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Mar. 27, 2009
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MGM Mirage's CityCenter project may land in bankruptcy

By HOWARD STUTZ
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The $8.7 billion CityCenter project, billed by MGM Mirage as the most expensive commercial development in U.S. history, could end up in bankruptcy as early as this weekend, some nine months before the project is scheduled to fully open.

The possibility of bankruptcy arose after MGM Mirage was sued earlier this week by its joint-venture partner, Dubai World, which claimed the casino company had mismanaged the 76-acre development, leading to cost overruns. The feuding partners are scheduled to make a reported $220 million payment today on CityCenter.

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    • Earlier this week, MGM Mirage, in a statement about Dubai World's lawsuit, said the company was "ready, willing and able to complete CityCenter, including a required payment this week."

    However, The Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday that MGM Mirage's lenders will not let the casino operator make its CityCenter payment unless Dubai World contributes its share.

    In its lawsuit, filed Sunday in Delaware Chancery Court, Dubai World said it has concerns about CityCenter's viability. The investment arm of the Persian Gulf state said MGM Mirage's quarterly financial filings last week constituted a breach of the joint-venture pact.

    If the payment is not made, CityCenter could be forced to file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, possibly by this weekend. MGM Mirage said it hired the worldwide law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges for general corporate purposes.

    Gaming analysts have said MGM Mirage might also have to file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization as a corporation if it is unable to restructure its $13.5 billion of debt.

    CityCenter includes six high-rise towers with a casino, boutique hotels, condominiums, entertainment and a retail mall. MGM Mirage has begun accepting room reservations for the nongaming Vdara, beginning Oct. 1. The project's centerpiece, the 4,004-room Aria, is scheduled to open Dec. 16.

    If today's payment is not made, work could stop on the development, which has 8,500 construction workers. Perini Building Co., CityCenter's general contractor, declined comment this week on any talks the company might be having with MGM Mirage.

    Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents 17 affiliated construction unions working on the project, declined comment on talks between the council, Perini and MGM Mirage.

    "We're concerned about the jobs, but we don't have any insight or details over what may or may not be going on over there," council spokesman Steve Redlinger said. "Rather than concentrate on what we don't know, we're going to concentrate on what we do know and that is (this) morning our workers are going to be back on the job building that project. If there is other plans in the future, we'll deal with those once they become known."

    CityCenter has already begun the process to hire more than 10,000 full-time employees at the development and has accepted some 90,000 applications.

    MGM Mirage said Dubai World's lawsuit was "completely without merit" and the joint-venture partner "is well aware of our written commitment to meet our funding obligations and that MGM Mirage has available cash to satisfy those obligations."

    CityCenter has grown in cost since it was first announced almost five years ago. But on Thursday, MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said CityCenter now has a budget of $8.7 billion, reflecting rebid construction costs and a write-down of the delayed Harmon Hotel portion of the development. He said the budget for CityCenter is subject to constant change.

    Several sources said Dubai World and the emirate of Dubai have been caught up in the global financial crisis and the entity might not be able to make its portion of the payment due to CityCenter. Last week, Standard & Poor's Rating Services downgraded many of Dubai's companies and warned that the sheikdom's debt payments could triple by 2011.

    In 2007, Dubai World spent almost $6 billion for a 50 percent stake in CityCenter and 9.5 percent of MGM Mirage's outstanding shares. Dubai World paid $80 a share for its interest in MGM Mirage, but the company's stock price has fallen dramatically.

    Shares of MGM Mirage closed Thursday at $3.09 on the New York Stock Exchange, up 23 cents, or 8.04 percent.

    Review-Journal reporter Arnold M. Knightly contributed to this report. Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871.

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    perry wrote on April 02, 2009 09:47 PM: why are people blaming obama for MGM screw up typical republican


    Sixth Sense wrote on March 27, 2009 03:16 PM: I see poor people!


    Dean wrote on March 27, 2009 02:55 PM: Has anyone looked at the dollar amount that the state of Nevada is not receiving due to the City Center project being a LEED certified project? They do not have to pay full sales tax on material. This is the most expensive project in U.S. history!


    larry silverstein from NY wrote on March 27, 2009 02:27 PM: Jewish Lightning
    pull it


    Darrin wrote on March 27, 2009 02:16 PM: Perhaps they will have someone 'torch' it for the insurance money...


    Time for bailout funds wrote on March 27, 2009 12:19 PM: Time for bailout funds. We can't let a large employer like MGM sink. Perhaps the government should own an 80% interest in the project. At least City Center has hope of turning around.


    fljohngalt wrote on March 27, 2009 12:10 PM: If you live, work, own property, or invest in Las Vegas; you better be hoping (I can't use the term praying for a casino project) for the success of the City Center project. This is an emblem of Las Vegas's economic vitality. Has MGM made mistakes, I'm sure. Has this been a perfect storm of reduced consumer spending, weak credit market, and real estate value collapses? Yes. Would a vacant or partially completed but abadnoned CityCenter help Las Vegas. The jobs lost, the stature reduced, the concern from visitors about the future solvency of MGM, would all hurt the city severely. Business 101 to liberals: the private sector is most effective at creating jobs in our economy. Before you criticize MGM, remember that they have done more to help the city than any government agency in the entire state or the lefties currently running the show in DC. Sure you hate business and think that the profit motive is evil. I'm a member of the upper middle class business owner circle in America (and a conservative) who is currently getting less interested in doing business in America (a country that I served in war and love deeply). Let the free markets and individual responsibilty make the calls; government get out of the business world. Obama, you give a great speach but that's about it. I was smart enough to see through you before and I moved my money in time. Try to turn us into France and I'll either fight or leave the country to the looters. Who is John Galt?


    Dr j wrote on March 27, 2009 11:07 AM: Well if the county commissioners were doing due diligence, instead of getting oral sex from strip clubs and taking bribes, this could have been prevented. Yes, those commissioners have been sent to jail, but their lack of character still haunts the strip projects. -"the people rejoice when the wicked are removed from power"-an ancient proverb.


    Cindy wrote on March 27, 2009 09:35 AM: I pray that the payment is made by both parties and work continues and people keep working.

    What kind of person (johnfromdowntown)
    would be happy to see everyone from City Center out of work? I never cease to be amazed at the maliciousness of some people.


    Ken wrote on March 27, 2009 08:40 AM: Where are the MGM apologists trying to shift the blame to Dubai World and deflecting criticism of MGM as the most poorly run casino empire ever.

    Where is Harry Reid with all of his influence? Harry gave up on Nevada years ago when he found like-minded treasonous souls in D.C.


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