Category Archives: Economy

Solitude at Trump

Posted on March 30, 2010 by David McKee

As the old saying goes, I have so much to do that I am going to bed. Actually, no, but I’m still wrapping my feeble brain around the double-whammy of the Station Casinos bankruptcy proposal and the brewing triads-at-Sands Macao … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Macau, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 7 Comments

$290 million for Borgata

Posted on March 29, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what MGM Mirage’s half is expected to bring and it won’t happen until next year, according to J.P. Morgan‘s latest set of estimates. We could debate whether or not MGM should have started shopping the place a year ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on $290 million for Borgata

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 29, 2010 by David McKee

“At Bellagio, MGM is offering no promotions.” — from this week’s J.P. Morgan “LV Strip Room Rate Survey” … and from every week’s such survey seemingly since time immemorial, making Bellagio the only MGM Mirage Strip hotel of which this … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Dept. of Wishful Thinking

Posted on March 26, 2010 by David McKee

Whatever became of Elad Properties‘ metaresort-sized Plaza project, built upon the ruins of the New Frontier? Reed Construction Data Project Research claims it’s on. Never mind that Elad’s not put so much as a shovel into the ground … or … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Environment, Gary Goett, Harrah's, M Resort, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Phil Ruffin, Plaza, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Dept. of Wishful Thinking

A clarification, a continuation & a poll

Posted on March 25, 2010 by David McKee

Firstly, in defense of both LVA and our research department, they’ve been following the subject of resort fees since the June 16, 2007 Question of the Day. These past couple of weeks we’ve been trying to get a handle on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Mystery solved (sorta)

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

It would seem that all your comments, dear readers, have been getting shunted straight into “Spam” without so much as a by-your-leave to me as to whether they should be approved, edited, moderated or whatever. I’ve liberated approximately messages from … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Mystery solved (sorta)

The Roman empire strikes back

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

@CaesarsPalace Ask yourself: would a Caesar pay resort fees? Why should you? Twitter follower rates from $100. http://bit.ly/aA2Qcm 4 minutes ago via Seesmic @ParisVegas Resort fees are a sucker bet. That’s why we don’t charge them. Twitter follower rates from … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on The Roman empire strikes back

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

Wishful Thinking 101

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

“[Applied Analysis principal Jeremy] Aguero says the local economy will start recovering as soon as people across the country start spending money like they used to.” Yes, when they start having easy credit like they used to … which will … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, North Las Vegas, The Strip | Comments Off on Wishful Thinking 101

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 24, 2010 by David McKee

“The days of $1,000 bottles of liquor and $15,000 cabanas and $500 room rates aren’t coming back. People need to stop talking about when the good times are coming back because they never are. The world returning to 2006 would … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Re$ort fee$: the latest

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

Poor MGM Mirage; it can’t stay out of the news these days. At the moment, our LVA research staff is trying to get the skinny on the spread of “resort fees” through the company’s Strip properties. (Stock analysts love them … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 26 Comments

Case Bets: Maryland, Foxwoods, problem gambling

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

It’s not even been 18 months since Maryland voters gave their assent to slot houses — a time in which the state has to erect a regulatory apparatus, vet applicants, and then wait for the latter to get up and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Gibbons vs. gaming; Pansy Ho; R-J shocked, shocked!; Rat Pack not back

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David McKee

First off, a hearty S&G salute to Steve Friess, named “Best Blogger” by the readers of Las Vegas CityLife. (Yes, I was nominated but didn’t even make it into second place. I’ll live.) As you scroll — and scroll — … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Midnight Jim Gibbons, New York, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Hard Rock LV: Trouble on Paradise

Posted on March 18, 2010 by David McKee

Ed Scheetz: architect of disaster It was with great swagger that Morgans Hotel Group captured the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in 2006. Newbies to the Vegas market, Morgans has had a rough education during the intervening years. Its most … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Herbst Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Wall Street | 10 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

Love Train

Posted on March 18, 2010 by David McKee

As in the flowering bromance between Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and mouthpiece-for-hire Sig “The Fixer” Rogich. The former, a longtime supporter of a proposed maglev train betwixt Las Vegas and Anaheim, switched his allegiance to Rogich’s Choo-Choo-to-Nowhere, by the strangest … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., California, Economy, Election, Herbst Gaming, Politics, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation | 10 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

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

“If the love of money is the root of all evil, are we better as a nation now that we’re broke?” — Lily Tomlin, last night at MGM Grand. (Her current run at the Green Monster ends tomorrow … but … Continue reading →

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

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