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Jan. 20, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Adelson comments on building walls

NORM CLARKE
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Sheldon Adelson says Steve Wynn's time "has come and gone."

In the city famous for its perpetual game of one-upmanship, Sheldon Adelson's new 50-story Palazzo is a monument to the rivalry between Adelson and Steve Wynn.

The wall grew higher last week when Adelson, on the eve of unveiling the Palazzo, suggested Wynn's time "has come and gone."

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    • Wynn declined to comment on Adelson's latest tweaking of his competitors in an interview for a USA Today article by Las Vegas freelance writer/podcaster Steve Friess.

    But now there's another aggravation for Wynn: The best VIP suites atop Wynn Las Vegas once offered a stunning Strip view. Now, I've learned, the view is blocked by Palazzo, which is located across Spring Mountain Road from the Wynn.

    The height of the Palazzo came up in Friess' interview.

    Asked whether the Palazzo was taller than the Wynn, Adelson said, "I think so. I know Steve Wynn says we were trying to outbuild him." The subject came up a few years ago, when they were still talking.

    "He said, 'You know your building is taller than mine. What are you trying to do?'

    "It was a big part of the argument why he didn't like us," said Adelson, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., which includes The Venetian.

    While Wynn isn't responding to Adelson's latest jabs, Wynn made it clear in a recent interview with me that he misses the kinder, gentler days of Las Vegas.

    "We never had jealousy and sniping until relatively late in the history of the town. And it came from newcomers, not guys who have grown up in the business," Wynn said.

    "That's a Sheldon Adelson thing," he said. "We didn't have it before. It was just the opposite; we all went and gambled at each others' openings. ... There's no animosity there, there's no jealousy. There may be a 'Wow, look at that, there's something to shoot at, let's do better than that.'

    "But it's sort of healthy. We've all done well because we've been with each other here, not in spite of each other. The secret of Las Vegas is the fact that we've all been here," Wynn said.

    He compared the animosity of today with the day he sold his Mirage Resorts to Kirk Kerkorian's MGM for $6.4 billion.

    He and Kerkorian "went out and celebrated when we made our deal," Wynn said.

    "He was a customer at the Nugget, played blackjack with me. Came down for bread pudding in the buffet. There's not a speck of jealousy in that man."

    KEEPING TABS

    Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her camp ate a little higher off the hog than her rival Barack Obama during their campaigning in Las Vegas last week.

    Both campaigns called N9NE Steakhouse at the Palms minutes apart Friday for a food delivery.

    Chef Barry Dakake and Jenna Morton, wife of N9NE co-owner Michael Morton, delivered $200 worth of food, including two Kobe burgers, two organic chicken sandwiches and one order of Dover sole, for the Obama camp to a conference room at the Las Vegas Signature Terminal.

    The Clintons' tab came to $1,530 and included entrees of nine steaks, three chicken, three salmon, three Maine scallops and two lobster pappardelle; salads; sashimi; rock shrimp; and side dishes.

    The Clintons, who stayed at a Bellagio villa, also ordered a large delivery from N9NE on Monday.

    THE SCENE AND HEARD

    Actor Tate Donovan, who dated Jennifer Aniston and was in 36 episodes of "The O.C.," was in town for the caucuses as documentary producer and Obama supporter. He was at the Wynn on Saturday helping filmmaker Amy Rice on a documentary on Obama. The coolest thing he saw was the costume parade of workers showing up to caucus. "Culinary cooks, cocktail waitresses, nightclub staffers, everybody in their own work clothes." ...

    Miley Cyrus' three Hannah Montana shows at the MGM Grand Garden were sellouts, but ticket brokers still got stuck with a lot of tickets. A number of them were offering hotel concierges two-for-one deals on Friday at face value.

    SIGHTINGS

    Hillary Clinton, husband Bill and daughter Chelsea celebrating Hillary's caucus victory Saturday with about 1,000 volunteers and campaign staff on the mezzanine at Planet Hollywood Resort. Down the hall, Miss America candidates rehearsed in a ballroom. Among the Clinton crowd: Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, producer Steve Bing and California billionaire Ron Burkle. Most of the Clinton campaign team stayed at Planet Hollywood Resort.

    THE PUNCH LINE

    Overheard at the Democratic caucus held at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center on Saturday: "This gives new meaning to the term come out and vote."

    Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.



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    Jeff wrote on May 02, 2008 10:15 PM: I love The Palazzo.


    dave wrote on January 20, 2008 08:01 PM: Gee, thanks, "david" for the research. Now, "david", please go back to California.


    Mike Lee Johnson wrote on January 20, 2008 07:01 PM: How funny! We agree. Leach is such a local loser. The icon of has-been, never was. Why is here? Will he just go away?


    douglas wrote on January 20, 2008 04:01 PM: the issue of unionized dealers is that exactly those added expenses attributable to table games will be added to the vig on those games. any union benefits given to table games dealers will not be added to the consumers' cost of a hamburger. to the admission price of some critter show. nor would that new "tax" be added to the wynn-ferrari window stickers.

    what will happen is obvious. table games' house advantage [read, rules] will adversely burden the already disadvantaged players. if that means more of the 6:5 snapper payouts or tougher comps, or both, the adverse effects will be heaped on the players. that means that any player who wagers at a unionized dealer table will lose faster than at a nearby, non unionized table. same as why groceries are much less expensive at walmart/sams club than at smith's/albertsons etc.
    wise shoppers will spend their money more carefully, particularly during the impending economic slowdown. and player would be foolish to further reward [toke] unionized dealers with *their* tougher games.

    ustabe that food venues were often intentionally, non-profit. same as showroom tix. not any longer. showroom attractions are expected to earn their floor space, as restaurants many of which are now sublet [non casino owned]. similarly, casino floor space in these days of 50 million bucks an acre of strip property, will be micromanaged. clearly slots have greater house return per foot. unionized dealers "benefits" heaped on table games will compel a reduction in floor space devoted to "live" games.

    of course, the days of dealer tokes may be numbered. dealers should have a "living" wage and reasonable health benefits, similar to the culinary union. what's fair ? $10-$20 an hour ? but with zero tokes.


    David Johann wrote on January 20, 2008 04:00 PM: When I think about Mr. Wynn, I think about him nixing the first monorail plan that the European firm was going to build for free (to increase sales elsewhere in the world), because the Mirage had just opened and Wynn didn't want gamblers to be able to easily leave his property. What a visionary and great member of our community.

    I also think how, when the Mirage was built, Wynn wanted cheaper electricity and gas for his casino, in essence demanding the Las Vegas community subsidize his volcano. What a visionary.

    And, I think of Steve Wynn's reprisal against his dealers for voting in the union, which only proves the union was needed all along.

    On the other hand, when I think of Sheldon Adelson, I think of a Zionist who wants to get us into a war with Iran, and will use his status as a member of the power elite to try to buy that outcome (to see what I'm talking about, Google "Sheldon Adelson Iran).

    So when it comes to a rivalry between two nice Yiddish boys like Steve and Sheldon, it's just too bad they can't both lose.


    Wilma Flintstone wrote on January 20, 2008 02:59 PM: Only in America could a no-talent, made for TV "star" like Miley Cyrus sell out a concert. The parents who lined to overpay for this garbage should be embarrassed.


    High Roller wrote on January 20, 2008 02:58 PM: I think it is hilarious that the view for many of the suites at Wynn are now blocked by the Palazzo. Just freaking hilarious. Wynn loses yet another battle.


    David Huntington wrote on January 20, 2008 12:55 PM: Douglas, your rantings about unionized dealers magnifies your ignorance on the subject. What about the culinary union? Most major casinos have union workers from the culinary. Does that mean you will not frequent any unionized casino? When the Venetian was fighting the union, Adelson (maybe you are him) spoke that he pays at least as much as unionized casinos to his employees. So much for added costs based on unionization.

    The bottom line is you are just another cheap local making too little to pay your own way in the City of Glamour.


    TimeRanger wrote on January 20, 2008 12:53 PM: I think that it is FANTASTIC that ticket brokers are getting STUCK with tickets!!!!! Serves them right. Now, if only there was a way to keep the venues in this town from supplying those tix to the brokers before those people waiting in line have had a chance to make their purchases.


    GOD wrote on January 20, 2008 11:13 AM: Brian Greenspun from the Las Vegas Sun rag picked up Clinton's tab. It's nice to have a newspaper (if it really should be called that) in your back pocket when running for political office. I hear Greenspun paid Clinton's tab at the brothels too.

    As far as Wynn versus Adelson, Adelson has better properties AND MORE MONEY IN HIS POCKET FROM BOTH HIS U.S. AND MACAU GAMING AND CONVENTION PROPERTIES.

    Adelson wins by TKO! Wynn and his pretentious BS... boo hoo, you blind bat - Adelson will spank you every time.


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