GV Ranch Casino executive resigns to join Aladdin bidder

Kevin Rademacher

Wednesday, April 16, 2003 | 11:37 a.m.

Michael Mecca has resigned as general manager of Green Valley Ranch Station Casino in Henderson to run the proposed Planet Hollywood Casino at what is now the bankrupt Aladdin Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Mecca today said he has accepted a position as president of the planned resort, which will be unveiled following the proposed purchase of the Aladdin out of bankruptcy by Planet Hollywood and possibly other investors.

Mecca said the "process is under way" for that purchase.

Station Casinos Inc. Chief Operating Officer Steve Cavallaro was informed of his intentions to leave the company late last week, Mecca said, adding the he will stay on until a replacement is found at Green Valley Ranch.

"It would take a special opportunity like the Planet Hollywood/Aladdin offer to get me to leave," Mecca said.

The $1.2 billion Aladdin resort filed for bankruptcy in September of 2001. The property opened in August of 2000.

Mecca was named head of Green Valley Ranch in March 2001. The property opened nine months later.

Green Valley Ranch is owned by Station Casinos and American Nevada Co., which is controlled by the Greenspun family, owner of the Las Vegas Sun.

Prior to taking the Green Valley Ranch position, Mecca was chief operating officer at Greektown Casino in Detroit.

He earlier was general manager of Mandalay Bay during its construction phase and chief operating officer of Mandalay Resort Group's international marketing operations. Mecca left two months before Mandalay Bay opened in March 1999 for reasons that were never disclosed.

He also spent 13 years at Caesars World Inc., serving as general manager of Caesars Palace at one point.