Sh*t You May Have Missed: Rolling Stones, Ethel M, Blue Monster Almost Sold, Fantasy Sports Wages…and more


It’s Sh*t You May Have Missed for the week ending: 6/10/16

Hey, BigAZMarty here with more news tidbits on Las Vegas. Have a read and click the links for some more “transformations” of our favorite subject city:

1. Las Vegas to vote on a “reset” of the Downtown re-development that was stalled out during the Great Recession (Downtown Project helped greatly to mitigate what could have occurred…kudos to Zappos chief’s vision for downtown while the city thought and thought some more). Click here and then click play on the video to see what they have in mind now.  Now for reference see what they originally had planned before everything went to hell in a hand-basket. Note: City Hall and Regional Transportation Center plus Arts District buildings were completed since they were in progress. However, I really like that they are thinking enough with the concrete/steel and more trees and greenery. Still walking during summer in Las Vegas is about as pleasant as sitting on a spit in a slow roaster. Really, finding any shade is key here. The ability to walk from one shady section to another makes it even remotely possible. I remember being on the wrong side in the sun pre-canopy in June and I can say for sure it sucked. We bounced in and out of casinos to survive. That’s just another reason the Fremont Street Experience Canopy is actually O.K. in the middle of a summer day.

2. Caesars (CEOC portion) is having issues with the bankruptcy Judge not putting breaks on two lawsuits that may force the parent company into bankruptcy (CZR, CACQ, CGP) and put at-risk private equity holders Apollo and TPG on the hook for over $12B in bond guarantees. The $4 billion promised will be pulled after June 22 if the judge decides not to block other lawsuits against parent company CZR or the Jr’s holding it up don’t agree with it. It’s interesting since the bankruptcy Courts mediator said that CZR stopped meeting with the group that is contending the bankruptcy back in April. Kinda nuts., offer $4 billion and simply say no more.

3. Rolling Stones to play T-Mobile Arena on October 19, 2016 (SUNDAY). Tickets go on sale 10 am June 17. Expect a big spike in room rates in the MGM properties for this weekend.

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4. Folies Bergere will now have displays in Las Vegas Convention Center and at Nevada State Museum. It starts Saturday thru a portion of next January. See here and click on the gallery for some fantastic shots of showgirl glory at it’s best. They had a heck of a run at Tropicana. Jubilee joined them in retirement recently in the history books.

5. Speaking of Tropicana…Golden Rainbow to perform 30th annual Ribbon of Life at 1 PM on Sunday at Tropicana Theater.

6. Ethel M in Henderson is celebrating its 35th-anniversary click here for details and watch the video.

7. Fantasy Sports wagers at LV Sportsbooks? Initial approval was given to Vic Salerno and his US Fantasy company for an off-track, pari-mutuel sports system operator’s license for taking fantasy sports wagers. Read here.

8. CBRE is saying Icahn’s big blue elephant to be sold by September. It’s all hinging on getting funding to complete it and for the mystery buyer to get some gaming and hospitality people in place. Personally, my bet is on Dan Gilbert as those Ohio casino’s he bought out from the original partnership with Caesar’s (Horseshoe brand in Cleveland, Cincy and I think a racino)…are sorely lacking that Las Vegas property that Total Rewards brought in and the people have mentioned it to him.  Those are all now Jack Entertainment properties; I just am not sure you want to see a giant JACK at the top of a building in Las Vegas, though…brings to mind “You don’t know Jack.” Vital Vegas is thinking maybe Tillman Fertitta with a new blank check company and not Golden Nugget (which his Landry’s company owns).

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9. We all wish it were Steve Wynn for the above item…and he was at Mirage this week with some insights on how he started the Mirage and saw how future resorts can thrive as an all inclusive resort with non-gaming features. Funniest last line I’ve ever seen in an article about patrons to his own properties clubs. Read here and make sure to go all the way down to read the most interesting line spoken about anyone that visits his clubs.

10. Moulin Rouge update….ahhh heck no. This is just bad…unless they find the funding they can’t even buy it out of receivership. Wishes and dreams squashed if no one can buy it. Why do all the news announcements if this wasn’t a done deal?

11. SLS giving away mini-bar freebies in Story Tower rooms for the summer June 1 – Sept. 5, 2016. Book it.

12. Jersey Boys ending their run at Paris. Sorry to see it go….even with the stark sets it was better than the movie. It was the people that made it great. Proof that you don’t need high-cost sets and backdrops to tell a great story with song. I think it will still be playing on Broadway in New York however if you have to see it after September.

13. EDC (for you that don’t know that’s Electric Daisy Carnival – see Mr. Holly Madison for details) will be starting next week. Read here and here for some info…c’mon just chant it oontz..oontz..oontz from 7 pm to 5 am in a dayglo room the size of Las Vegas Speedway, and you will get an idea of what to expect. Although back in my heyday I was known to visit Angel’s Stadium in Anaheim for their big multiband concert series, so it’s not all that much different except maybe the start and stop times. See not that much different than the millennials…we just didn’t have cell phones or smartphones back then.

14. Grand Bazaar Shops are getting the 4th “big” anchor for drinks and eats. Redneck Riviera…a John Rich creation. Details here…with some interesting items–like there isn’t one open now even though the concept has been around since 2015? Are we sure this is going to work?

15. The Riviera is disappearing more and more daily. They are working on the front strip side now….see the Vital Vegas shot from the Twitterverse, below.

16. There is an existing $500 bid ($10 increments) on eBay for Sundance helicopter view of the Rivera implosion. See here. Or bid it up for kicks or wait and snipe it like it’s 2003. For some reason, I thought airspace had to be clear for these implosions so not sure this is a real thing unless they are parked over the airspace of the Alon (old Frontier) or Resorts World out far enough to not be in the danger zone.

17. 96.3 KKLZ Junefest at Sunset Station this Saturday night in Henderson (close rooms for that Ethyl M visit). Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo, Lou Gramm, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and rounding it out The English Beat.

18. MGM has started the paid parking now go here…click on the poll (currently 72% saying won’t go near here again)…then read the comments. Hopefully, Adelson/Wynn/Caesars is looking at those numbers/comments and getting an idea of the backlash. I would ignore the results after a year and recheck year over year results in the financials. But hey, a couple of years back Caesars didn’t charge Resort Fees either. See how long that lasted? And they STILL put CEOC in bankruptcy!

That’s their Sh*t, and now for our Sh*t with our Chief Editor, Michael Movestro.

Thanks, Marty! Well, we had quite the week here at Vegas Bright, so let’s get started!

19. Our week started off with The Vegas Bright Podcast Episode 10, where I discussed the very questionable Asian Massage ads. Free shower in your room? Aren’t they all?

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20. BigAzMarty brought us the story of Monte Carlo’s re-theme and new name…err..names.

21. Blonde4ever shared her Meet and Greet with Carrot Top.

Carrot Top Meet and Greet

22. New contributor Fisherman shares his first Vegas trip from 2011.

23. I brought the story via paperposter on how a stolen vehicle suspect refused to leave said stolen vehicle, which leads to a Standoff at Gold Coast Hotel.

24. After a three year wait, Michael James got a second chance to see Raiding the Rock Vault.

Andrew Freeman talks about My Generation
Andrew Freeman talks about My Generation

25. I brought you a look at Vegas Hotel Rates for Fourth of July Weekend.

26. I brought the story on how PUB 365 is bringing 365 rotating craft beers to Tuscany Suites – that’s a lotta craft beers!

27. New writer Kelly Lamrock discusses one of his Vegas Life Hacks: Happy Hour.

Las Vegas Happy Hours

28. Reader MichaelPags shares his first Vegas trip from 2004.

29. Reader John M. shares his luckiest Vegas trip from 1991.

30. Sammasseur reports: If you’re heading to Vegas soon, allow extra time for delays…lots of them.

That’s this week’s sh*t, see you next week!

[Images: Michael James, Sushi Roku, Blonde4ever, Michael Movestro, Greg C, Vital Vegas Twitter, The Rolling Stones]

3 thoughts on “Sh*t You May Have Missed: Rolling Stones, Ethel M, Blue Monster Almost Sold, Fantasy Sports Wages…and more

  1. I am all for CURSING…. BUT should change the weekly stories from Sh*t You May Have Missed: to Crap You May Have Missed: or even better Craps You May Have Missed:

    1. Thanks CrapsGuy, Sh*tGuy doesn’t feel the same way. I’m afraid we’re at an impasse!

  2. I suspect that the free shower gimmick is to urge those who NEED a shower. I am sure there are some slobs that don’t have the decency to go into these encounters clean and fresh. also, as you clean yourself, it will provide an opportunity for them to clean out your wallet. all the while being friendly AND classy. ;-)

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