Ruffin considering convention center
Cash-rich billionaire Phil Ruffin, moving on after his second attempt to buy The Mirage was rejected, says he is looking at adding a 100,000-square-foot convention center to Treasure Island.
In an interview Tuesday, Ruffin confirmed he made another run at The Mirage last fall. MGM Resorts International did not counter the offer, he said.
"The offers were two years apart," he said. "This last one was four months ago, five months ago, and we thought we might have had a deal, but they got their refinancing and they just have no interest in selling to anybody so "
He is meeting Thursday to determine the viability of building a $30 million convention center, a two-tier project that would connect the TI with the parking garage above Mel Torme Drive.
"We'll probably do it," said Ruffin, who paid $775 million, most of it in cash, four years ago to acquire the hotel from MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International).
Ruffin previously offered about $500 million each for MGM Resort properties Monte Carlo and Beau Rivage about two or three years ago .
BETTING ON 'PAWN STARS'
The "Pawn Stars" are popping up everywhere these days. All over the world, even on slot machines.
The first one showed up at The Venetian recently, with pawnshop owner Rick Harrison featured on a screen, trying to make a deal.
"We actually negotiate," Harrison said. "I ask how much, and the prices pop up. If you ask for too much, I might not buy it."
He is heading for New Orleans for Super Bowl week; then it's off to London to film "Pawn Stars UK" and then the European Gaming Convention and Germany to promo the show.
"Then I'm flying home and literally have like 14 hours before we start filming again," he said.
Harrison is getting married July 21 at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Beach, Calif., to DeAnna Burditt, 36, a paralegal from Las Vegas.
Harrison said he has been told the show is No. 1 in Malaysia and Singapore, as well as the No. 1 show on History Channel in Japan, where it began airing a few months ago.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
I reported on Twitter on Monday that Las Vegas hypnotist Marshall Sylver says he's "kind of grinning" at reports suggesting Britney Spears may be going into Planet Hollywood Resort's 7,000-seat Theater for the Performing Arts. Sylver says he has an open-ended deal with Base Entertainment, which has a long-term lease.
SIGHTINGS
Reba McEntire, dining at Cut (Palazzo) on Saturday before attending the Tim McGraw-Faith Hill show. ... Drew Carey, taking in the Lon Bronson Band at Aliante's Access Showroom on Friday. ... Martha Stewart, dining at Andrea's (Encore) on Friday after taking "Le Reve" following the wedding of her niece, Sophia Herbert. She married former Wall Street Journal reporter Dan Slater, author of the online dating book "Love in the Time of Algorithms."
THE PUNCH LINE
"I just hope that this one painful online experience doesn't cause Manti Te'o to give up on all imaginary girlfriends." - Jay Leno.
Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke. "Norm Clarke's Vegas," airs Thursdays on the "Morning Blend" on KTNV-TV, Channel 13.
