Category Archives: The Strip

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 14, 2011 by David McKee

“It used to be that people were choosing between value and luxury. But since the recession they don’t have to choose: They can get value and luxury in the same place.” — David G. Schwartz, director of the Center for … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 12, 2011 by David McKee

“It might seem unfathomable to the guests who tote giant coolers stuffed with three days’ worth of provisions to their $39-a-night room that the Sahara was once one of the Strip’s great hotels.” — John Katsilometes, on the 59-year-old resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

R.I.P., Sahara (1952-2011)

Posted on March 11, 2011 by David McKee

Once the Riviera changed hands, the Strip casino for whom mortality seemed most imminent became the Sahara. The ‘death by a thousand cuts’ regime of nightclub impresario and absentee owner Sam Nazarian bled the place to the extent that there … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, history, International, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pansy Ho, Plaza, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 10 Comments

Vegas in January: Dazed and confusing

Posted on March 10, 2011 by David McKee

It’s not as though there aren’t signs of hope for the Nevada economy. And even as empty storefronts continue to proliferate and housing prices tank in Las Vegas, there’s a “green shoot” or two, if you look for them. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Economy, history, IGT, Lake Tahoe, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Wynn hearts Pinnacle; Harrah’s demands aesthetic restraint

Posted on March 9, 2011 by David McKee

Now that former Mirage Resorts CFO Dan Lee is long gone from Pinnacle Entertainment, too, former Lee boss Steve Wynn seems to have changed his opinion about Pinnacle. While I (erroneously) thought that Pinnacle CEO Anthony Sanfilippo‘s erstwhile ties to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Dan Lee, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

“V”

Posted on March 8, 2011 by David McKee

That’s about the extent and substance of the campaign of Las Vegas mayoral aspirant Victor Chaltiel, a suddenly ubiquitous, Peter Lorre-like figure who has manifested himself as major civic figure as suddenly as if he’d been beamed down from space. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, International, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Banzai, Caesar!

Posted on March 7, 2011 by David McKee

Although it will be putting its noble name to on the soon-to-be-ex-Centurion Tower at sprawling Caesars Palace, Nobu Hospitality will only pony up an (unspecified) portion of the (unspecified) cost. Actually, the Associated Press and Las Vegas Review-Journal differ on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 2 Comments

“Hi, I’m John Ensign, your casino host”

Posted on March 7, 2011 by David McKee

In development that was a foregone conclusion to everyone but Sen. John Ensign (R) himself, the former casino executive and prospective heir to the Mandalay Resort Group fortune of Mike Ensign, announced his retirement from politics today. The former general … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Election, Florida, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip | 3 Comments

Wynncore sells itself short

Posted on March 4, 2011 by David McKee

While I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a substitute for Mardi Gras, the “Jazz Brunch” at Country Club Grill is as tasty as they would have you believe … and quite a lot better than it comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Louisiana, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Idiocy Express

Posted on March 4, 2011 by David McKee

George F. Will is an @$$. I say this because he claims to intuit that my desire to travel to and from Las Vegas by rail is motivated by a desire to make my fellow Americans “more amenable to collectivism.” … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cretins, Current, Louisiana, The Strip, Transportation | 6 Comments

Warm February in Philly; “Lion King” hungry

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

After a pretty lackluster January, gaming revenues in Pennsylvania bounced back at the slots.  The statewide February average was a 10% increase year/year, with Sands Bethlehem right on that button ($22 million) and Harrah’s Chester Downs down 2% ($24 million). … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Ferris wheel fetishists; Rail fail; “Aerotropolis” now?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment better get a move on with that Ferris wheel it wants to build out back of O’Shea’s. A rival project, slated for problematic (and fairly blighted) land opposite Mandalay Bay received approval from Clark County. Then again, getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Dubai, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Seminoles’ big payday; ‘Net-bet stampede: It’s on

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

After a full year of Class III gambling, the Seminole Tribe has grossed $2 billion. Depending on how considerably that amount ramps up, the State of Florida will enjoy at least a $1 billion “rake” by the end of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 4 Comments

HRH: When the Scheetz hit the fan

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Thanks to the S&G reader who provided me with that ready-made headline. Yes, Morgans Hotel Group has closed the book on Scheetz’s Folly, the $770 million purchase of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Sun‘s Liz Benston lays out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Golden Gaming, International, James Packer, Kansas, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

If you can’t come to the Cosmo …

Posted on March 1, 2011 by David McKee

… then The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will come to you, thanks to this handy-dandy traveling attraction. Perhaps other Vegas resorts have tried this but this is the first such “roadshow” I’ve seen. On a not-so-happy note, I’ve been hearing … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Marketing, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on If you can’t come to the Cosmo …

Power shift at Ameristar

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

No longer will the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation be calling the shots at Ameristar Casinos. The financial needs of the nonprofit have led Ameristar Chairman Ray Neilsen to liquidate 83% of the foundation’s stake in ASCA for an above-market $17.50. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Indiana, Kansas, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

“They basically gave the middle finger to their database … Once an offer has been extended and redeemed, I don’t think you can welsh on it.” — Fine Point Group founder Randall Fine, on Sheldon Adelson‘s retroactive revocation of comps … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 2 Comments

Hard Rock: End of a (bad) era

Posted on February 25, 2011 by David McKee

Scheetz’s Folly, otherwise known as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, will soon be in new hands. After several addled years under Morgans Hotel Group, whose bright ideas included “building a hotel suite with an S&M theme and a human … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

“But the thing I truly, truly cannot live without, is a ‘Kirin Dragon.’ That beaut there is a 7.5-foot-tall fiberglass statue. I can’t imagine where it was supposed to go or why, with this on hand, they threw that crappy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dubai, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Behind the curtain at Wynn LV

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

Freshly uploaded to the Web, here’s a look at how Wynn Resorts makes those truly baffling illusions at Wynn Las Vegas‘ Lake of Dreams come to life. As always, there’s Steve Wynn (& Co.) and then there’s Everyone Else.

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment