Category Archives: Harrah's

What the fuQ?; A dubious honor

Posted on September 19, 2012 by David McKee

Word around here is that Caesars Entertainment did an in-house survey on potential re-names of Imperial Palace — soon to become “The Quad” — and promptly dumped the poll results in the nearest wastepaper basket. Se non e ver, e … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, International, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Sunny summer in Pennsylvania; Stanley Ho seen!

Posted on September 18, 2012 by David McKee

Except for a 4% slippage in July, the motto around Pennsylvania might be, “Cannibalization? What cannibalization?” The Keystone State has shrugged off new competition from Ohio, from New York City, from Revel in Atlantic City, and even from within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic City: Revenues up, Seminoles out, Mohegans in

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

Stick a fork in the Dennis Gomes legacy at Resorts Atlantic City. Son Aaron Gomes is not only leaving but going halfway around the globe, to team up with former Borgata exec Larry Mullin and reboot Jupiters Gold Coast Casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

The rains came, 9/11/12

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

It may not be a David Lean epic but this video gives you an idea just how heavy the waters were on the Las Vegas Strip, over by Harrah’s Las Vegas. Strangely, local TV stations are concentrating upon the effects … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

“Mob Attraction” inundated

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

… and not with customers unfortunately. Las Vegas is currently experiencing torrential downpours and flash flooding — including on the Strip. This suddenly closed the Tropicana Las Vegas‘ “Mob Attraction,” thanks to a wee bit of a design flaw. According … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Emperor Loveman’s new clothes

Posted on September 7, 2012 by David McKee

When I said a Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy was a matter of when, not if, little idea did I have how soon that might be. Earlier this week, Fitch Ratings Service lowered Caesars’ bond rating to “negative,” a veritable kiss of … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 7 Comments

Batten down the hatches!

Posted on August 27, 2012 by David McKee

Tropical Storm Isaac is charting a path across the Gulf of Mexico and, with aspirations to “hurricane” status, is on a collision course with New Orleans, the City That Couldn’t Catch a Break. So far, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Environment, Harrah's, history, International, Louisiana, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Technology, TV | 2 Comments

No longer “Crazy” after all these years

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

Stick a fork in Crazy Horse Paris. After an honorable, 11-year run at MGM Grand, it’s ringing down the curtain for the last time on Oct. 1. No plans for the space have been announced beyond “a surprise new joint … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

TV time!

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

Whilst I’m tinkering with the third edition of Eating Las Vegas by John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini, here are a couple of recent episodes from Vegas Video Network. The first features Bally’s Las Vegas lounge singer — and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Speed: The Ride … found!; Dueling Ferris wheels and Caesars’ wonderful life

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David McKee

Remember all those rumors that had the Sahara‘s now-vanished Speed: The Ride packed up and headed for Circus Circus? Not so! The good folks and inquiring minds at VegasChatter.com were sussing out some dormant South Strip developments and discovered … … … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Racinos, Rhode Island, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Clarkson 1, Cosmopolitan 0; ‘High Roller’ kaput?

Posted on August 16, 2012 by David McKee

On the one hand, I applaud The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for setting itself apart from the pack by centering much of its appeal upon leading-edge musical acts (like Adele and Florence + The Machine [twice!]). However, it makes Deutsche … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, George Maloof, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip | 5 Comments

Taylor Hicks: Vegas’ newest star?; Adelson hates on Vegas

Posted on August 14, 2012 by David McKee

Last night being my wonderful wife’s birthday, I took her out to dinner and thence to Taylor Hicks at Bally’s, now in the 10th week of an eight-week run (and, no, that’s not a typo). Big ups to Caesars Entertainment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: Revel debuts disappointingly, Mohegan Sun moves in

Posted on August 10, 2012 by David McKee

OK, let’s take a deep breath and remind ourselves that one swallow doesn’t make a spring and one month doesn’t determine history’s verdict on a casino, but there’s only a single word for $2.4 billion Revel‘s first full month of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Harrah's, history, Pennsylvania, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Posted on August 10, 2012 by David McKee

Hoping to join Evil Dead The Musical and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the progression of locally produced musicals to casino showrooms is Summer Camp! The Musical, which opens tonight at the Onyx Theatre, near what used to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off

Nevada: We’re skewed!; Dark Side of the Force

Posted on August 9, 2012 by David McKee

I always hate doing Nevada gaming numbers because A) it’s redundant with the coverage in the local dailies and B) almost every month you have to trot out the caveat that — as was the case in June — the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Mesquite, Movies, North Las Vegas, Reno, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

“Surf”: What if they gave a Strip spectacular and nobody came?

Posted on August 8, 2012 by David McKee

You’ll have to pardon me today if I enjoy a victory lap, having beaten the dailies to the announcement of Surf The Musical‘s demise by a good 97 minutes.* (Suck that, Thomas F. Mitchell!) However, if you set store by … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Surf’s out

Posted on August 8, 2012 by David McKee

It’s all over for Surf The Musical. That’s the word coming from multiple, credible sources in Strip entertainment circles. Cast members allegedly just got their two-week notice for the bloated extravaganza that basically consisted of wall-to-wall Beach Boys songs, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Get to the polls!

Posted on August 7, 2012 by David McKee

… as in the Las Vegas Advisor weekly poll. Tomorrow’s promises to be a real doozy. The question is, What was the worst show in recent Strip and Downtown history? The dog kennel hasn’t been completely filled but I can … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, The Strip, TV, Wayne F. Newton | 6 Comments

Choo-Choo to Infinity … and beyond!

Posted on August 1, 2012 by David McKee

Our favorite welfare queen, Xpress West (née Desert Xpress) isn’t letting its plans be constrained by anything so mundane as reality. Original pitchman Sig “The Fixer” Rogich has crawled off into the underbrush somewhere but his Choo-Choo-to-Nowhere has found additional … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Colorado, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Good news for online gambling? Bad news for Rio

Posted on July 31, 2012 by David McKee

• Anti-gambling prick Rep. Steve King (R-IA) may find himself under investigation. Unfortunately, he’s not being investigated for being an anti-gambling prick. But it might remove one more obstacle to online poker. • The online-gambling world wet its panties last … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments