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Latest news and views about Caesars Entertainment and Caesars Rewards Updated: April 23, 2019
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Atlantic City Rail Line to resume service May 12
New Jersey Transit (NJT) will resume service on the Atlantic City Rail Line (ACRL) May 12 – two weeks earlier than expected. To better match service with customer demand, the ACRL will introduce an improved schedule to better match service with customer demand. The new schedule includes an adjustment to a weekday a.m. peak period round-trip which fills a gap in arrivals at Philadelphia 30th Street Station during the morning rush hour. NJT now will offer five trains that arrive in Philadelphia prior to noon, up from three, and reduce wait times between trains to a maximum of two hours throughout the service day. Similar adjustments have been made to the weekend schedule. (4/17) Caesars Entertainment names Tony Rodio as new CEO
Former Tropicana CEO Tony Rodio has been named CEO of Caesars Entertainment Corp. Rodio is currently CEO of Affinity Gaming in Las Vegas, and formerly oversaw Carl Icahn’s seven-casino company that was sold last year to regional casino operator Eldorado Resorts and real estate investment trust Gaming and Leisure Properties. A veteran of more than 30 years with the Atlantic City market, he’s held several positions with local and regional gaming businesses. Caesars also has announced the formation of a "transaction committee" to oversee the company’s ongoing efforts in “creating additional shareholder value.” Rodio will be transitioning to Caesars during the next 30 days, the company said. (4/16)
Booze on the Boardwalk could become reality in Atlantic City
Atlantic City could soon join Las Vegas and other cities that have open container laws allowing pedestrians to walk around designated areas drinking a beer or sipping a cocktail. Proposed bipartisan legislation in the state senate last month would allow alcoholic beverages to be consumed openly in Atlantic City’s Tourism District. A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the Assembly next month. City Council voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution supporting open containers in the Tourism District in March 2018. The Atlantic City Police Department also expressed support for the proposal and the chairman of Atlantic City Alcohol Beverage Control said he has been pushing the idea for several years. “We constantly have to look for new ways to enhance visitors’ experience while ensuring the public’s safety, which is why, following the advice of our local Police Department, tourism experts and local business owners who all agree, allowing responsible visitors to enjoy a drink as they take in the sights and sounds along the Boardwalk will foster a more vibrant atmosphere, providing another reason for tourists to spend more time and more money at our local businesses,” said State Sen. Chris Brown (R-Atlantic), a co-sponsor of the bill. (4/14)
 Speaking of sales.
Caesars Entertainment Corp. will soon be up for sale, according to a report in The New York Post. The company plans to announce that its Board of Directors has approved a sales process under pressure from major shareholder Carl Icahn. Icahn is the company’s largest shareholder, with a 28.5 percent stake, including swaps. The move comes as Caesars gives Golden Nugget Casino and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta access to its financial records; Caesars already has given Eldorado Resorts Inc. similar access. Among 25 other casinos around the country, Eldorado owns Tropicana Atlantic City. (4/11)
Colosseum to be renovated beginning in July
As Caesars Entertainment Corp. assumes operational control of The Colosseum in partnership with Live Nation, beginning in early July, the iconic venue at Caesars Palace will undergo significant technical and design updates. Renovations will include a state-of-the-art sound system, new moving light fixtures, and a larger and higher resolution LED video wall. The Colosseum also will be modified to enable multiple seating arrangements that include VIP banquettes with bottle service, as well as a general admission set-up on the main floor utilizing the city's only automated lift seating system. In addition, the seats will be entirely refurbished with new custom fabrics, the size of the lobby bar will increase, and merchandise areas will be moved to better accommodate the flow of guests into the theater. The first major update to the space since its debut in 2003, The Colosseum is slated to reopen in early fall. (4/10)
Caesars board member resigns
A senior partner with Apollo Global Management, one of the two private equity firms that has controlled Caesars Entertainment Corp. for more than 10 years, has resigned from the Caesars Board of Directors, effective April 4. The move all but assures Carl Icahn will gain a fourth seat on the company’s 12-member board. “[David] Sambur’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the company on any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices,” Caesars said in a brief filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Last month Apollo and TPG Capital sold 36.7 million shares in a direct sale to Icahn. The two firms divested the rest of their Caesars shares in private sales. Icahn now controls nearly 20 percent of Caesars through stock acquisitions he completed between December and March. He is pushing for Caesars to sell or merge the company with another casino operator. (4/10)
 I won’t say which casino sent this, but it’s no way to inform a valued
mega-tier credit player that his long-time host has left the property.
The email came from his host’s iPhone and included the host’s signature block, but there was no indication of the actual sender.
To make matters worse, the host’s first name was misspelled,
as is the word “roll,”
and there is no question mark at the end of the third “sentence.”
Greyhound extends change fee deadline
Greyhound has extended the deadline to June 3 for customers who need to change their departure or arrival date/time on travel between New York City and Atlantic City. The previous deadline was May 3. Call 800-231-2222 to process a one-time complimentary itinerary change. After this date a change of itinerary fee will apply, or customers will need to purchase a new ticket for the new schedule. In case you hadn’t heard, all passengers traveling between New York City and Atlantic City on Greyhound now must travel on the schedule confirmed on their tickets. Only customers with a confirmed ticket for a specific schedule will be allowed to board that particular bus. Greyhound no longer allows open-ended tickets. (4/9)
The World Series of Poker Global Casino Championship – the $1 million guaranteed freeroll for the top performers throughout the season – will once again take place at Harrah’s Cherokee Aug. 6 to 8. It’s the fifth straight year Harrah’s has played host to the event. (4/6)
 Let's hope Horseshoe Baltimore means 25,000 tier credits
and not $25,000 in Reward Credits!
The reel thing at Horseshoe Baltimore
  Did no one realize that her name is Dionne Warwick, not Warkwick?
[The copy also should read, "(S)pend AN evening. . . ."]
Bally’s deleted the original tweet, above. However, a few days later,
Bally’s repeated the misspelling of her name in a second tweet, below.
 Harrah's Northern California to open at 4:29 p.m. April 29
  "Announcements"? That's how the Caesars Palace website originally described the "Type Of Activity" the new Vanderpump Cocktail Garden is. When I pointed this out, they changed it to "Property Feature." However, now it's been changed back to Announcements. Wouldn't "Nightlife" – as Alta Bar is described – be more appropriate? Also, it would be nice to include a phone number to make one of those "Limited Reservations."
 And does the Southern Nevada Health District know about these dogs
sitting around tables of food and beverages inside the lounge? [It's a joke!]
Kimmel Comedy Club to open May 2 in Las Vegas
Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at The LINQ Promenade will open May 2 with headliner Harland Williams. The Las Vegas club will showcase comedians at 8 p.m. Thursday to Sunday, with additional shows at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Look for comedians ranging from household names to up-and-coming talent curated by Kimmel and his team, as well as late night shows, surprise guests, high-end casual cuisine and memorabilia. The dual-level 8,000 square-foot venue, which Kimmel designed, has an expandable showroom that seats up to 300 guests. For tickets and more information, visit KimmelsComedyClub.com. (4/4)
Harrah's Cherokee bids for Asheville arena naming rights
It appears that Harrah’s Cherokee Casino has outbid U.S. Cellular for the naming rights to the Asheville, N.C., downtown arena. Whether that bid accepted is on hold. The casino bid $3.25 million for five years, a deal which could be worth as much as $5.75 million if its name stays through the end of the next decade. The current deal with U.S. Cellular expires the end of the year. The
initial offer from Harrah’s includes $1 million earmarked for changes
to the facility, most notably the purchase of a new video board, as well
as rebranding it with a new name. The naming license covers exterior
signage, street pole banners, street and wayfinding signage, staff
uniforms, receipts, and tickets. The license holder also will get a
namedrop during any broadcasts or streaming services involving the
center and event advertising. However, some members of the Civic Center Commission have voiced concerns about accepting the bid from Harrah’s due to perceived social and cultural incompatibility. “If we go with Harrah’s, the pushback from the community will be absolutely astounding,” one commissioner said. “I don't see how our community will accept being tied to a casino at all.” Although the Harrah’s bid does not include a specific name, Commission Chair Corey Atkins emphasized certain parameters already have been established. “I can be very clear that the word ‘casino’ will not be on or inside the building whatsoever," he said. The Asheville City Council will make its decision soon. (4/3) Credit where credit isn't due
Buca, Planet Hollywood, Earl of Sandwich hit by hackers
If you’ve dined at a Buca di Beppo, Planet Hollywood (the restaurant, not the casino) and/or Earl of Sandwich – and paid with your credit card, you may want to check your last few statements. Their parent company – Earl Enterprises – has confirmed that hackers used point-of-sale malware to scoop up data (card numbers, customer names and expiration dates) at some of its U.S. locations between May 2018 and March 2019. Virtually all Buca di Beppo, a few Earl of Sandwich, and Planet Hollywood locations in Las Vegas, New York City and Orlando were affected. Earl said the breach was “contained” and that you shouldn’t be at risk if you visit today. (4/3)
Hertz files lawsuit against Frissora, other former execs
Hertz Global Holdings Inc. is demanding that several former senior managers return at least $70 million of incentive compensation for their roles in an accounting scandal five years ago. Among those included in the lawsuit is former Hertz Global Holdings Inc. CEO – and current Caesars Entertainment Corp. President and CEO – Mark Frissora. Frissora says he “strongly disagrees with the allegations.” Hertz has accused Frissora and the executives of pressuring employees to use fraudulent accounting techniques to inflate income and earnings. The alleged misconduct spurred a federal investigation and prompted Hertz to restate several years of financial results, costing the firm more than $200 million. According to an article by Bloomberg reporters Jef Feeley and Anders Melin, “the restatement ‘was triggered by the gross negligence and misconduct of Hertz’s senior executive officers’ who set the wrong tone at the top, the company alleged.” The report claims that Hertz filed the lawsuit after Frissora, ex-Chief Financial Officer Elyse Douglas and J. Jeffrey Zimmerman, who was general counsel, refused to return incentive compensation tied to the erroneous results. “Hertz’s effort to recoup the awards – a rare move by companies even in cases of dubious behavior by senior management – follows a protracted stock slump as falling used-vehicle prices and the rise of ride-sharing companies squeeze car-rental profits,” the article continues. “The accounting scandal also stoked skepticism about Frissora among some investors of Caesars Entertainment Corp., which he has led since 2015.” In an emailed statement provide by his attorney, Frissora says, “I am proud of my record of integrity and transparency in business, and I am confident that these claims will be shown to be untrue.” (4/1)  No, I'm a Caesars Rewards member.
Maybe this should have been one of the first things updated on the website.
How long have you been planning this change?
Horseshoe Baltimore restaurants are now 'family-friendly'
Because Maryland law doesn’t allow anyone younger than 21 to enter a casino, families and teens couldn’t enjoy the food at GDL Italian by Giada, DeLaurentiis’ restaurant inside the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore, or Guy Fieri’s Baltimore + Bar. No longer! Thanks to a new separate entrance, anyone can dine there. (A separate entrance was part of the design when Gordon Ramsay Steak opened last year.) The casino hopes to get business from families attending games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. “After Orioles games, we had a lot of people who were disappointed they couldn't come in with their families,” General Manager Erin Chamberlin told the Baltimore Business Review. (4/1)
 I think someone at Harrah's was doing a little too much
"celebratating" when this was written.
| Seven Stars Renewal Events are highlighted in bold yellow type.
Arizona, Maricopa
April 26 to 28: Seven Stars Renewal, Harrah's
April 6: Seven Stars Renewal, Harrah'sCalifornia, Ione
April 29: Harrah's Northern California opens to the public at 4:29 p.m. May 17 to 19: Grand Opening Weekend, Harrah's Northern California
Illinois, Metropolis
June 6 to 9: 41st Annual Superman Celebration
Wednesdays: Those 50 and older (with valid ID and Caesars Rewards card) get 50 percent off at the Village Square Buffet
Iowa, Council Bluffs
Tuesdays: Guests 55 and older qualify for a buy one, get one free buffet (with photo ID and Total Rewards card), Harrah’s
Louisiana, Bossier City
May 4: Opening day of Thoroughbred Racing, Harrah's Louisiana Downs May 24: Outdoor pool opens at Dare Day Club, Horseshoe Louisiana, New Orleans
May 9 to 20: World Series of Poker, Harrah's
Maryland, Baltimore
Monday to Friday: $5 sips and bites, 4 to 7 p.m., Horseshoe
Tuesdays: Military & First Responders Appreciation Day, 7 a.m. to midnight, Horseshoe Wednesdays: Guy Fieri's Trivia Night, 7 to 9 p.m., Horseshoe  Thursdays: Guests 55 and older can enjoy a $25 lunch special at Guy Fieri’s Baltimore Kitchen + Bar, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Horseshoe
Thursdays: Rockstar Karaoke at 14Forty, 9 p.m., Horseshoe
Fridays: 98 Rock’s Justin Schlegel broadcasts live, 14Forty, 8 p.m. to midnight, Horseshoe
April 25: Reels & Rosé, King Kong, Horseshoe April 25 to May 6: World Series of Poker, Horseshoe
April 26 and 27: Seven Stars Renewal, Horseshoe
Missouri, North Kansas City May 18: Seven Stars Renewal (gift pick-up), Harrah's
May 18: Seven Stars Renewal, Harrah's and Harveys
June 26 to 30: Seven Stars Elite Signature Event, Harrah's and Harveys
Nevada, Las Vegas
May 9 to 12: Vegas Uncork'd
May 10 and 11: Las Vegas Days, Core Arena
May 28 to July 16: World Series Of Poker, Rio
OK, what happened to her face?
May 31: Christina Aguilera's The Xperience opens, Planet Hollywood
June 8: Celine Dion's final performance in The Colosseum, Caesars Palace
Aug. 22 to 25: Seven Stars Signature Event
Oct. 31 to Nov. 4: Great Gift Wrap Up, Caesars Palace
Nevada, Laughlin
June 1: Seven Stars Renewal, Harrah's
Nevada, Reno
 April 28: Miss Teen USA Competition, Harrah's
May 11: Seven Stars Renewal
New Jersey, Atlantic City
May 12: Atlantic City Rail Line resumes service
May 30 to June 2: Seven Stars Signature Event
June 9 to 15: Miss New Jersey Pageant, Resorts Casino Hotel
 June 25 to 27: EsportsTravel Summit
 June 27 to 30: Drone Expo International, Atlantic City Convention
Center
 June 29 and 30: BeachFest Concert: Vans Warped 25 Years
 July 14: Jim Whelan Open Water Festival
Aug. 21: Atlantic City Airshow
North Carolina, Cherokee
May 3: Outdoor pool opens June 1 to Aug. 17: Unto These Hills, Cherokee Mountainside Theatre
Aug. 6 to 8: WSOP Global Casino Championship, Harrah's
Pennsylvania, Chester
Saturdays: Seven Stars Mixer, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Cove Steakhouse & Raw Bar, Harrah's
May 17: Diamond Day (an upgraded and themed menu in the Laurel Lounge with the chance to win free play and other prizes), 3 to 11 p.m., Harrah's
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