SAME OLD, SAME OLD - WHEN WILL THEY WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES

Implications: How in the world does the Riviera plan to make an impact on a new customer base? They have the same old, outdated property with little or nothing to offer a new guest. So the Stardust closed and they expect to pick up all the loose customers - get a life. The better story for them would be to consider either doing a major face lift or a complete new property - a new hotel would be a better decision. I don't think investors or stock holders are really looking to put a new face on an old body. It makes little sense to invest the type of dollars needed to bring this hotel up to 2006 standards.

Analysis: Here's the deal - since the Stardust has closed and the Riviera can't find a buyer at their price - lets just get new customers. It certainly makes a good case to stall on capital investments in their very seedy looking casino. They say they want to try and be successful by getting new customers - well, what the heck have they been doing all this time. Hard to figure!

Someone has been giving the powers to be there a bit of wrong information. I don't think that the Stardust guests have been just hanging around waiting for closure so they can now go to the Riviera. Give me a break - there are to many good, fresh and willing hotels that will tracking these customers. The Riviera will have to give their rooms away to attract a new customer base from the Stardust.

It's not my intention to belittle what the powers to be at the Riviera are suggesting. It just does not ring true. They would have been in a much more secure position just to say they are maintain status quo until a decision is made about their future. This has a sound of truthfulness and would not only be appreciated by the investment community and Stock holders - but customers alike.

Where is the future of the Riviera headed? They will be sitting on some extremely valuable property as the Echelon Place takes shape across the street. The Boyd Group is investing $4 billion plus dollars to make their property unique and match the best on the strip. How can the Riviera compete? To say they are planning to market a different brand of customer won't hold water. The Boyd Group will attract all comers - why stay at the Riv? Granted it will take about three years to open the Echelon. It's a terrific time for the Riviera to make some type of commitment to their own property. If they can't sell it - I am sure that the investment banking community would certainly like to seek them out to help finance a new hotel.

If timing is everything - then it's mighty ripe for them to consider closing this hotel and make a new one so it could either coincide with the opening of Echelon or beat them to the starting gate by a few months. It's in their best interests to get off the mark and do something grand with the Riviera land.