Category Archives: Riviera

Dr. Loveman on the case; Death Ray designer stays mum

Posted on October 15, 2010 by David McKee

Confronted with an anemic patient — i.e., the Las Vegas Strip — attending physician Gary Loveman, Ph.D, has been prescribing a series of stimuli. (Possibly the only “economic stimulus” that all Americans can support.) Since customers are spending more selectively, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | 7 Comments

Case Bets: Maryland, New Jersey, Arizona & the Riv

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Although the Maryland public has warmed up to the idea of table games, casinos in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey needn’t lose sleep: Marylanders are at least two years — probably four — from voting table games into … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, Riviera, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Objects in the photo may be emptier than they appear

Posted on August 31, 2010 by David McKee

Booking site Oyster.com is having a bit of fun with the gap between perception and reality at some Las Vegas hotels. Take for instance, that photo which shows you the Mandalay Bay wave pool as though you would have it … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colorado, Current, Downtown, Economy, Election, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Global Cash’s Access, Cosmo, Riviera, Oscar, Oregon & Banditry

Posted on August 25, 2010 by David McKee

Excessive Access? The casino industry gets closer and closer to the day when it simply hooks up a suction hose to your bank vault. While Global Cash Access doesn’t want to interface bank cards with slot machines — it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Current, Election, Environment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, New York, Oscar Goodman, Problem gambling, Regulation, Riviera, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 8 Comments

Who needs M most?; Station’s glass jaw

Posted on August 17, 2010 by David McKee

In a shocker of a scoop, The Newspaper That Must Not Be Cited revealed yesterday that a $700 million stake in $1 billion M Resort was being shopped around by the resort’s lead banker. While this probably says more about … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Economy, Kansas, M Resort, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Riviera, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 8 Comments

Wasted … and the 77% solution

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Not even the cachet of Carey Hart and occasional appearances by Pink were enough to keep Wasted Space going. The Hard Rock Hotel is calling it quits on the club, bumping it in favor of a race and sports book. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Chrome Dome

Posted on August 5, 2010 by David McKee

Last weekend, as I ploughed into a pile of analyst reports, court filings, etc., I came across a Clark County Commission planning report on Christopher Milam, Paul & Sue Lowden‘s proposed Silver State Arena. As you can see, it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Baseball, Current, Economy, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 8 Comments

From the mailbag

Posted on July 30, 2010 by David McKee

A mystery illness has debilitated me off and on (more “on” than “off,” sadly) for the past seven days. Fortunately, lively reader debate in the “Comments” threads have kept things ticking over nicely in my absence. Also, I sometimes get … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, IGT, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

The great Hilton showroom massacre (and other light news)

Posted on July 22, 2010 by David McKee

In true Colony Capital fashion, the Las Vegas Hilton continues to shed parts like a rattletrap car. Our LVA research team reports that Shimmer Cabaret fixtures Voices (“Starring the beautiful and talented Lani Misalucha“) and Sin City Bad Girls have … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Environment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Margaritaville on the rocks

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

Long-serving — and long-suffering — Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway has lost patience with Harrah’s Entertainment. He is convinced that the metamorphosis of Grand Casino Biloxi into Margaritaville Casino is kaput and that Harrah’s will tear down what little it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Encore, Environment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Holy Cow, Indiana, International, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Movies, Pennsylvania, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Plaza, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Riviera: Non-story of the year

Posted on July 13, 2010 by David McKee

In what was 2010’s biggest foregone conclusion, Riviera Holdings filed bankruptcy yesterday. This has been coming a long time although the scanty news coverage leaves it unclear whether what’s taking place is the pre-packaged bankruptcy that would see the Riv … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Animals, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Pansy Ho, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

“I’m not dead yet!”

Posted on July 8, 2010 by David McKee

Taking its cue from Monty Python‘s interpretation of the death of Mary, Queen of Scots, management of the Riviera refuses to roll over and die. Its latest enhancement is somewhat out of the box as far as Strip watering holes … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 4 Comments

Look who’s getting into the pool-party scene

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

If you seek a casino pool on the Strip that’s relaxing, quiet and douchebag-free, my experience says, “Try the Riviera.” After all, “tranquil” and “Vegas” needn’t be oxymoronic. But Riv management’s out to change all that … OK, one doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off

So much news …

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

… so little time. East Coast casinos are stepping up their Asian-American marketing … and people are complaining? Don’t do it and you’re culturally insensitive. Do it and you’re predatory. This is one of those perception battles casinos will never … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Ozzy has left the building

Posted on April 22, 2010 by David McKee

Rock-based revues and tribute shows are biting the dust left and right, according to our LVA research staff. As the Riviera (whose workforce has been allegedly reduced by 60%) creeps toward the grave, Masters of Rock preceded it last Saturday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Harrah’s robbing Peter to buy Paul

Posted on April 15, 2010 by David McKee

When executives of Harrah’s Entertainment credit “hard-nosed” negotiating tactics for their success is reducing the company’s preposterous debt level, one suspects that threats of default and bankruptcy serve as the rhetorical equivalents of the rubber hose and brass knuckles. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

CityCenter: Guilty by association

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

This new attack ad, fired today, represents the latest salvo in what might be called The War Over CityCenter. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), not having been shy to take credit for CityCenter’s completion, is fair game. Where the ad may … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

The Flying Dutchman of the Strip

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

Pity poor Rockstar: The Tribute. It briefly played Planet Hollywood‘s Wyrick Entertainment Complex last June, then got the boot. An announced revival at the Harmon Theater never materialized. A late-2009 move to the Riviera was ballyhooed. Guess what? Rockstar never … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

For those about to rock …

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

… there is a new tribute show at the Riviera. Having fallen out with ill-starred Rockstar: The Tribute, the Riv comes back with: Why am I getting a heavy This is Spinal Tap vibe off that poster? From the looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Riviera, The Strip | 3 Comments

Palms: “Matt Who?”

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

“Freddy Mercury meets Andrea Bocelli.” That’s one description applied to androgynous vocalist Jimmy Hopper, whom The Palms has signed for a once-a-week concert series. This is a sweet deal for customers: It’s a three-hour show and it’s free. The seating … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, Riviera, The Strip | 1 Comment