Anthony Curtis’ nationally syndicated weekly column.
July 7, 2010
What was off is now on again. Spurred by an improving Las Vegas economy, Harrah’s has confirmed that it will move forward with plans for a center-Strip entertainment mall fronting Las Vegas Boulevard located in the area where the Imperial Palace stands. “Project Linq” is scheduled to be completed in 2011 with a giant Ferris wheel as the main attraction of the one-of-a-kind pedestrian mall. Though not part of the core plan, Linq revives the possibility of a world-class sports arena being built within the proximity of the Strip. The Imperial Palace and adjacent casinos will be integrated into the plan.
Bill’s, Too?: Playing into the Harrah’s announcement, there’s a late-breaking rumor that Bill’s Gambling Hall & Saloon (located on the Strip at Flamingo) will be sold and converted into a “nightlife complex.” It’s rumor only at this point, but it makes sense.
Big One Begins: The Main Event of the World Series of Poker is underway. It’s expected that at least 6,500 participants will put up the $10,000 buy-in to compete for what’s considered to be the biggest prize in sports.
Laak of Sleep: Poker pro Phil “the Unabomber” Laak set a new Guinness World Record for continuous poker playing by logging 115 hours and annihilating the previous record of 72 hours and 2 minutes. After sleeping it off, Laak offered: “I would wholeheartedly recommend that everyone stay up for a hundred hours at some point in their life. I’m a better and stronger person for it.”
Question: On my last trip, the show Tournament of Kings at Excalibur was promoting its 20th anniversary. What other shows have run that long?
Answer: Only three have run more than two decades: Jubilee! at Bally’s; Legends in Concert, which ran for many years at Imperial Palace, then moved next door to Harrah’s; and Crazy Girls at the Riviera.
