Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

This is Steve Friess' best work---ever!
Is Jim Murren displaying arrogance or ignorance in bragging about having never visited either Palazzo or Encore? As financially smart as he appears to be, I don't believe he understands Las Vegas, gaming or casinos. What CEO in any industry doesn't study and analyze the competition to find out what their strengths and weaknesses are? Murren should take note of Steve Wynn's comments in Friess' other excellent piece this week. Wynn talked about his analysis of the Hilton, Bally's and Caesars in planning and developing The Mirage.
I'm getting concerned about Murren. He's history if CityCenter doesn't meet some measure of success.

It's safe to say that Bobby Baldwin, the man probably handling Aria's mechanics, has visited the new resorts. I think that when it comes to the different aspects of CityCenter, Murren knows his place. He's the dealmaker, the business man. Anyway, in the LV Sun article he does seem to give the impression that he's not up for going to "another hotel."

"It is no great secret that Las Vegas exists in the southwest corner of the state of Nevada"

The southwest corner of Nevada is in fact the greatest of secrets, hidden from mapmakers even today, who just draw a diagonal line from the middle of the western border to the southeast corner, near Las Vegas.

What detroit said. This piece clearly highlights how little Murren knows or cares about casino-hotels or Las Vegas in general. Or even just resorts. Not to mention residences. Doesn't seem like he was shooting for any of that, seriously. All this development boils down to is a boatload of high-end hotel rooms. A glut, probably.

And I wholly agree with previous commenters that if he really, truly believes he is an urban developer, and wants to do some good for the valley, why isn't he working in downtown LV?

Wynn was given a tour of Crystals earlier today by MGM Mirage's President of Retail.

http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11614945

Watch the video for some good interior shots.

Here's a slightly more optimistic view of condo sales at CityCenter. When Aria opens, prospective condo buyers will be able to walk the entire project and get a real sense of the activity at CityCenter. More and more talking heads on CNBC have made the comment that they can't wait until 2009 ends and we get into 2010. There may be some wishful thinking that things will improve, but there is a feeling that the economy will gain traction in the new year. That will help condo sales. MO is 97% sold? That should help Veer and Vdara, but the 30% price reductions can't make MGM happy.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/mgms-high-rise-hopes-78752777.html