Category Archives: The Strip

The case of the ‘missing’ Moore; Waiting for Macao

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David McKee

Recent photo coverage of the makeover of CityCenter‘s famous/notorious “pocket park” made it appear as though the Henry Moore sculpture (best thing in CityCenter, IMO) had gone missing. Was MGM Resorts International retreating from its commitment to public after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, history, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, The Strip | 1 Comment

Rooms at the top

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David McKee

It’s been a bumpy and expensive education in the Las Vegas casino business for Goldman Sachs. However, the banking house is giving its flagship property, the Stratosphere, a new look (and a new general manger to go with it). If … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 17, 2011 by David McKee

“All that happened was some of [the Hollywood Foreign Press Association] were taken to see Cher in concert. How the hell is that a bribe? Really. ‘Do you want to go and see Cher?’ ‘No.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because it’s not 1975!’” … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Sound like anyplace you know?

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

Raving Consulting President Steve Browne has published a litany of signs of poor customer service. They’re all worth reading but three seem particularly applicable to present-day Las Vegas casinos: • If you expect your employees to pick up trash from … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, North Las Vegas, The Strip | Comments Off on Sound like anyplace you know?

Mr. Glick on Line 1!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

Mr. Captain of Industry there is Allen R. Glick (1942- ), front man for the infamous Stardust skim. I’ll be spending some quality time with Mr. Glick’s curriculum vitae this afternoon, as he’s to be the subject of a forthcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in history, The Mob, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

“Sahara is a dirty hell hole. This is all you need to know.” — Vegas Tripping, naming the minaret-topped casino the worst on the Strip. Congratulations to Sam Nazarian and new minority owner Colony Capital, which really knows how to … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

A fit of ‘Peep’

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

While I personally do not find Holly Madison terribly attractive, the producers of Peepshow are complete and utter dumbf@*!s if they think she’s ‘too fat’ to star in their struggling show. Let’s leave aside the question of Madison’s appearance (and … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 2 Comments

Saved!

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casino industry just dodged a bullet the size of a 747 when the lower house failed to bring a gaming-expansion bill to a vote last night. A new Legislature is sworn in today, sending this colossally bad and ill-timed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 4 Comments

Harrah’s to Philly: “We’re back!”; MGM tries something new

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David McKee

Or so Ed Snider‘s Philadelphia Entertainment & Development Partnership claims in a new petition to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control, asking for its license back. Snider’s group says that it now has $275 million in seed money sown up and would … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Desperate housewife

Posted on January 10, 2011 by David McKee

As you’ve probably heard, Beso has become the first known casualty of CityCenter. Its Chapter 11 filing was smuggled out in the waning hours of last week’s news cycle. The Panglossian rhetoric of the initial dispatch tried to paint the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Dubai, Election, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Sheldon: I’ll take Florida

Posted on January 7, 2011 by David McKee

It’s amazing what a transformative effect a night’s stay at Venelazzo will have. After stopping by Sheldon Adelson‘s little pied-a-terre, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (left) has done a 180 on casino expansion in Florida. Now Scott, refreshed by an evening’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Palms: Maloof out, Loveman in?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David McKee

Now that Las Vegas has fallen about as far as it can, private equity firms are picking over the city like vultures sampling carrion. Don’t get me wrong: It’s a much smarter strategy than those PE bozos who bought in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Cosmo: Porches and walls

Posted on January 5, 2011 by David McKee

Today’s guest-blogger contribution comes from Dr. Augie Grant, holder of the J. Rion McKissick Professorship of Journalism at the University of South Carolina‘s School of Journalism & Mass Communications. Prof. Grant was in Las Vegas for the opening of The … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 8 Comments

Hard Rock: No end of trouble on Paradise

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

Once again the blogosphere has caught the MSM napping. Report On Vegas informs readers that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is having a rough time meeting its bills (this was the augury of doom for Barrick Gaming‘s short-lived stewardship … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

From the mailbag

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

It’s but 9:07 a.m. and two big pieces of news have fallen over the cyber-transom. An S&G reader informs me that leaderless Greektown Casino will have new — and good — management soon, in the form of a GM who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

In the casino industry, everything was stirring, including the mice. Cordish’s revenge. It’s a dish best served by opening Cordish Gaming‘s controversial Arundel Mills gambling hall late next year with a temporary, one-year casino. That means karma comes early for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on ‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

The Gossy 500

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re not watching heavy amounts of ESPN you may have missed this … … because nothing says “NASCAR” quite like a pallid British crooner in a slouch hat and tuxedo. Christmas in Vegas: Regarding that travel advice I gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Marketing, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Pea soup in Vegas; Robosaurus attacks the wrong target

Posted on December 22, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re thinking of coming to Las Vegas for Christmas, I have one word of advice: Don’t. For the past week, Sin City has been steadily blanketed in rain, with no end in sight. It’s just miserable. (Instead of trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Morning in Vegas? Karma 2, Penn Nat’l 0

Posted on December 21, 2010 by David McKee

Having been burned by a few too many “false positives” in terms of economic recovery, S&G is loath to get anyone’s hopes up. (And some remain skeptical.) However, another room-rate survey from J.P. Morgan provides license for optimism. As you … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Betting on crime; Anniversary in Indiana

Posted on December 21, 2010 by David McKee

Last week’s big chip heist at Bellagio may have left MGM Resorts International with a smidgen of egg on its face but it’s not as though others in the gambling industry have failed to see the opportunity to make money. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Oscar Goodman, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments