Category Archives: MGM Mirage

Ka-BOOM!

Posted on August 15, 2011 by David McKee

This just in: The race to become the first Strip hotel to be demolished without ever having opened has been won by … The Harmon. Details are sketchy but MGM Resorts International‘s decision will surprise few. Allegedly culpable Perini Building … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Tourists behaving badly

Posted on August 10, 2011 by David McKee

While Navy SEALs are dying heroically in Afghanistan and putting Osama bin Laden on ice, one of their former colleagues has been trying to beat the rap for a rampage of random violence he conducted on the Las Vegas Strip. … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Environment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Tourists behaving badly

Boob job

Posted on August 5, 2011 by David McKee

Bankrupt, 38-year-old Hooters Hotel got a two-month reprieve yesterday, as owners obtained a judge’s permission to keep spending creditors’ monies to keep the place open for an additional two months. That will at least give employees time to update their … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Hooters, IGT, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 7 Comments

Somebody sent us these …

Posted on August 3, 2011 by David McKee

It is difficult to say what looks phoniest about that picture: the cryingly obvious studio background of Venelazzo; the frozen grins on the faces of the agonized-looking models; or maybe it’s the fact that you could go into any Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Cretins, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, International, MGM Mirage, New York, Oscar Goodman, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Twin births

Posted on July 29, 2011 by David McKee

There’s a new dolphin — as yet unnamed — at The Mirage. It’ll probably be a while before the little pup goes on public display. In the meantime, S&G congratulates The Mirage, and hopes mother and child are resting comfortably. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Gorging at the trough

Posted on July 29, 2011 by David McKee

How do you turn a $100 million savings into a $92 million one? Leave it to Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, that’s how. If you’ve noticed that the food quality at The Rio‘s Carnival World Buffet has declined (the “New … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

No respect for CityCenter

Posted on July 28, 2011 by David McKee

CityCenter‘s public art collection (now with 100% fewer explanatory plaques!) and its “pocket park” get the spoof treatment from artist Justin Favela, as shown in this DIY video report by the Wall Street Journal‘s Alexandra Berzon, who dryly narrates.

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

For sale: One casino, slightly used; Golden showers in LV

Posted on July 26, 2011 by David McKee

Pity MGM Resorts International. It owns half of the top-grossing casino in Atlantic City and can’t give it away. Yup, as many feared, investor Leonard Green has slinked off into the tall grass, leaving MGM with 50% of Borgata it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Environment, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Wanna get away from it all? Try Rampart!

Posted on July 22, 2011 by David McKee

Just how dead is Rampart Casino, formerly known as — among other things — The Resort at Summerlin, the big-budget folly that finished Swiss Casinos‘ attempt to become a major Vegas player? Well, when Chicago commodities broker-turned-fugitive Arthur Jones wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Illinois, MGM Mirage, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment

Lost: Steve Wynn’s marbles

Posted on July 21, 2011 by David McKee

Oh Christ, Steve Wynn, grow up already. Busy Wall Street analysts were held hostage to a 433-word talk-radio tirade while they were probably itching to write up quarterly earnings reports. When other CEOs might have been bragging on an “amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 19, 2011 by David McKee

“I think we’re going to have a very difficult ’08 in our business.” — the late J. Terrence Lanni, foreseeing in late 2007 that to which other CEOs in his industry — most notoriously Gary Loveman and Frank Fertitta III … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Dog Days

Posted on July 18, 2011 by David McKee

Heading into August, hotel rates along the Strip appear to be in the doldrums, judging by figures published today by J.P. Morgan analysts. Weekday rates continue to recover, typified by Caesars Entertainment properties, and weekend ones continue to decline. So … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Encore, Environment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Movies, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

J. Terrence Lanni, 1943-2011

Posted on July 15, 2011 by David McKee

Just minutes ago, Las Vegas Sun reporter Rick Velotta posted the news that we’d been dreading for several years now. Former MGM Mirage CEO J. Terrence Lanni has died, presumably for the cancer from which he was revealed to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Detroit, G2E, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

If you liked CityCenter …

Posted on July 14, 2011 by David McKee

… you’ll lurve the “ghost cities” of China. Actually, they look more like something Sheldon Adelson would design — if Adelson were doing mile-long lines of cocaine, that is. He and others like him who own casinos in Macao better … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, International, Jack Binion, Macau, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

“Family friendly Vegas” is back; Putting the “gone” in Longoria; A mess in Mississippi

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Actually, it never left, as any casual visit to the Strip will prove. But, strapped for a marketing position, Trump International is going for the wholesome niche with a vengeance. Stuck with a lemon, Trump marketing execs are making lemonade … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

ACH-ooo!; The Admiral’s last voyage

Posted on July 1, 2011 by David McKee

For the second time in a week, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has stripped its name from a Colony Capital casino-hotel. First to go was the Las Vegas Hilton, to be known next year as [your logo here]. Today comes news … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

St. Regis … still stumped; Quid pro Qua

Posted on June 28, 2011 by David McKee

Last autumn, Las Vegas Sands COO Michael Leven floated the idea of capping its St. Regis failsino at its current five-story height, admitting that the skeleton was an “eyesore” along the Strip. The “Stump Regis” was the subject of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, California, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

A Tale of Two Resorts

Posted on June 27, 2011 by David McKee

As everyone knows, both Palms Casino Resort and M Resort recently changed hands, the former going to a pair of hedge funds and the latter to Penn National Gaming. Penn broke with industry tradition by keeping property CEO Anthony Marnell … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, George Maloof, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Laughlin, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 13 Comments

Illinois: Optimism or suicide?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

It doesn’t matter to state Rep. Lou Lang (D, right) that Illinois‘ casino revenues are puny compared to those of neighboring Indiana or that St. Louis-area players are defecting in droves. He wants racinos and more casinos, by golly, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | 2 Comments

Genting’s amphibious strategy

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

There may not be Vegas-style casinos in Florida yet (at least not non-tribal ones) but Genting Bhd is taking a gamble of its own. While Sheldon Adelson talks about putting $3 billion into the Miami area, Genting is already doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments