Head Of Vegas’ Biggest Casino Disses NBA All-Star Game

MGM Mirage CEO Does Not Want Las Vegas To Host NBA All-Star Game Again

MGM Mirage CEO Terry Lanni “doesn't want the [NBA] All-Star game to return to Las Vegas after an arrest-filled weekend scared gamblers away from his casinos,” according to Levinson, King & Fineman of BLOOMBERG NEWS. MGM is the city’s largest casino owner. Lanni said during the company’s quarterly earning conference call on Thursday, “David Stern, he can keep the All-Star Game and not bring it back here, as far as we're concerned.” He said that tourists “stayed in their hotel rooms instead of playing slots and blackjack during the Feb. 17 and 18 weekend, when two separate shootings left three people in critical condition.” One person was shot in the MGM Grand parking garage. Lanni: “We know a number of our Asian customers who were here for the Chinese New Year didn't come out.” He “didn't say how much revenue the company lost due to the game” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/3). Lanni said the All-Star Game fans “came for purposes other than attending the game and they weren’t very good for Las Vegas.” Bear Stearns gaming analyst Joe Greff said, “We think the disruptiveness of the NBA All-Star Weekend did have a tangible negative effect on gaming revenues during the important Chinese New Year and Presidents Day weekend” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/4). The NBA would not comment (THE DAILY).

JOINING THE TABLE: In Las Vegas, Norm Clarke notes AEG “is interested in getting involved in the proposed Las Vegas downtown arena.” AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke “did not specify the extent of AEG’s investment,” but said that it was “unlikely Las Vegas taxpayers would approve funding for the arena, so ‘it would have to be privatized’” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 5/4).