MGM Grand exec rips NBA All-Star Game

Really? I thought Sharpton made up that story about Tawana Brawley? {/sarcasm]

No, you didn't make that story up. We would have never known about Pacman making it rain in Vegas if not for the All-Star weekend circus running around.

 

Good to see you came clean, J-Dub. Acceptance is the first step.

 

It's news now because MGM Grand just did its 1Q earnings conference call.

And it ain't just about the Asian high rollers with a weekend like Chinese New Year ... with the way most of Vegas was running that weekend (namely, in fear and away), it's no surprise that the company sacrificed the better part of a big weekend and got dinged in earnings.

 

But Scoop says none of that really happened that weekend. Guess the MGM, Lanni, and Asian tourist industry have joined Whitlock on this baseless smear campaign.

 

"The Vast Vegas Conspiracy"

 

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! BULLSHIT BULLSHIT! [/spnited]

 

I'd like to hear from other casino executives and get their takes Was it just MGM or did they all suffer?

 

Because they've just now gotten the subsequent earning reports and discovered that the weekend hurt em where they care most.

It was Vegas' bad fortune that All-Star Weekend/National Hip Hop convention happened to coincide with the Chinese New Year period when so many Asian high rollers make their Vegas trips. Looks like a lot of those guys had unpleasant experiences, were afraid to stay out late, and have since let the Asian tourist agencies and their high-rollin buddies know about it. Damn right that scares casino execs who LOVE the Asian rich dudes. It's already a helluva lot cheaper and easier for those guys just to hit the casinos in Macau rather than going to Vegas, they don't want a spreading perception that its a lot safer and more pleasant too.

 

Also, he's NOT talking about the MGM Grand. He's talking about MGM Mirage, Inc. That,s the MGM Grand......AND Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Luxor, Excalibur, New York, New York, Monte Carlo, Treasure Island and Circus Circus. BIG Company who expected a lot more revenue over the Chinese New Year holiday weekend.

 

Anyone that thinks Whitlock made this stuff up I challenge you this -- go out to Vegas -- as I have recently -- and while you are there, just ask some of the service people -- the cocktail waitresses, the valet's, the cabbies, the floor persons and pit bosses in casinos, the hostesses and waitresses at restaraunts -- what they thought about NBA All-Star weekend.

One of the pit bosses put it to me petty much like this "this city will never host that event again because it was an absolute zoo." He told me many of the female employees didn't even want to come to work because it was so out of control.

And this is coming from someone who loves the NBA.

 

VEGAS
TO NBA
DROP
DEAD

 

Ouch! I didn't realize this. This could seriously dent the profit margins for the casinos. No wonder people are grumbling