Hamstockman reminded me what we were up to during this time last year. June
1st was a Friday last year, when the new guys got the keys to CB/EW.
Hamstockman wanted to do the last trip before the new owners took over. So I had to
go too. With his usual "White Card" status at CB I knew I was going to get fed
a couple of times.
Looking at my 2007 calendar I stayed at RP, Pioneer and GNL over this trip.
My 2 Points at GNL got me a solo Friday night. I miss that option.
On May 31st the floor at CB still had our old favorite coin clunkers
available for play. The Sigma quarter 9/6/5 DDJ were still in play. Assorted other
games, like the $1 9/6 Jacks IGT slant-top by the Grand Staircase was still on
the floor. I bring this game up since Mrs. Hamstockman, doing a late night
potshot hit a dealt royal on this game, what in 2003 when we first met up in May?
The bartops still had Jacks 9/6, with a different progressive meter on all
six bars. The Embers Lounge still was alive with Jacks back then too in EW.
It was just after sundown on May 31st when the activity on the floor started
to get going. The activity surrounded the clunkers. At this time there still
was about a 100 Sigmas still in action and more IGT clunkers. Marnell-Sher
left the slot club alone until July 1st, but anything playable was gone in days.
Anyway, Hamstockman invited me to do the Orleans Room on that Thursday night.
He has always been conservative in the White Card use, but it was time for a
farewell meal for the Mirage/MGM-Grand ownership. We had a good meal
including a bottle of wine that did not have a screw-top. We, and the staff, did not
know this was the last night that the Orleans Room would be in operation.
The Orleans Roon still is dark to this date.
We also did lunch on June 1st. This was in the Mississippi Lounge. The
atmosphere was tense. I had the Gumbo. There were more strangers running around,
being that the Mississippi Lounge is right next door to the Orleans. Chef
types and maybe accountants were scoping out the joints while lunch was served.
I am not sure if that was also the last lunch for the ML?
Marnell-Sher has done alot of stuff in a year. First the VP went to HELL,
down to 98.5% as any best game. Then the slot club did that .3%/.7%/.2%
opening, with the crummy VP. Then Bonus 8/5 made it back in August with the
remarkable banks of great quarter VP. Then in November the card got reduced to a
normal industry level.
Each month M-S rolled out a new promo. Some for low rollers. some for $13k+
players, some for weekends and some for live music lovers (March Blues &
Brews).
Anyway, I think the joints look better than at anytime. They are roomier.
They have a good mix of games. Downside the Sportbook is now a Leroys (usually
sucks) with one less line to examine on the River.
So Good Luck Marnell-Sher in their second year of action. Their "M" casino
project on the south Strip should be open by this time next year.
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