Category Archives: The Strip

Macao: Crossed fingers at Wynn; Confrontation at Melco

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David McKee

According to the Jornal Tribuna de Macau, by the end of the month, Wynn Resorts and the government of Macao “may sign” the long-awaited land tender upon which the fate of $2.7 billion Wynn Cotai rests. It “could be” a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Hooters, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Penn, Vegas to GSA: Thank you!; What price Victorville?

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David McKee

With so many fine hotels to choose from in Las Vegas, it’s no wonder that it took disgraced General Services Administration Regional Commissioner Jeffrey Neely no fewer than eight ‘fact-finding’ missions at a cost of $130,000 (or $16,250 per vacation … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

The continuing adventures of Sheldon Adelson, Harry Reid and the GSA

Posted on April 14, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news. Business is off and running at brand-new Sands Cotai Central, whose Himalaya casino (372 tables, 600 slots) opened last Wednesday. In total square footage, it overtakes Venetian Macao for status as the world’s largest casino (30% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 14, 2012 by David McKee

“I was brought up Catholic; this feels wrong.” — Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron, when brought onstage and instructed to shake his booty by Lacey Schwimmer during last night’s preview of the DWTS satellite show at the Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sheldon Adelson, super villain

Posted on April 13, 2012 by David McKee

“Where’s the white cat,” asked an S&G reader when photos from the grand opening of Sands Cotai Central showed Sheldon Adelson doing a superb impersonation of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, “crumpets” in attendance. You can just imagine him sitting there, brainstorming … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Movies, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 7 Comments

Illinois: Visit more, spend less; Harrah’s breaks losing streak

Posted on April 9, 2012 by David McKee

Although recent investor presentations by the major casino and game-making companies would leave one feeling pretty sanguine about the economy, “pallid” is the word for the industry’s performance in Illinois last month. Attendance at casinos rose 21% but spending was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois: Visit more, spend less; Harrah’s breaks losing streak

Last night at the Palms

Posted on April 6, 2012 by David McKee

Kelly Clarkson rocked The Pearl to its foundation with a joyous, 80-minute set. Unfortunately for us (but happily for them), these anonymous videographers had better

Posted in Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, The Strip | Comments Off on Last night at the Palms

Trump Plaza reprieved; Stirrings at Sahara

Posted on April 5, 2012 by David McKee

Good news for Trump Plaza: It’s off the “death watch,” having dramatically reversed its fortunes last year. Although revenues continue to decline, gross operating profit swung from a $2 million loss in 2010 to a nearly $3 million gain last … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Sahara, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Worst operator of 2011; GSA’s wrong amount of wrong

Posted on April 4, 2012 by David McKee

Worst of the year? That’d be Grand Station Casino, a former Harrah’s riverboat in Vicksburg, and its owners, Delta Development & Investments. They managed to parlay a $3.25 million steal of a casino that could have gone for $35 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Culinary Union, Current, Economy, Harry Reid, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Choy challenges Vegas

Posted on March 28, 2012 by David McKee

This is the conclusion of a two-part interview with Riviera boss Andy Choy in which he answers questions submitted by S&G readers. Can the Riv survive if nothing is done with the Sahara, Fontainebleau or Echelon sites for another five … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, LVCVA, Marketing, Plaza, Riviera, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 28, 2012 by David McKee

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy “Do not go and take that money and have fleet feet and go on vacation or go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City.” — Suze Orman, on what … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Andy Choy takes your questions

Posted on March 27, 2012 by David McKee

The music you play in the casino hasn’t changed for a very long time. It’s all sad, lost love, women complaining about bad, bad men, and very loud music. It makes me want to run out of the casino. Don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, history, Marketing, Riviera, Technology, The Strip | 10 Comments

Bad timing; The wrong amount of WTF?; Uncle Sheldon speaks

Posted on March 23, 2012 by David McKee

Surely the worst entertainment coverage in Vegas is Wayne’s World, penned by former Lance Burton flack Wayne Bernath. A copy of his April effort (pictured) is available upon request, as it’s sure to be a collector’s item — along the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Marketing, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Aria: Take it again from the top, boys

Posted on March 22, 2012 by David McKee

Y’all remember that ‘consciousness-raising’ campaign MGM Resorts International announced on behalf of Aria, earlier this week. The first in a six-part series of videos, The Reveal, went live late this afternoon. Subsequent blipverts will include The Motive and Entrapment. (It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Movies, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Saucer crash; Whither Harmon Crossing?

Posted on March 22, 2012 by David McKee

Yesterday afternoon, a heterogenous smattering of Las Vegas media toured the new Area 51 wing of the National Atomic Testing Museum.”Wing” might be a generous term for this cramped, fetid space. The subtitle of the exhibit is Myth or Reality, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Saucer crash; Whither Harmon Crossing?

Ides of March: Caesars, MGM, Wynn court Wall Street

Posted on March 21, 2012 by David McKee

Evidently J.P. Morgan‘s Gaming, Lodging & Leisure Management Access Forum, being held this week at Wynncore, isn’t sufficiently important to merit the attendance of Big Gaming’s CEOs. If Steve Wynn couldn’t make the stroll from his office to Encore’s meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Adelson minions visit Encore: Big Gaming courts Wall Street

Posted on March 20, 2012 by David McKee

There will be Ice Capades in Hell before Sheldon Adelson sets foot in Encore, I should expect. However, with J.P. Morgan holding an investor conference at Wynncore, it would be poor form of Las Vegas Sands — currently the darling … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Adelson minions visit Encore: Big Gaming courts Wall Street

Moody’s no longer moody on Vegas; Golden Gate upsizes

Posted on March 20, 2012 by David McKee

Caution, thy name is Moody’s Investors Service. So if Moody’s is bullish on the near-term future of Las Vegas, I guess we can well and truly believe that a recovery is here … well, on the Strip. Away from Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dennis Gomes, Derek Stevens, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Gary Goett, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Faustian pacts at the Plaza

Posted on March 20, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Just minutes ago, John Katsilometes tweeted that Avant Garde has already closed. Wow! That may be an all-time record, unless you count Triumph: It Runs on Steam, which never officially opened at the Las Vegas Hilton, in another Colony … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Hooters, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

End of an era; Butera: Down is the new up

Posted on March 16, 2012 by David McKee

Bunny blues. Given the travails affecting Hugh Hefner‘s eroding PEI empire — including a recent abandonment of its Chicago offices and spinoff of its Cyber Club — it was only a matter of very little time before the Palms’ franchised … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on End of an era; Butera: Down is the new up