex. That $25/bedbug bounty at the Trop is unwontedly generous by ColSux standards — a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Harrah's, International, Labor, Politics, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on The Westin scandal …

Headline of the Day

Posted on April 3, 2008 by David McKee

 "New Jersey to casino: Trop dead" — from AFX Financial News

Posted in Columbia Sussex | Comments Off on Headline of the Day

Columbia Sussex sinks to new low

Posted on April 2, 2008 by David McKee

Let’s say you’re Columbia Sussex, owner of the Westin Casuarina and notorious for your pinch-penny ways. What do you do if a convention organizer can’t pay up on its $50,000 tab? Why simply — and sneakily — bill it to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Indiana, Louisiana, LVCVA, Regulation | Comments Off on Columbia Sussex sinks to new low

Fun with Math, Columbia Sussex style

Posted on April 2, 2008 by David McKee

If you’ve noticed less blogorrhea from yours truly of late, it’s because I’m currently combing through old “Question of the Day” entries, working on a new cross-referencing system. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t found some interesting stats. For instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex | Comments Off on Fun with Math, Columbia Sussex style

Columbia Sussex loses one, wins another

Posted on March 31, 2008 by David McKee

Where to start? Well, Gov. Steve Beshear is about to throw in the towel on his casinos-for-Kentucky push, having decided he couldn’t get it past the House. And remember: That was supposed to be the easy part; the state Senate’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Indiana, Regulation | Comments Off on Columbia Sussex loses one, wins another

That wacky Columbia Sussex

Posted on March 25, 2008 by David McKee

According to The Press of Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex is countersuing its bondholders, which it contends are trying to force the company into bankruptcy or seize an ownership in the Atlantic City Tropicana Casino & Resort. 'ColSux,' you will remember, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Regulation | Comments Off on That wacky Columbia Sussex

Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant

Posted on March 20, 2008 by David McKee

It's Day Five of the "Hell No, We Won't Go" crisis and Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners members Drs. Daniel McBride and Javaid Anwar continue to thumb their noses at Gov. Jim Gibbons. As does board Executive Director Tony … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, The Strip | Comments Off on Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant

Stalemate at The Orleans; Big Easy has big month

Posted on March 19, 2008 by David McKee

It’s been almost nine months since the majority of Boyd Gaming‘s stagehands voted to unionize. Since then, they’ve been subjected to a managerial smackdown and their elected representative, IATSE, is virtually powerless to alleviate the situation — or even to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Election, Harrah's, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Stalemate at The Orleans; Big Easy has big month

Exodus from L.V. Trop continues

Posted on March 19, 2008 by David McKee

There will soon be even fewer reasons (not that there are many left) to visit the Las Vegas Tropicana. Instead of having to navigate a defunct escalator to see Bodies … The Exhibition or Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, you'll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Exodus from L.V. Trop continues

Meet Bill Yung

Posted on March 19, 2008 by David McKee

That preening Master of the Universe wannabe you see above is Columbia Sussex CEO William Yung III, subject of a lengthy (and deeply unflattering) exposé in the Louisville Courier-Journal. The article basically explains what Missouri Gaming Commission Director Gene McNary … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Horseracing, Louisiana, Sports | Comments Off on Meet Bill Yung

Scant interest in A.C. Trop

Posted on March 18, 2008 by David McKee

So the deadline for bids on the Atlantic City Tropicana has come and gone, and there are only three bids on the table. Or maybe two. Though I may have a dollar figure on the Cordish Cos. offer later today, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Movies, Regulation | Comments Off on Scant interest in A.C. Trop

A.C. Trop to go begging?

Posted on March 17, 2008 by David McKee

You have to wonder after reading this story, which suggests that — out of a field of two-dozen potential suitors for the Atlantic City Tropicana — virtually everyone is heading for the tall grass. Or maybe it's an en masse … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment | Comments Off on A.C. Trop to go begging?