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Episode Description
#MGM was in the news this week for a couple of reasons. First, there is a rumor that they may be looking at purchasing the off-Strip M Resort from Penn National. They also sold a key piece of Las #Vegas Strip land to a potential new casino operator. Are we in the middle of a 1990s like boom in Vegas?
In other #news we recap New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas including the fireworks shows, how it all went and whether or not Vegas or NYC is better for the big night! Plus there were two major incidents on Fremont Street this week, Fremont has opened its new food hall and November gaming numbers show a slowdown in gaming revenue.
Produced & Edited by: Shawn Coomer
0:00 Stranded in Vegas – Airport pop up bar!
1:07 Vegas Rumor Mill – Is MGM looking to buy an off Strip casino?
3:13 Would this purchase be a good fit for MGM?
4:00 Las Vegas New Year’s Eve recap – Success?
6:02 NYC Times Square or the Strip for New Year’s Eve?
7:50 November 2022 Nevada gaming numbers show a slowdown
9:18 Two major incidents at Fremont Street Experience
10:51 Is it okay/safe to bring children to Fremont Street?
12:36 Fremont’s expansion opens with new food hall, sports book & more
14:01 The best burger in Downtown Las Vegas?
14:41 MGM sells Strip land across from Luxor. Another native casino?
17:17 The new Vegas boom! Like the 1990s again?
Relevant Links:
Airport pop up bar –
M Resort rumor –
New Year’s Eve –
November 2022 gaming numbers –
Fremont Street incidents –
Fremont expansion –
Whiskey Licker burger –
MGM land sale –
Social Media
Facebook Group –
Twitter –
Podcast –
Website –
Host – Shawn Coomer – @MtM_Vegas
Host – Mark Ostermann – @DetroitMark
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28 comments
Coomer & Ostermann! Keep up the great work!
Happy New Year Shawn and Mark. I wish you both a fantastic 2023, may it be your best year ever.
Happy new year gentlemen! 🎉
wasn't in vegas but i did watch NYE fireworks show live from the strip here on my TV at my home!
hopefully MGM resorts will be smart and buy back the Primm valley casino resorts on the CA/NV stateline!
I used to love downtown, but ever since Derek Stevens came along it's a lot nicer; causing other properties to upgrade to keep up. The problem with that is that it's more crowded and more expensive than it used to be. He ruined my grungy downtown that was cheap and fun.
Oh, Mark… We have the same curtains in my house so our spouses must have similar tastes. 😉
I'm glad to hear MGM donated that property for a memorial. I've always wondered how they could develop that site considering that is almost sacred ground for the city of Las Vegas.
Happy New Year! I think the Fremont Experience over the years has gotten too busy. All the stages and the structures supporting the zip line create too many chokepoints for pedestrians. I'm not a public safety officer so I can't really offer any suggestions, but it does make me feel claustrophobic when I am down there.
The M Resort rumor doesn't make much sense. Why would they be selling it when they just announced expanding it and why would MGM be the buyer? The only way it makes sense is that Penn just really needs the money and MGM is getting a great deal. MGM has the cash which they presumably are saving for Japan. I did read that as part of the Raiders deal with M Resort, the Raiders take 300 of the 390 rooms on the night before a game. I am sure that is a large reason they need to expand.
Given the insanely high prices for rooms these days, they can't build new casinos fast enough in my book.
Great video guys !
I've been to Fremont Street several times and always felt safe, but that was during the day. My thoughts are pretty much the same as Mark's, in that I wouldn't go down there at night unless I was staying in one of the hotels (and even then, I'd probably be IN the hotel).
Unfortunately, there's nothing that can really be done to stop things like this except for flooding the area with cops. And that may not be possible (does the LVMPD have the resources to do that) or popular (considering the opinion many people have of law enforcement these days). Even if it WERE possible or desirable, you still wouldn't be able to stop everything (although you would improve the response time when something did happen, which would obviously help).
I agree more diversity in casino owners will benefit the consumer. I'm glad to hear of all the growth.
I haven't been to the Fremont Street since 2017, I'm one of the people that don't like downtown Vegas. Too many people just stands around and I don't find that entertaining. Even though I don't go there, let's hope it's safe for people that enjoys the area. I'm definitely hoping that Vegas will be booming especially after Covid.
DON'T GO to Times Square for NYE! I lived there for fifteen years. The police check your bag as you enter. There's hardly any place to use the bathroom or get a drink. If you leave Times Square you can't re-enter. It's super crowded and cold. The only good way to view Times Square is from an office building or a Times Square hotel room. But as you mentioned, hotel prices are insane!
Sam Brinton would be in heaven at the airport baggage claim area
Every time I am in Vegas, whether I am on the strip or Freemont St. There are always people out late at night, trying to push their strollers through the masses, or dragging their toddler along. I personally don't understand how these parents think its a good idea.
Spent 5 nights at El Cortez over X-mas week. My entire stay at El Cortez was underwhelming besides a couple good dining experiences at Siegel's 1941. The change I noticed from my June downtown stay was gates on the 3rd and Carson side, next to Four Queens and McDonalds which keeps people from entering Fremont. This new incident occurred on the other side of 3rd and Ogden, and I can imagine gates going up on that side now. Security will unfortunately need to step up to airport standards and check for weapons for anyone who wants to enter Fremont experience. It will probably take another shooting before that happens though. I never felt unsafe during my 5-night stay and walked all over downtown. If you look for trouble it will find you.
Also with Rio, is it Caesar still continue to keep it throughout 2023 and Hyatt won't start remodeling not til 2024 ? It seems like not much words about when Hyatt will takeover or close it down first to remodel
The worst would be stranded at Virgin Las Vegas
I would close all roads between Plaza and Heart Attack Grill. Just make a two lane one-way circle around all of this.
Then use the vacant road parts to set the stages way back to get rid of them as bottlenecks. One can adjust the sound from the stages so it can‘t be heard on Fremont Street to avoid an overflow onto it.
Remove half of the souvenir stalls and half of the ‚artist‘ circles.
Plus: Why can‘t a town with billions of tax income from gambling offer shelter for the homeless to improve their situation and ease their despair? But what do I little German visitor know…
Boy I sure hope that rumor is wrong. The monopoly of casinos MGM has now is more than enough. Stations has has alot of casinos but at least there all spread out. It is an interesting time for Vegas
In the idea of how much is too much. Only time will tell. Just the amount of people coming through the airport is amazing in itself.
Great information, thanks.
Wish MGM would've kept Mirage.
Enough of the Tribal casinos, when will we get an Amish casino?
The only reason NYC is popular for NYE is because it’s first and you also have … good lord a bit 11 million people in an area about the size of lower Clark county . Think from Prim to the Racetrack- 11 million people. Then imaging Nevada with 20 million people maybe more . The northeast is packed.
Another solid show. Good info, presented well, with a little bit of good humor, but not a jokefest. Awesome job!!
Fremont had a particularly terrible crowd of people during NYE this year. I was there for a few minutes and I left for the safer space at the Wynn.
Vital Vegas is usually spot on with his rumors. Yes, what he's reported hasn't always came all the way through. But the rumors were true.
Fremont was better with cars. The tall signs and lights was nicer .