In effect, Harrah's takes on the Barbary, with Boyd landing thesite north of its Echelon Place development site. According tocompany officials, the company will begin construction of Echelonin the second quarter 2007, with a planned third quarter 2010opening.

The 24 acres will bring Boyd's holdings to 87 contiguous acresin the center of the north corridor of the Las Vegas Strip.According to company officials, "the additional land allowed us tomodify the site layout of Echelon Place. These modificationsincreased the overall size of the project to 65 acres."

"We have increased the budget for the wholly owned components ofEchelon Place to $3.3 billion, principally as a result ofadditional scope, larger guest rooms and suites, and increasedestimated construction costs," wrote company officials in a filingreleased last week. "We continue to perform design and developmentwork on the two joint-venture elements, which include the DelanoLas Vegas and the Mondrian Las Vegas, and a retail promenade."