Category Archives: Encore

Wynncore: the best revenge

Posted on November 5, 2009 by David McKee

If Wynn Resorts legal beagle Kevin Tourek didn’t make a complete fool of himself with his self-aggrandizing cease-and-desist letter to VegasTripping.com, then VT.com owner Chuck Monster finishes the job with a lengthy and subtly humorous rebuttal. In a lightly ironic … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Encore, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Much ado about something?

Posted on November 5, 2009 by David McKee

Vive le Roi! After much coy hugger-mugger, Cirque du Soleil has just announced the name of its Aria show is … wait for it, people … Viva Elvis. (I cannot decide if the uninspired logo, which looks like a Ronco … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn drinks his own bathwater

Posted on November 3, 2009 by David McKee

I’ll confess to having been sufficiently out of touch not to have heard about the “Wynncore” parody site on which blogger Chuck Monster was laboring. Anybody who’s used the sluggish Wynn Resorts Web site will appreciate the home page (“Loading … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Encore, G2E, Marketing, Mississippi, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 5 Comments

Case Bets: CityCenter, Boyd odyssey, Massachusetts & the “Admiral”

Posted on November 2, 2009 by David McKee

There’s continued apprehension about MGM Mirage‘s $8.5 billion, 7,200-unit CityCenter, especially now that hotel rooms there are going for less than ones at either the Venetian or Encore. (Thinking positively: Who knew CityCenter was going to be so affordable?) Business … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Encore, Harrah's, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 8 Comments

Case Bets: ColSux, Wynn, Agassi, Lake LV, ‘Vega$’

Posted on October 30, 2009 by David McKee

Proverbial “flu-like symptoms” have me feeling light-headed and rather woozy (a delayed reaction to Wayne Newton?), for which the doctor prescribes a dosage of Case Bets … Another ColSux sale: Struggling hotelier Columbia Sussex has, for the not-inconsiderable sum of … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Downtown, Encore, Iowa, Lake Las Vegas, Louisiana, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 3 Comments

Signs of the Times

Posted on October 15, 2009 by David McKee

In less than an hour, Steve Wynn is going to make an extra-special, triple-secret, top-hush "entertainment announcement" via a Wynn Resorts Web-cast. Don't tell anyone but … he's going to reveal that Garth Brooks will be playing Encore. Which we … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Encore, Entertainment, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Why does Steve Wynn hate America?

Posted on October 13, 2009 by David McKee

Or maybe the question should be, What was Steve Wynn smoking before he told CNBC "Money Honey" Maria Bartiromo that Wynn Macau was making more than all other 30 Macao casinos combined? Perhaps he meant his joint is the single-highest-grossing … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Stat of the Day

Posted on August 31, 2009 by David McKee

Beloved by critics and bloggers, Encore is proving to be something of a millstone around the neck of Wynn Resorts. Average daily rates at 'Wynncore' are down 39% for the year to date, compared to a "mere" -25% at neighboring … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Greek Isles sold, few care

Posted on August 18, 2009 by David McKee

Vegas' hardest-luck casino changed hands … again. Short of another irrational spike in off-Strip land valuations, Canpartners Realty Holding Co. IV LLC is never going to see its $67 million again. The Greek Isles is in a dead zone, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics | Comments Off

The dream is dying

Posted on July 20, 2009 by David McKee

Just last week, UNLV‘s historical sage, Dr. Eugene Moehring, was taking a dim view of the fate of Las Vegas’ working class. Now comes the Wall Street Journal to back him up with some sobering reportage. Even at union salaries, Culinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, LVCVA, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets: CityCenter, W, Bernie Goldstein, Roger Thomas

Posted on July 7, 2009 by David McKee

Some rueful condo buyers are probably calling MGM Mirage‘s ultra-mega-super-duper resort “ShittyCenter,” judging by their ire. It’s difficult to know with whom to sympathize in this ongoing dispute. Condo depositors want to renegotiate prices (which range all the way up … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Current, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, G2E, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Case Bets: Caesars, Criss Angel, Lance Burton, Earl & Lani and Trent

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Seen last night by an S&G source, Pit One at Caesars Palace empty save for one or two baccarat players. It’s just a small indicator of a larger disconnect that I hope to address later. PR flack Robin Leach has … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 12, 2009 by David McKee

‘That’s a little out there, that’s a little fey, maybe I won’t do that, maybe I’ll butch that one up.’ I think I might have done that.” — Roger Thomas, about second-guessing himself on the designing of The Mirage and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Encore, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Exit, pursued by a bear market

Posted on April 17, 2009 by David McKee

Aside from the occasional murmur by Wynn Las Vegas prexy Andrew Pascal, executives at Wynn Resorts keep a low (read: invisible) profile. Even the most assiduous follower of the casino industry would have trouble naming Wynn’s CFO off the cuff. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Encore, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

Posted on March 26, 2009 by David McKee

Did somebody build the inaptly named Lucky Club (above) over an Indian burial ground? A deprivation of access is but the latest indignity suffered by this North Las Vegas grind joint. While it was still the Speedway Casino, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Lake Las Vegas, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

More M Resort pix

Posted on March 11, 2009 by David McKee

Armed with my first digital camera (which the Significant Other won during the brief run of "The Real Deal" at the Venetian), we scoped out M Resort on opening night. If Encore marked the return of "the red casino," M … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Encore, M Resort, Technology, TV | Comments Off

M in pictures

Posted on March 2, 2009 by David McKee

Well … sorta. You'd think a billion dollars might buy a decent press kit but M Resort's didn't arrive at LVA HQ until the day after the opening. To add to the farce, most of the pictures aren't bonafide photos … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Encore, M Resort, Station Casinos | Comments Off

What's the sound of stale?

Posted on February 6, 2009 by David McKee

It'd probably be very much like the dulcet tones of Danny F. Gans (pictured), who reassures prospective attendees to his Encore show not to worry: It'll be the same old same-old. Or, as he rationalizes it, "I'm trying to give … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Encore, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Deep Red: Encore

Posted on December 22, 2008 by David McKee

As much as casino-watchers have been vexed by the total media clampdown on all but the smallest scintillae of revelation about Steve Wynn‘s Encore, it was worth the wait. Or, to put it differently, Aria and Fontainebleau have just been … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, Cloverfield monster, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off