Category Archives: The Strip

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 8, 2009 by David McKee

"From a purely employment standpoint, I think we are already in overcorrection territory. How long can you sustain that lower standard of employment before you really start to impact customer service?" — Jeremy Aguero of Applied Analysis, pointing out that … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Labor, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Feel better, Las Vegas

Posted on June 3, 2009 by David McKee

You could be Phoenix. A reader shared with me a Wall Street Journal article on the cratering hotel market down there. (No link, sorry.) Occupany hit 58% in April, far worse than anything Las Vegas has seen. (J.P. Morgan forecasts … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Feel better, Las Vegas

Reid rewarded, Trop rescued

Posted on June 3, 2009 by David McKee

… Sen. Harry Reid's (D-NV) efforts on behalf of the casino industry have not gone unrewarded. If you can follow this formatting garble, you'll see that his donors include not only Tim & Tom, late of the Golden Nugget, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Reid rewarded, Trop rescued

Rumble in Macao

Posted on June 2, 2009 by David McKee

Although an oft-promised loosening of visa restrictions by Peking stubborny refuses to materialize, an air of cautious hopefulness has crept back into Macao now that City of Dreams has opened on schedule — and it looks dazzling. Aggressive revenue projections … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Genting, George Maloof, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Rumble in Macao

Planet Ho Towers peep show

Posted on June 2, 2009 by David McKee

As for Nov. 1, PH Towers — the Westgate condo component of Planet Hollywood — will be open for business. Time constraints preclude creating an entire photo gallery, so I’ll just direct you here. (Be warned that there’s some damned … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on Planet Ho Towers peep show

Report from the Strat

Posted on June 2, 2009 by David McKee

A reader asked (possibly in jest) how the Hard Rock Hotel was vis-a-vis the Stratosphere. While I don't have the basis for an A:A comparison, I can comfortably say that if you can afford the Hard Rock, it's no contest. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Carl Icahn, Goldman Sachs, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Report from the Strat

By request …

Posted on June 1, 2009 by David McKee

A reader from the heartland of this great country wanted to know whether LVA HQ provided a good vantage point for a United Way car wash at The Rio last Friday. Since I have but an obstructed view of The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Harrah's, Labor, The Strip | Comments Off on By request …

Slots A Fun defeats Donald Trump

Posted on May 22, 2009 by David McKee

I'm not sure if you can see the "unique page views" counter on this blog or not but, as of Friday afternoon, people prefer to read about Slots A Fun than about the bizarre reasoning patterns of one Donald J. … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Slots A Fun defeats Donald Trump

Oscar Goodman, Voice of Reason

Posted on May 21, 2009 by David McKee

Even as MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren and Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin are preparing to stomp out any incipient recovery in Las Vegas by jacking up room rates, words of restraint are coming from the unlikeliest of sources: Mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | Comments Off on Oscar Goodman, Voice of Reason

The MGM/Pansy Ho verdict: It's in and it's bad

Posted on May 19, 2009 by David McKee

After nearly four years of investigation, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement has released its long-awaited “suitability” findings on MGM Mirage joint-venture partner Pansy Ho. As MGM itself reported to the SEC yesterday, “While the report itself is confidential, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on The MGM/Pansy Ho verdict: It's in and it's bad

"Peepshow" buys a clue

Posted on May 18, 2009 by David McKee

"Peepshow" prime donne Kelly Monaco & Mel. B By now it's old news that Planet Hollywood's new resident spectacle, Peepshow, has gone topless for real. Though some question the move, to me it always seemed retrogressive and counter-intuitive to present … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on "Peepshow" buys a clue

(Slots A) Fun Fact

Posted on May 15, 2009 by David McKee

I've just read that the 2008 cash flow for Slots A Fun, the crown jewel of what used to be Circus Circus Enterprises, was $2.8 million. Which means that current owner MGM Mirage could justify a sale price of $22.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Don Barden, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, The Strip, Transportation, TV | Comments Off on (Slots A) Fun Fact

Anybody seen my Cirque?

Posted on May 15, 2009 by David McKee

Last night’s media performance of The Lion King, unlike most Vegas media events, drew much of the local “A” list. KNPR-FM’s Dave Berns was there, as was man-of-all-media Steve Friess, along with large contingents from Fox 5 and Stephens Media, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Anybody seen my Cirque?

Perp Show

Posted on May 14, 2009 by David McKee

If you're bald, weight 285 lbs. and have one arm in a cast, you're not exactly inconspicuous. So how was it that that such a hefty man was to infiltrate a VIP area of Planet Hollywood and bust into Peepshow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Perp Show

F'blown?

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Ownership at Fontainebleau is alleging heinous doings by Deutsche Bank to subvert F'bleau (which gives every indication of being destined to fail without external assistance). Supposedly, Deutsche Bank was confabulating with a consortium of 10 other banks to shove F'bleau … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on F'blown?

Case Bets: B'way in Vegas; Trump bloviates

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Opening night for The Lion King is three days away. Which means the New York Times is right on schedule with another hand-wringing piece about whether Broadway-style shows can succeed in Las Vegas. By now it should be obvious that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: B'way in Vegas; Trump bloviates

F'blown?

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Ownership at Fontainebleau is alleging heinous doings by Deutsche Bank to subvert F'bleau (which gives every indication of being destined to fail without external assistance). Supposedly, Deutsche Bank was confabulating with a consortium of 10 other banks to shove F'bleau … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on F'blown?

Case Bets: Caesars, Criss Angel, Lance Burton, Earl & Lani and Trent

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

Seen last night by an S&G source, Pit One at Caesars Palace empty save for one or two baccarat players. It’s just a small indicator of a larger disconnect that I hope to address later. PR flack Robin Leach has … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Caesars, Criss Angel, Lance Burton, Earl & Lani and Trent

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 13, 2009 by David McKee

"We don't see them getting worse. The problem is we don't see them getting better." — Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith on 2009-10 tourism statistics for Las Vegas.

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, LVCVA, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 12, 2009 by David McKee

‘That’s a little out there, that’s a little fey, maybe I won’t do that, maybe I’ll butch that one up.’ I think I might have done that.” — Roger Thomas, about second-guessing himself on the designing of The Mirage and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Encore, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day