Blake sent a message to James J. Murren – Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International – Email Address that said:
I've been a guest at Aria for the past 6 years, prior to that I stayed at Wynn. I probably spend 35 nights a year at the hotel. I enjoy watching and betting games in the sportsbook , as you probably know it can be hard to get seats in the book….I'm not really looking to wakeup at 4 am and line up for seats during peak seasons.
I guess in terms of sports betting I place fairly sizable wagers, I will play the limit and at times in the past they have said they won't take bets I've made bc of the size. The previous sports book director was a class act, he always had reserved seating for me and my group when we came out…he really understood the business and not only took care of me but everyone in that book. ( players of all sizes, employees etc ).
Last year Jeff took over that spot when Eric left..it was really a shame bc Eric was so good at that job. I called out there and introduced myself to Jeff and explained that Eric was always a gentlemen and got us seats. Jeff said nothing will change, he didn't want to rock the boat so to speak. We got seats for march madness last year but everyone just got such a weird vibe from Jeff. He didn't have the same great personality as Eric, basically he had no clue what he was doing. We tipped the staff very well and had a nice time. It just wasn't the same anymore. ( I had emailed jeff a few times over the past year, he never replies…you have to keep emailing or actually call out there).
So I email jeff 2 weeks ago to let him know my group will be back for march like we always are…..No reply….10 days goes by. I email him again, he instantly replies and acknowledges that he did get the original email and he should have replied but that he would not be honoring any of Eric's seats any longer..WTF?? We were supporting the Aria since day 1 when there weren't 3 people in that book.
I'm friendly with a lot of the employees in the book as most have been there many years, none of them like Jeff at all. He is known as a guy that kisses managements ass and doesn't take care of the staff. They REALLY dislike the guy and the book has gone way downhill. One of the guys that is out there every year with his group is a CEO of a major fortune 500 company..guys in that group have told me they won't be going back anymore bc of jeff.
I know the Sportsbook is a small % of the revenue and its nothing compared to the table games but its really disappointing to see what used to be the best book in vegas turn to a total shit show with a guy running it that should not be running anything.
just my 2 cents, I will still support Jean George Steakhouse as the bartenders and staff there are some of the nicest and most genuine people I've met in my life. I will however never step foot in that book again while Hoose is there nor will I stay at the hotel or gamble there any longer.
