Category Archives: Steve Wynn

Torino’s big gamble

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

At a time when the bottom has fallen out of Las Vegas Strip land prices what possessed Brett Torino to make an uncontested, above-market bid for a small and awkwardly configured piece of Strip real estate? Before we get to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn | 8 Comments

Aren’t we glad?

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

When given lemons, make lemonade. When hit with a throat infection, lay low and scrounge around for S&G fodder. So it is today — and I didn’t have to scrounge very far. While Las Vegas didn’t dodge too many bullets … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Carl Icahn, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 3 Comments

Feast or famine

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

While we in Las Vegas struggle to reconcile long nightclub lines and (depending on which casino you visit) full gaming floors with but smallish increases in revenue and visitation, it’s one big-ass Christmas over in Macao. Revenue skyrocketed 63% last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Feast or famine

It’s a boy!

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

Folks here at LVA HQ must be feeling a little punchy, as they’ve come up with this bit of Humpday drollery, which I pass along for your diversion. Recipe: Take one Steve Wynn … Add a splash of Marty Allen … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Wayne F. Newton | 7 Comments

Garth: That’s the way it is

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

Amid all the ink that’s been spilled about the phenomenon that is Garth Brooks at Wynncore, we have a winner. No review is more eloquent, detailed or well-observed than the one newly penned by my estimable CityLife colleague Mike Prevatt. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Election, Encore, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Wynn getting into bargain race

Posted on January 20, 2010 by David McKee

With MGM Mirage aggressively discounting its Strip properties, it was only so long before Wynn Resorts had to enter the chase. It’s taking the form of a 25% “early savings” markdown that you get if you book your room 45 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Happy ending for “Aztar”

Posted on January 15, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s a feel-good story to help ring out the week. The Indiana Gaming Commission has approved Tropicana Entertainment as a suitable owner-operator for the Casino Aztar riverboat, berthed in Evansville. There are a number of contingencies, primarily the plunking down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, Labor, Louisiana, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

From the S&G Twitter feed …

Posted on January 14, 2010 by David McKee

• Fertittas sell 10% of UFC to Abu Dhabi, new LV sugar daddy, presumably to stave off [Boyd Gaming] takeover of [Station Casinos]. http://tinyurl.com/yzhbmv2 • [Penn National Gaming] gets deadline extension in [Kansas]. http://tinyurl.com/yawfuqk • Aria room rates continue to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Florida, International, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 13, 2010 by David McKee

“Atlantic City has a lot to offer visitors in addition to gambling. When the economy improves and people have more money to spend on entertainment, Atlantic City will draw more and more people interested in visiting our shops, enjoying a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Steve Wynn, Tourism | 8 Comments

Money quote

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

“Even so, some experts say that it might be a blessing in disguise that Macau wasn’t overly reliant on entertainment-related revenue during the downturn. Analysts point out that one reason Las Vegas casinos have yet to recover is that U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Entertainment, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Money quote

Garth Brooks, City Center’s art: the reviews

Posted on January 7, 2010 by David McKee

Much has been made of the $40 million in art lavished upon CityCenter. Virtually all of it is stunning in isolation but how does it work in context? CityLife dispatched me on a mission to evaluate CC’s many installations. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pets, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

“Wall Street analysts upgraded the prospects of two Las Vegas-based casino operators based on the companies’ holdings in Macau. Simultaneously, Macau media reported gaming revenue in the Chinese gambling market jumped 48 percent in December.” — Howard Stutz, of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Macao’s big bounce

Posted on January 4, 2010 by David McKee

Why is this man smiling? Gambling revenue in Macao jumped a whopping 48% last month, as customers left $1.4 billion in casino coffers. No surprise, Stanley Ho‘s casinos continued to maintain their 30% market share, followed by Sands China at … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao’s big bounce

‘Tis the season

Posted on December 23, 2009 by David McKee

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson cuts the ribbon on Boot Hill Casino. The gentleman at the rear in the red tie is the Kansas Lottery’s Ed Van Petten, taking time out from carrying water for Mike Ensign. Having been on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Jack Binion, James Packer, Kansas, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 8 Comments

Case Bets: Greektown, Adelson, Philadelphia & Stanley Ho

Posted on December 22, 2009 by David McKee

If a management company increases your revenues in the teeth of the Great Recession — and despite your casino’s well-publicized financial problems — what do you do? Kick them out, of course, if you’re Greektown Casino and you’ve no further … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 3 Comments

Loveman loves him some Macao

Posted on December 22, 2009 by David McKee

By now the saga of Harrah’s Entertainment‘s Macanese golf course is the stuff of legend: a $578 million golden albatross around the company’s neck and a metaphor for the company’s misfortune-prone international strategy. While some of CEO Gary Loveman‘s ventures … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Free $100K @ Harrah’s

Posted on December 21, 2009 by David McKee

Yes, there is such a thing as “free money,” leastways if you’re Mount Hope, N.Y., resident Sheila Baisley. She is no doubt saying stuff like, “Yum-O!” and “Delish!” after she won $100,000 in credit from Harrah’s Entertainment on the Rachael … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV | 3 Comments

CityCenter: succes d’estime

Posted on December 18, 2009 by David McKee

Enough procrastination! Such is the immensity and information overload that is CityCenter, that it may be some time before this spectator can fully wrap his brain around what is — for better or worse — the Strip’s equivalent to that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Dining, Encore, IGT, International, MGM Mirage, Movies, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 7 Comments

CityCenter giblets

Posted on December 17, 2009 by David McKee

While I’m gathering my thoughts — and notes — from yesterday’s Orgy o’CityCenter (and trying to maintain a Cone of Deafness, as far as other commentators), here are a few stray tidbits: Even MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren can’t hide … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

“Steve [Wynn] is a very interesting, creative guy and he has a wonderful view of the future and a view of the history which is not always aligned with my recollection of the history whatsoever or a lot of people’s.” … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments