Category Archives: Planet Hollywood

Worth the money

Posted on December 14, 2009 by David McKee

Those three words are all you need to know about Garth Brooks‘ show at Wynncore. (Also, I’m pledged to cover it for WizardOfVegas.com, so I can’t spill all the beans here.) If you’re lucky — as we were — your … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Who’s better for F’bleau: Icahn or Penn?

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the unspoken question hanging over a lengthy piece in yesterday’s Las Vegas Sun. While Penn National Gaming is willing to commit $1.5 billion or more to finishing Fontainebleau, lead bidder Carl Icahn may be able to do the job … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Case Bets: The Wayner, G2E, Packer & Kerzner

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

Say what you like about Wayne Newton‘s Once Before I Go at the Tropicana Las Vegas, it has the biggest band you’ll see on the Strip: 20 strong, plus backup singers. Most Strip headliners have to make do with one-third … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Genting, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Harrah’s gets away with it

Posted on December 7, 2009 by David McKee

In a move certain to embolden scofflaws all over Clark County, District Attorney David Roger has cut a deal with Harrah’s Entertainment that lets the corporate behemoth slide on a variety of criminal charges in return for paying a $1.2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, The Strip | 1 Comment

Gossy-ed out; Peep-less Show; Phat Phantom

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

According to the latest issue of Las Vegas Advisor, bland-as-butter Palms headliner Matt Goss is not announced for any dates past Dec. 5. However, if Goss has Timberlaked his way across the lounge floor for the last time, S&G believes … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Chutzpah, thy name is Loveman

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

Do the bondholders of Harrah’s Entertainment ever get tired of being played for suckers? After being asked to take haircut after haircut — whether in the form of distressed buybacks or deferred repayment — comes a new indignity. While Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Is Adelson mad? Trump trumped & Kerzner booted

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

In an interview with Reuters, Sheldon Adelson said Las Vegas Sands might launch operations in India, Thailand and Japan as soon as 2010. Given the ropey financial condition of his company, the fact that Marina Bay Sands will open at … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kansas, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

From the mailbag #12

Posted on November 20, 2009 by David McKee

A former colleague, a person of upbeat disposition and someone who, along with his wife, achieved the American Dream here, recently sent ’round the following dispatch. Were it coming from somebody who was a congenital naysayer, that’d be one thing. … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Michael Gaughan, Morgans Hotel Group, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Privé in the privvy

Posted on November 12, 2009 by David McKee

It’s business as usual at Planet Hollywood‘s troubled Privé nightclub. Once week, a license revocation, today a bankruptcy filing. Do you think maybe Planet Ho will be happy to see the last of the Miami-based owners of the club? (Photo: … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip | 5 Comments

Trouble in River City

Posted on November 9, 2009 by David McKee

In a shocking development that’s bound to set tongues a-wagging, Pinnacle Entertainment CEO Dan Lee has “resigned to pursue other business interests” (industry-speak for “Don’t let the doorknob hit you in the butt”). The buzz is that Pinnacle’s strategy was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Louisiana, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos | 8 Comments

Eight Vegas shows reviewed

Posted on October 19, 2009 by David McKee

As promised, Mike Shackleford's WizardOfVegas.com site has launched. It took a while to get the bugs worked out, hence my review of Scarlett & her Seductive Ladies of Magic didn't appear until after the show had closed. However, to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Dining, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 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

Trop, Sands purges continue

Posted on September 30, 2009 by David McKee

It’s official: “Pit Bull of Comedy” Bobby Slayton has snarled his last at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Thus endeth a brief, inauspicious reign by Anthony Cools over the Trop’s upstairs showroom. A well-placed source advises LVA that Beatles tribute show … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Case Bets: Wynn in Macao, "Peepshow" strips down

Posted on September 29, 2009 by David McKee

• Steve Wynn is accelerating his timetable for developing on the Cotai Strip™. If Wynn continues to learn from his early miscalculations (and I see no reason to expect otherwise), a gaming-centric Wynn Resorts property on Cotai is a far … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Macau, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

Crime doesn't pay; Wyden wimps out

Posted on September 25, 2009 by David McKee

Five dimes worth of damage, $40,000 bail — and all to wrest a measly two grand from some vending machines at Harrah’s Atlantic City. That’s the losing bet made by two security guards. Couple this with the floormen who destroyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Are you ready for some football? No!

Posted on September 21, 2009 by David McKee

Galaxy Theatres' multiplex at The Cannery has scrapped all its big-screen showings of Monday Night Football, it was announced today, one week into the NFL season. Perhaps the incessant jabbering of Jon Gruden sent patrons screaming out onto the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sports, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Penn hearts F'bleau … maybe

Posted on September 18, 2009 by David McKee

So the much-bruited suitor for stalled, bankrupt Fontainebleau has been "outed" and it's … Penn National Gaming. Ace reporter Alexandra Berzon, late of the Las Vegas Sun, broke the story. However, she notes that Penn and F'bleau have been dickering … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off

Do not resuscitate?

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

Most of us hew to the standard English-language definition of “fixation” (as in “I have a sudden fixation with actresss Crystal Chappell“). However, in Cirque du Soleil-speak, “fixation” means “damage repair.” To wit: Criss F. Angel vehicle Believe has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sports, Technology | Comments Off

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

Optimism in Macao, euphoria at CityCenter

Posted on September 8, 2009 by David McKee

Relaxation of stringent visa restrictions from Guangdong Province came a full four months sooner than expected, starting Sept. 1. Now, residents will be able to visit Macao once a month instead of quarterly. While this has prompted J.P. Morgan to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Entertainment, IGT, Indiana, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off