Category Archives: The Strip

Vegas’ recovery? D.O.A.

Posted on August 2, 2011 by David McKee

In the wake of last weekend’s Grand Capitulation on the banks of Foggy Bottom (I’ll let you decide who capitulated to whom), the incipient Las Vegas recovery that was materializing in late 2011 is probably as good as dead. Even … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Economy, history, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 8 Comments

Twin births

Posted on July 29, 2011 by David McKee

There’s a new dolphin — as yet unnamed — at The Mirage. It’ll probably be a while before the little pup goes on public display. In the meantime, S&G congratulates The Mirage, and hopes mother and child are resting comfortably. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Gorging at the trough

Posted on July 29, 2011 by David McKee

How do you turn a $100 million savings into a $92 million one? Leave it to Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, that’s how. If you’ve noticed that the food quality at The Rio‘s Carnival World Buffet has declined (the “New … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

No respect for CityCenter

Posted on July 28, 2011 by David McKee

CityCenter‘s public art collection (now with 100% fewer explanatory plaques!) and its “pocket park” get the spoof treatment from artist Justin Favela, as shown in this DIY video report by the Wall Street Journal‘s Alexandra Berzon, who dryly narrates.

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

For sale: One casino, slightly used; Golden showers in LV

Posted on July 26, 2011 by David McKee

Pity MGM Resorts International. It owns half of the top-grossing casino in Atlantic City and can’t give it away. Yup, as many feared, investor Leonard Green has slinked off into the tall grass, leaving MGM with 50% of Borgata it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Environment, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Wanna get away from it all? Try Rampart!

Posted on July 22, 2011 by David McKee

Just how dead is Rampart Casino, formerly known as — among other things — The Resort at Summerlin, the big-budget folly that finished Swiss Casinos‘ attempt to become a major Vegas player? Well, when Chicago commodities broker-turned-fugitive Arthur Jones wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Illinois, MGM Mirage, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment

Bingo returns to the Strip

Posted on July 22, 2011 by David McKee

Although it was my (much younger) wife who got me into playing bingo, let’s face it: Bingo is the archetypal — some would say stereotypical — game of the AARP set. In its latest move to attract a value-oriented, nostalgic … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Bingo returns to the Strip

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 22, 2011 by David McKee

“Steve Wynn‘s hatred of the president is just an old man getting back at his ex-wife.” — former (?) Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada Communications Director Launce Rake.

Posted in Current, Economy, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Lost: Steve Wynn’s marbles

Posted on July 21, 2011 by David McKee

Oh Christ, Steve Wynn, grow up already. Busy Wall Street analysts were held hostage to a 433-word talk-radio tirade while they were probably itching to write up quarterly earnings reports. When other CEOs might have been bragging on an “amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Dog Days, explained

Posted on July 19, 2011 by David McKee

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy As reported yesterday, July-September room rates for the Las Vegas Strip are looking soft (which is bound to degrade off-Strip ADRs, obviously). One possible explanation was, indirectly, floated … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Economy, The Strip | Comments Off on Dog Days, explained

Dog Days

Posted on July 18, 2011 by David McKee

Heading into August, hotel rates along the Strip appear to be in the doldrums, judging by figures published today by J.P. Morgan analysts. Weekday rates continue to recover, typified by Caesars Entertainment properties, and weekend ones continue to decline. So … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Encore, Environment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Movies, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

J. Terrence Lanni, 1943-2011

Posted on July 15, 2011 by David McKee

Just minutes ago, Las Vegas Sun reporter Rick Velotta posted the news that we’d been dreading for several years now. Former MGM Mirage CEO J. Terrence Lanni has died, presumably for the cancer from which he was revealed to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Detroit, G2E, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

If you liked CityCenter …

Posted on July 14, 2011 by David McKee

… you’ll lurve the “ghost cities” of China. Actually, they look more like something Sheldon Adelson would design — if Adelson were doing mile-long lines of cocaine, that is. He and others like him who own casinos in Macao better … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, International, Jack Binion, Macau, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

Warriors of The Cosmo

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

If you can’t get people to the art … bring Art to the people.

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Warriors of The Cosmo

Sheldon Adelson, stiff?

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Why would a man whose company shells out $2.5 million a year for a personal security detail balk at paying an extra hundred grand? (Las Vegas Sands has an interesting defense: We didn’t break the law … and, if we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Harry Reid, Macau, Regulation, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

“Family friendly Vegas” is back; Putting the “gone” in Longoria; A mess in Mississippi

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Actually, it never left, as any casual visit to the Strip will prove. But, strapped for a marketing position, Trump International is going for the wholesome niche with a vengeance. Stuck with a lemon, Trump marketing execs are making lemonade … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Shoe-fondling on the Strip

Posted on July 11, 2011 by David McKee

A casino as gaudy and glittery (and busy, visually and otherwise) as The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas may not be the ideal context for appreciating the subtleties of fine art. However, this isn’t a museum-friendly kind of town, so perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Shoe-fondling on the Strip

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 8, 2011 by David McKee

“Goldman is making a decent long-term investment in where the Strip is heading. The Stratosphere and the land could be more valuable imploded and built up with something else.” — gaming analyst Robert LaFleur, then with Susquehanna Financial Group, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Economy, Goldman Sachs, history, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Where there’s smoke …

Posted on July 7, 2011 by David McKee

Fighting For Air: Secondhand Smoke in Casinos from RPCI Health Behavior-Paul Hage on Vimeo. No question about it, the issue of secondhand smoke is the greatest moral dilemma before the casino industry … especially since eliminating it means making a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Anthony Marnell III answers your questions

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

Anonymous: What happened to the self-serve soda fountains? [They] actually became a Health Department issue. They’re very expensive to maintain and the public had basically worn them out. There were lots of problems with the syrup and things falling down … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, M Resort, Marketing, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments