General Motors not content to lose money on cars, sponsors a ‘Test Track’ in Vegas
It seems that General Motors – fresh after posting a record loss in their last quarter – is ponying up the cash to lease the Sahara’s back parking lot and turn it into a consumer-themed test track. Included in the deal is naming rights for the Sahara’s Monorail Station as well.
From the USA Today:
A parking lot behind the Sahara hotel-casino will be converted into an automotive playground and the Strip’s newest attraction with the addition of test tracks where would-be racers can take cars, trucks or SUVs for a spin.
Officials from General Motors, the Sahara and the Las Vegas Monorail announced a deal Tuesday that will lease the 11-acre lot to GM for a public test track.
“The Drive” could open by mid-March, offering licensed drivers the chance to drive GM vehicles on a high-performance test track or an off-road demonstration course for a fee.
GM also will buy theming and naming rights to the monorail’s Sahara station, giving the rapid transit line a much-needed cash infusion and more potential riders.
$4 Billion off-strip Sports Resort Planned.
California developer Matt A. Rose announced plans for a $4 Billion sports-themed resort off-strip near the Las Vegas Speedway. The Ultimate Sports Resort will enjoy a 5,500-Room resort featuring ten separate sports arenas; “creating a global sports mecca in North Las Vegas.”
The project is based on a hybrid casino-destination-sports business model. In fact, the final name of the resort will be determined through a naming rights deal similar to those recently associated with stadium, arena and title sponsorships in sports. The resort will provide sports-minded consumers with unparalleled access to watch sports, play sports, test state-of-the-art sports equipment and enjoy the finest assembly of sports memorabilia, collectibles and trading cards. In addition, visitors can purchase the widest range of sports-related products in the world.
Among the amenities, the world’s largest hotel with 5,500 guest rooms including 4,000 affordable fixed-rate rooms, 1,000 luxury suites and 500 ultra-luxury suites. The 150,000 square-foot casino will include a 50,000 square feet glass-enclosed Smoke-Free gaming area and 750,000 square feet of convention space. The 10 arenas and numerous training areas will be capable of supporting every sport imaginable. The resort will have in-door batting cages, a climate-controlled golf driving range, rock climbing walls, racquetball courts, a state-of-the-art gym, billiard room, bowling alleys and other attractions too numerous to mention.
No Affiliation with King of Vegas (on SpikeTV)
If you’ve managed to catch the fine piece of television programming crap on SpikeTV called King of Vegas please note that we are not affiliated.
We set the Tivo to snag it starting with the premier a couple weeks ago but haven’t had the chance to watch it until last night. 10 minutes into the first episode and we’re done. Season Pass cancelled. Saved episodes, deleted.
The concept is supposed to be a few people battling out to be the top gambler and walk away with $1 Million.
We’re not even adventurous enough to post odds on how long the show makes it. Does your opinion differ? Sound off on the comments.
What Up, Player
Fans of HBO’s hit series, Entourage, should be happy to hear that filming for season 3 breaks this weekend. No official word on broadcast dates, but reliable sources have told us to expect end of June/early July.
What does this have to do with Vegas? Palms has an Entourage Suite going for $2,500 during the week, $3,500 on the weekend.
Super Bowl Lines
After opening at a modest -3 Pittsburgh has been bet up to a -4 in most books with a sprinking of -4.5 showing up. Total is pegged at 47 and hanging pretty solid on the strip with a few online books pulling the hook at 47.5.
Heavy betting action will start flowing this weekend and we won’t be surprised to see the Steelers but up to a 5/5.5 by gameday.
And of course we’ll have our plays posted live next week.
Vegas Condo Market Cools Down
Looking for a condo in Vegas? Good news on that front as interest rates, lack of construction crews and overbuilding are cooling down the Vegas condo market.
Even George Clooney’s Las Ramblas is scaling back plans. Messages left by KingsOfVegas.com inquiring on what has changed have not been returned.
Now that several high rollers in the Las Vegas condo-hotel game, with properties linked to the likes of Michael Jordan and Ivana Trump, are either folding or selling their holdings, a growing number of players are losing their taste for big bets on high-rise residential real estate development.
Over the past two years, as high-rise fever spread across town, prices for the luxury apartments ballooned, fetching as much as $500 to $1,000 a square foot—or up to $1.5 million for a one-bedroom— at the peak. Buyers, mostly interested in flipping them for quick profits, eagerly anted up five-figure down payments, while developers planned more than 70 luxury towers holding a total of about 43,000 units on or near the Strip and downtown. But the intense competition for the city’s limited supply of contractors sent construction costs skyrocketing 30% last year, just as lending policies tightened, interest rates climbed and sales started to slow.
NFL Week 3 Playoff Action: Carolina at Seattle
Seattle stepped up big time last week and proved that league MVP Shaun Alexander doesn’t have to carry the load for the SeaBirds to win. Carolina, on the other hand, proved exactly what we said last week – in that of all the rematches, they had the best opportunity to learn from their mistakes – and rolled out of Chicago with a W.
The public has been all over Carolina, and that means we like Seattle. With Alexander back in the lineup, Seattle can’t be stopped.
We say: Take Seattle -3.5
NFL Week 3 Playoff Action: Pittsbugh at Denver
Short and Sweet. Pittsburgh is playing their 3rd straight road-game in the playoffs and have a 6 game winning streak. But this is Denver, perfect at home, and Jake Plummer hasn’t reverted back to his old self – and we doubt he’ll do it today.
This game will be a defensive battle early, but Denver will break it open in the 3rd quarter when the Steeler’s D line gets worn out.
We say: Take Denver -3.
NFL Playoffs: Week 2 Recap, Week 3 Lines
Perfection. 5-0 on the weekend for the second week of NFL Playoffs. What can we say? We’re money, baby!
For Week 3:
AFC Championship – 1/22 – 3:00pm ET
Pittsburgh at Denver
Denver -3/-3.5
Total: 41
NFC Championship – 1/22 – 6:30pm ET
Carolina at Seattle
Seattle -4 (Opened at -6)
Total: 43.5
Some significant money rolling in on Carolina – might be something to keep an eye on.
Check back on Saturday for the official KingsOfVegas.com picks.
Vegas Restaurants for the Foodie
KingsOfVegas.com reader Mike B inquired about some dining recommendations for his trip this way with his wife – an avid Foodie. The only catch was that they prefer locations on the Strip.
We’re down with FatBurger, but while out of our element with the Foodie crowd, we managed to compile a short list – from our past dining experiences – for his needs:
Delmonico (Venetian)
Bouchon (Ventian)
Emeril’s (MGM)
Bradley Ogden (Caesars)
Mesa Grill (Caesars)
Le Cirque (Bellagio)
Andre’s (Monte Carlo)
Alize (Palms)
Aureole (Mandalay Bay)
The Steakhouse (Circus Circus)
Il Fornaio (New York-New York)
Shanghai Lilly (Mandalay Bay)
Any other recommendations out there from our readers? Hit the comments.
