Major Las Vegas Power Player Tapped To Be Ambassador
We are less than one month away before the President-Elect Donald Trump re-enters The White House. While not all of his nominees for major positions have gone over well, one Las Vegas power player was just tapped to become the United States Ambassador to Italy.
That Las Vegas power player is casino owner, investor and businessman Tilman Fertitta was nominated to the position on Saturday. In case you were wondering, Fertitta isn’t an Irish last name. That is to say, it is definitely Italian.
Who Is Tilman Fertitta?
When you hear the name “Fertitta” you are probably immediately thinking “Station Casinos”. Close. He is cousins with Lorenzo and Frank Jr and Frank the Third.
No, Tilman Fertitta is the owner and CEO of Landry’s Inc. The company owns all three Golden Nugget casinos in the state of Nevada, as well as Morton’s, Del Frisco’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, McCormick And Schmick’s, Joe’s Crab Shack, The Palm Restaurant, Claim Jumper, Rainforest Cafe and several other brands.
He is also behind a planned 43 story luxury casino resort planned for the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue across from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. He also owns the Houston Rockets NBA franchise.
What Does An Ambassador Do?
When it comes to being a United States ambassador, what does the job entail and does a Las Vegas power player have the time to do it?
To put it in the most simple of terms, a United States ambassador is essentially a representative of the President of the United States.
Obviously the President cannot be at all places at once, but to have someone that can serve as boots on the ground with a diplomatic ally to let them know the United States is there and they have an ear to the White House is the whole point.
It is a great gig if you can get it, and right now Tilman Fertitta is in line to have it, if approved. Will the Las Vegas power player have the throughput to do the job to the best of his ability given his laundry list of brands under his control? That’s up to Tilman and Congress to determine.
Which Las Vegas Strip Casino Implosion Should Happen Next
Sahara
It was here, gone and back again. The remodel looks great but reminders of how old the place is are everywhere.
There are some that believe if a property has a street named after it, it should be protected at all costs. The Sahara opened in 1952 and hosted many of the greats. Back in 2011, the property changed hands and eventually became the SLS Las Vegas. The rebrand was decent and the remodel was jaw dropping… but it didn’t make many waves in the city. Eventually the legendary Sahara name came roaring back, and the property has been the beneficiary of many concert events across the street at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. We like what they’ve done with the property. But at the very least the parking garage has got to go.
Circus Circus
We all know that Circus Circus is quite corny and long in the tooth. But it makes money without debt and that makes it an unlimited money glitch.
This won’t happen anytime soon, although it should. The clown property has seen better days but recently owner Phil Ruffin has put some cash into fixing the property’s iconic neon sign. Is it pretty? No. But is the property paid for and an ATM for Ruffin? Yes. The property is sitting on over 100 acres of land – about 14 more than Resorts World! That is a lot of land to do a lot of things on. But the one thing Circus Circus has going for it that Resorts World and Fontainebleau do not? Low expectations and costs.
Best Western Plus Casino Royale
Blink and you might miss it. Don’t blink and you might wish you did.
Say it with us… “blow it up!” The property is the home to Denny’s, White Castle, and likely the worst accommodations on the Las Vegas Strip. It is actually quite shocking that this could be nestled near The Venetian. Sure, people need discount options but this is centrally located land. There is speculation that the owners have bigger plans for the property. The only thing that might stop this from being an implosion is the proximity to Harrah’s. Unless…
Harrah's
With the exception of Carnival Court, Harrah’s has lost any identity on the Strip.
First, we need to save Donny Osmond. Then, send the property packing. It has been open since 1972 and now has become a bit of a forgotten child between and across from several iconic landmarks. Of all the properties we think could be erased on this list, Harrah’s and Casino Royale may take the cake. There is only so much you can update. We think if you were to keep Carnival Court and blow up the rest, many wouldn’t notice.
Flamingo
It is almost blasphemy to consider blowing this up.
Just talking about blowing up the Flamingo hurts. Yes, it is dated. Yes it is centrally located and if it were something of Resorts World or Fontainebleau’s caliber with that location they’d be a juggernaut. But… this is the Flamingo. It has a street. Is the building ugly? Sure. Is the neon incredible? You bet. Just the history alone, you can’t. Even Barbary Coast got a second (and third and fourth) life. Nevermind. We take this back.
Excalibur
Hear ye, hear ye! Tis time for this fake castle to fall!
Don’t think you got out of this unscathed, MGM Resorts. The time has come for Excalibur. Of all the properties, we might feel the most strongly about this one. The property has been the “ugh fine, it’s cheap” option for quite a while now. But there is so much space that is going unused and the theming is so weak at this point that there is no better time than now to let it rip. A new baseball stadium (supposedly) being opened across the street. The Knights. The Raiders. All walking distance. Tournament Of Kings? Thunder From Down Under? Australian Bee Gees? Please walk a safe distance away. We will find homes for you. Building? Ya gotta go.
Honorable Mention: The Strat
We don’t want to see it go, but we do want to see it blow (up).
The Las Vegas Strip technically ends at Sahara. But if you consider The Strat part of the Strip, first, sorry you’re wrong. But second, sure, we’ll give you a taste. The Strat has done some pretty great stuff lately to improve the property and their rooms. Plus the new Atomic Golf opening soon looks like it will be fun. But… we all saw that Landmark implosion. Admit it. It was cool. Imagine The Strat going down? That could be incredible! Plus, let’s face it, it would be hilarious watching half the valley get lost after losing the one landmark they use to get a grasp on where they are in the city.
