Category Archives: Morgans Hotel Group

Boyd: A waiting game

Posted on October 27, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the economic forecast of J.P. Morgan analysts after Boyd Gaming came in slightly under its cash-flow projections for the third quarter. Borgata remained a bright spot, reaching record levels of market share in Atlantic City (a staggering 19%) in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

From the mailbag #4: California, tech troubles & 'resort fees'

Posted on September 10, 2009 by David McKee

Reader Kerr Mudgeon is less than amused by a recent dig at the cuisine offered by Commerce Casino to California firefighters. He writes: "The firefighters can go to numerous other nearby eateries if they don't like the FREE meals offered … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 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

Case Bets: Hard Rock, Puck, Station, Greek Isles

Posted on July 29, 2009 by David McKee

Morgans Hotel Group has never seemed able to make up its mind about what to do with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (one of the stranger acquisitions of recent years). Then-CEO Ed Scheetz came in talking big about classing … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 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: Midnight Jim, Sands, "Peepshow", Hard Rock, Reid

Posted on July 16, 2009 by David McKee

Chronic ineptitude by Nevada's governor is endless fodder for comedy (like entrusting your re-election campaign to the former marketing director of a ski resort and political novice.) But it also has perilous consequences. For instance, his thoughtless decision to pack … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Morgans Hotel Group, Oscar Goodman, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off

It’s lonely in the bunker; Luxor gets its groove on

Posted on July 15, 2009 by David McKee

Two resignations made the news today. First, the publicist for Criss F. Angel took a hike. Given the choice between the much-reviled Angel and unlikely rising star (and reportedly much, much nicer person) Holly Madison, Fantasy flack John Flynn left … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Report from the Strat

Posted on June 2, 2009 by David McKee

A reader asked (possibly in jest) how the Hard Rock Hotel was vis-a-vis the Stratosphere. While I don't have the basis for an A:A comparison, I can comfortably say that if you can afford the Hard Rock, it's no contest. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Carl Icahn, Goldman Sachs, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Super-screwed at Santana

Posted on June 1, 2009 by David McKee

Morgans' gradual obliteration of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino continues apace, in this February photo. Actually, this was one of the few flattering angles to be found. Ever since Morgans Hotel Group plunged into the Las Vegas market, first … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, George Maloof, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 21, 2009 by David McKee

A certain casino. "The old timers will remember the time, and not that long ago, when casinos just looked at your action and rewarded you accordingly. They figured everyone wins at least part of the time, and they knew that if … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Updates: Pinnacle, Boyd, Foxwoods, Donald Trump & Criss Angel

Posted on April 22, 2009 by David McKee

Don’t wait by the phone if you’ve got a date with Pinnacle Entertainment. It has just pushed back the timelines on its Baton Rouge and Lake Charles projects by five months. It cited investor reluctance and warned more delays are … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Louisiana, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets: Bank shot, Sin City Express

Posted on March 4, 2009 by David McKee

In today's Movable Buffet, Richard Abowitz speculates on the possible evolution (devolution?) of Las Vegas from a boomtown built on junk bonds to critical-care patient who's a ward of the banks. To Abowitz's mention of the bank-owned Cosmopolitan, I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Goldman Sachs, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Joint 2.0

Posted on February 20, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday, a large gaggle of local media traipsed through the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's in-progress new version of The Joint (or Joint 2.0, if you will). Those on hand included Mike Weatherford and Jason Bracelin from the Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Morgans Hotel Group, Technology | Comments Off

Looking for good news in Vegas

Posted on February 12, 2009 by David McKee

If I wanted to drive myself to strong drink, I could write about depressing, atrocious numbers coming out of Nevada casinos in December. But as that great philosopher, Linus in Peanuts, would remind me, it's better to light a single … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Gary Goett, George Maloof, Harrah's, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

21

Posted on December 31, 2008 by David McKee

That's the number of predictions for 2009 issued by Spectrum Gaming Group, an Atlantic City-based outfit. They are, in no particular order: • Advancements in technology that impact revenues and cut costs will continue to be attractive to operators even … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets: Stanley Ho in Vegas?, HRH grows but Morgans shrinks

Posted on December 11, 2008 by David McKee

A local columnist raises the spectre of Stanley Ho getting back-door access into Las Vegas via James Packer‘s acquisition of Cannery Resorts. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this question raised and, call me complacent, but I believe it … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boyd Takes Sanity Pill

Posted on October 29, 2008 by David McKee

After insisting right up to the bitter end, and then some, on going full-tilt with Echelon, now on hiatus for 7-12 months, Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith is modulating his tone. According to Reuters, "He emphasized that Boyd remains 'committed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip | Comments Off

Station gets it; In defense of Boyd

Posted on September 25, 2008 by David McKee

Kudos to Station Casinos for agreeing to give its employees first dibs on apartments to be built near Fiesta Henderson. This is a story that fell through the cracks recently but deserves to be highlighted. The land was originally set … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Boyd & Morgans: co-dependency and abuse

Posted on September 25, 2008 by David McKee

Where is your pride, Boyd Gaming? After being kicked in the teeth by Morgans Hotel Group last summer (when Morgans leaked the news of Echelon's suspension before Boyd's planned announcement), the casino company is crawling back for more. Today's announcement … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip | Comments Off

From bad to worse

Posted on August 19, 2008 by David McKee

British Reuters lays out a dire scenario for casino bonds, the second-most-distressed sector of the junk-bond market (only media firms are doing worse). "We believe it probably hasn't hit its bottom," is the grave verdict of Moody's Investors Service analyst … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off