With the monumental achievement of creating the Borgata behind him, Bob Boughner is now ready for a new challenge. Boughner was responsible for starting with a concept, assembling a team, and guiding the vision that was Borgata through to reality in 2003—creating a property that essentially changed the Atlantic City market. The executives at Borgata's parent company, Boyd Gaming, are now hoping Boughner will do a repeat performance on the 83-acre site of the legendary Stardust casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Boyd announced that this will be the final year of the Stardust. In 2007, it will be razed to make way for Echelon Place, a $4 billion, 5,300-room, mixed-use behemoth that will include a massive casino hotel, three separate non-gaming hotels, the 650,000-square-foot Las Vegas ExpoCenter, a 350,000-square-foot retail promenade and many more amenities. Boughner will leave his post as CEO of Borgata to serve as president and CEO of new Boyd subsidiary Echelon Resorts, where, as he did for Borgata, he will take the Echelon Place project from concept to reality. "Bob's outstanding performance at Borgata, one of our industry's finest success stories, is widely acclaimed," said Boyd Gaming CEO Bill Boyd. "In my opinion, there is nobody better for this job." Meanwhile, taking over the Atlantic City reigns will be Larry Mullin, who moves from his current post as executive VP and chief operating officer to president of the Borgata. Mullin, a 20-year Atlantic City casino veteran, made his name in marketing at the Trump properties, becoming president of Trump Plaza and chief operating officer of Trump Marina before joining Borgata as executive vice president of marketing before the property opened. Mullin will oversee the Borgata's first major expansion, a $525 million project that will add celebrity-chef restaurants, new casino space, more retail shops and, next year, a new 800-room, upscale hotel adjacent to Borgata. The first phase of the expansion opens in the spring, with the new hotel to be open in late 2007.

By Casino Connection Staff

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