Category Archives: Phil Ruffin

Oscar Goodman, Voice of Reason

Posted on May 21, 2009 by David McKee

Even as MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren and Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin are preparing to stomp out any incipient recovery in Las Vegas by jacking up room rates, words of restraint are coming from the unlikeliest of sources: Mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | Comments Off on Oscar Goodman, Voice of Reason

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

MGM Mirage sells family jewels

Posted on April 6, 2009 by David McKee

Desperation has well and truly hit the fan at MGM Mirage. The company’s Strip casinos may not be priced to move … but it’s said to be quite a different story where MGM Grand Detroit and Beau Rivage are concerned. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Economy, Illinois, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM Mirage sells family jewels

Who are they kidding?

Posted on February 2, 2009 by David McKee

Mesquite casino oligopolist Randy Black bought himself some TV ad time during the Super Bowl to tout his latest value proposition (starring one Randy Black). His opening gambit: "Everybody's cutting back." Uh no, not if you're Randy Black and just … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Mesquite, Phil Ruffin, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Who are they kidding?

'Gang' at Encore

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday saw an unusual — but altogether pleasant — change in the Vegas Gang routine, as we taped “on location” from a seventh-floor room in Encore, overlooking Echelon and the increasingly ominous Fontainebleau (so disproportionately massive it looms over its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cloverfield monster, Current, Detroit, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on 'Gang' at Encore

'Gang' at Encore

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday saw an unusual — but altogether pleasant — change in the Vegas Gang routine, as we taped "on location" from a seventh-floor room in Encore, overlooking Echelon and the increasingly ominous Fontainebleau (so disproportionately massive it looms over its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cloverfield monster, Current, Detroit, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on 'Gang' at Encore

Penn Nat'l: Smoke everywhere, fire less evident

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David McKee

Despite story upon story, Penn National Gaming refuses to oblige the Las Vegas Review-Journal and purchase The Mirage. (This was the paper that pooh-poohed the Phil Ruffin/El Ad deal when it began to break.) While — for all we know … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Penn Nat'l: Smoke everywhere, fire less evident

Lanni: The official story

Posted on January 12, 2009 by David McKee

My favorite exchange in one of my favorite current TV series, Mad Men, takes place when weasel-like junior exec Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) goes to rat out his boss, Donald Draper (Jon Hamm), to company owner Bertram Cooper (the cunningly … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Lanni: The official story

Good thing they don't gamble … do they?

Posted on January 9, 2009 by David McKee

(Well, only with their shareholders' money, perhaps.) Huffington Post, with the considerable assistance of VegasTripping.com, has sifted through the contributions of casino industry moguls during the last election cycle and all I can say is I'm sure glad these folks' … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Election, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Good thing they don't gamble … do they?

More gems from Ruffin

Posted on December 29, 2008 by David McKee

During his days at the helm of the New Frontier, owner Phil Ruffin was pretty shy with media access. So when he talks, it behooves one to pay attention. To wit: • He says his deal with MGM Mirage has … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on More gems from Ruffin

Phil Ruffin's big deal

Posted on December 15, 2008 by David McKee

As you've already read umpteen times over by now, MGM Mirage sold Treasure Island over the weekend to Phil Ruffin. The latter's sitting on a massive chunk of change ever since playing El Ad Group to the tune of $1.24 … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | Comments Off on Phil Ruffin's big deal