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Who would have thought the MGM Grand would take care of someone like this!

Discussion in 'LV Strip Hotels' started by Loparo34, Feb 9, 2016.

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  1. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    I was sitting down and reading some posts on this page and when Las Vegas is in my mind it always reminds me of the stories my dad use to tell me about when his father took him the Vegas when he was younger. My grandfather was a big craps player back in the day and use to go to Vegas dozens of times every year and knew all of the big guns there when the mafia ran it..

    To make a long story short back in 1980 on nov 21 my dad and my mom were at the MGM Grand and stayed there. For the people that don't know, that was the day the MGM burned down. My parents were stuck on the 15th floor for hours and my mom almost died. Thankfully they eventually got out because I wouldn't be on this earth if they didn't.

    So after thinking about it, I did some searching on google. I always take my dad every year for the past 3 years to Vegas for memories but never my mom so this year I was planning on sending them to stay at the MGM on Nov 21 on the 36th year anniv. of the fire. I did some research to see if MGM would be willing to possibly give them comps to make their trip even more eventful. Out of all the big shots at MGM I only found one online that had his email address on google. So I sent Mr. Gregg Herning, Vice President of hotel sales, an email and in 5 Minutes I got a response back. He was floored by the story and after a few emails shared back and forth and pictures of my mom with Billy Graham after she got out of the fire. He said he would like to do something nice for them and he be talking to the PR team about the MGM firer and he wants to check the dates when I'm in vegas with my dad on feb 26th-29 and make us a nice offer when I'm there because I was originally suppose to stay at the Harrahs. He also ended the email saying hes looking forward to meeting my dad and I when we come at the end of the month and meeting mom when shes down there in November.

    Never thought I would get an email back.. This is honestly amazing..

    Anthony
     
  2. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Good for you, and great for them. That was something special you did for them.

    We honeymooned in that hotel, before the fire. I have actually read through much of the extensive official report on the fire. Very interesting reading for those that have not read it.

    Hope your folks have a great time.

    Are they going to visit the original MGM?
     
  3. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    Correct me if I'm wrong because I don't know alot about old vegas. but isn't Ballys on the land where the old MGM was? I honestly don't know if my parents ever went in Bally's. Prob brought up some crazy memories. But once I tell them about this trip they will be excited.

    I have watched some videos on youtube of the fire and you can see people jumping out of the buildings and my dad said people were just ending their life or obviously burned it it. Crazy stuff. Something I never want to experience.
     
  4. Nevyn

    Nevyn VIP Whale

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    Yes, Bally's is the old MGM

    That's kind of what is most surprising here. MGM has built a completely new resort since, with all sort of corporate ownership mergers and changes, so really the only thing that it has in common is the brand name AFAIK.
     
  5. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    That is what I was thinking.

    The current Bally's is the same building that caught fire - or at least the main tower that has the casino. Building is pretty much the same as it was back then.

    The current MGM is a totally different company.

    FROM WIKIPEDIA

    The hotel was sold in 1985 to Bally Entertainment Corporation for $594m, and the property's name was changed to Bally's (the MGM Grand name was transferred to the former Marina Hotel, now known as MGM Grand Las Vegas). Bally Entertainment was purchased in 1995 by Hilton Hotels Corporation. On April 17, 1997, ground was broken on a sister property, the Paris Las Vegas. In September 1999, the new resort was opened and tightly integrated with Bally's property by a promenade. For many years, the two resorts operated under a single gaming license.

    Hilton's casino resorts division was subsequently spun off and became Caesars Entertainment, Inc. in 2003. The hotel's North tower was renovated in 2004. Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment Corporation) acquired the property with its purchase of Caesars in June 2005.[4]



    Official Fire Report. First 26 pages or so are just documents, then they get into the "story".
     
  6. jamesxnj

    jamesxnj VIP Whale

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    That's great.Please give an update when you meet in person.
     
  7. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    Yeah we shall see what happens. He's looking forward to meeting my father and I this month. Should be nice.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2016
  8. NY2LV

    NY2LV Tourist

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    I thought Ballys and Paris were part of CET.
     
  9. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    They are. That's what make's this a bit unusual. MGM in a totally different company.
     
  10. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    http://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/18/business/bally-mgm-grand-deal-announced.html

    this article states they sold their 2 mgm properties but kept the rights to the name.

    "Although he is selling the two MGM Grand properties, Mr. Kerkorian is keeping the rights to the MGM Grand name. In Saturday's statement, he said he anticipates using the name in the future development of hotels, casinos and other activities."

    So Kerkorian, owner of the mgm that burned down, sold the building to ballys then eventually opened up the mgm grand.
     
  11. dbueler

    dbueler High-Roller

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    Mysteries at the Museum had the story of this fire on the other night, I'm sure it was a repeat. They had an old MGM chip with burn marks on it that survived the fire. I was amazed that most people who died were in the hotel tower, even though the fire wasn't located there. The design of the building allowed the smoke and vapors from all the plastic that was burning to rise up through hollow "pillars" in the hotel, essentially creating a chimney. It was a fascinating story, but one I'm sorry your parents had to live through.
     
  12. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    Yeah it started in the deli....I have to ask my mom what she brought back..i know she has her room key for sure and some other stuff. she made a scrap book out of it.. I have to check that out ive never seen that before. interesting
     
  13. jgates8

    jgates8 VIP Whale

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    The MGM never 'burned down' - the entire structure still stands & is Ballys. The fire started close to where Nosh is located near the bottom of the South/Jubilee Tower is. At that time, that tower was still under construction & no one was staying in that tower. All guests were in the Indigo/North Tower.

    As stated, the MGM itself is not where they were staying, which is likely for the best. For them to visit where they stayed, they will need to go to Ballys. It may be hard for them to even walk through the doors of Ballys psychologically, although it may help lay a few ghosts to rest.

    The one thing that did come out of the fire in a good manner is it changed fire regulations across the country. Likely 1000's of lives over the last 35 years were saved by the 87 lives who were lost that day.

    Hold them close when you are in Bally's and be thankful you have them.
     
    Easter again..:
  14. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    I know what you mean they'd have to stay at the bally's to get the "full" experience of where it was but Its the point it was the MGM. I know it didn't burn down. Not sure if they would want to stay at the bally's that may be to emotional for them.


    Believe it or not out of all the times i've been to Vegas I never went into Bally's.. Ive always went with my dad and he just never wanted to go in there.
     
  15. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    100% completely agree with that.
     
  16. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    Just got an email from Gregg Herning..VP of sales at the MGM...Wanted to know when i was going to be there. Let him know myself, my dad and a friend was going to be there Feb 26-29 and he invited us to dinner and comedy show at the MGM.. How awesome. Looking forward to meeting up with him while we are there... I'll be doing a low roller TR while in in Vegas!
     
  17. dbueler

    dbueler High-Roller

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    Now, there's someone at MGM who understands marketing, costs them very little but makes an impression. Enjoy!
     
  18. Loparo34

    Loparo34 Low-Roller

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    Exactly! And he knows I'm staying at the harrahs which is CET (would rather stay at MGM, but I'm not paying for the rooms at the harrahs) and he still wants to meet us and invite us to a show and dinner. So every year I go to Vegas I'm just going to stay at the MGM. He won me as a permanent customer! Great people like this are hard to come by ESP when I'm not a low roller gambler. I spend more than the avg Joe but not a High Roller by any means! I deff gained a to of respect for MGM
     
  19. NCAAHoops

    NCAAHoops VIP Whale

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    +1 to this
    Enjoy your trip and look forward to following along
     
  20. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    Right on. A very nice thing they're doing for your family.

    Little things like this will go along ways with building loyalty towards a customer.
     
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