RENO, Nevada – As reported by the Reno Gazette-Journal: "As he stepped to the podium Thursday morning to "inject a little realism" into the inaugural Northern Nevada Gaming Summit at Harrah's Reno, the audience of 200 had no idea just how real Michael Meczka was going to get.
"At one point saying Reno was 'a great place to live, but who wants to visit there,' Meczka got the attention of area gaming executives, marketing managers and public relations professionals early with his introduction — 'Reno, The Biggest Little City in the World: No more. Now (it's) just another little market with gaming.'
"Meczka, an internationally recognized gaming consultant from Los Angeles, was the only outsider on a panel entitled 'Framing Northern Nevada's Challenges,' which kicked off Thursday's conference with a bang.
"…Meczka said Washoe County's fate is 'to become a gaming market dependent upon locals, with decreasing visitor and tourism counts.'
"…Washoe County is very much oversupplied with casino-hotel rooms, he said.
"…Members of the audience were by turns angered, bemused and resigned…"