Nevada News - Page 618

Southern Nevada received high marks for its 2004 economic performance this morning from the UNLV Center for Business and Economic Development.

Coupling big-time sports with this city's existing amenities would be a marketing home run for the local tourism and travel industry, executives with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and advertising agency R&R Partners said Tuesday.

News Brief: Las Vegas Sands commanded a premium of about 50 percent over its IPO price Wednesday as investors bid up shares of the casino giant on the company's growth prospects in the U.S. and in China.

Wynn Resorts, Limited reports the completion of the refinancing of the indebtedness of its subsidiary, Wynn Las Vegas, LLC.

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. reports that it intends to offer 3.0 million newly issued shares of its common stock.

When Mandalay Resort Group released its latest quarterly profit report this month, it was room rates -- not gambling revenue -- that did most to boost earnings by about 65 percent.

About 320 maintenance workers at three Mandalay Resort Group properties, represented by the Operating Engineers Local 501, are expected this week to reject a company contract offer that is similar to one the workers rejected in July.

Las Vegas had the most monthly visitors in its history in October as 3.3 million people poured into the city's resorts.

The National Football League, in a recent letter to the casino industry's largest trade group, stands by its position that the Las Vegas Super Bowl parties of years past won't fly this season.

Visitors each have their reasons for coming to Las Vegas, but in October those temptations to travel frequently included new tile flooring and private jets, the latest dirt bikes and the chance to sample next year's favored Slurpee flavors.

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. reports plans to develop a regional destination casino-hotel and entertainment facility as part of a major regeneration project at the West Quay in Southampton, England.

News Brief: Although celebrities have been endorsing products for as long as there have been celebrities, the lucrative branding and licensing deals are recent additions to the arsenals of slot machine manufacturers.

Fueled by a surge in table game play on the Strip, Nevada casinos in October recorded their second-best month ever, winning $924.9 million from customers, numbers reported Friday by the state Gaming Control Board show.

In a meeting that ended almost as quickly as it began, shareholders of Las Vegas-based Mandalay Resort Group on Friday approved their company's proposed $7.9 billion sale to local gaming giant MGM Mirage.

A selection of news and views from inside the industry this week.

Longtime casino types remember the days when holiday decor during December at a Strip hotel-casino consisted of a fake Christmas tree in the hotel lobby, a few twinkling lights in the buffet area and silent nights. These days holiday decorating takes on various levels of expense.

Las Vegas Sands has again raised the amount of money it expects to get from its initial public offering of stock, saying the company could be worth an estimated $8.2 billion instead of earlier estimates of $6.8 billion.

Star Brooks: In the past year we have seen our gambling environments change with the times.

Mandalay Resort Group reports that this morning at its 2004 annual meeting of stockholders the merger agreement between MGM Mirage and the company was approved by the company's stockholders.

Wynn Las Vegas said it is advising job applicants to complete online job applications by Dec. 31 to be considered for positions at the resort, which is scheduled to open April 28.