Brokered by Michael Mixer and Alexander Rodrigo, executives ofthe local Colliers International office, both deals involved 1031exchange money from MGM's sale of its Primm, NV portfolio and therecapitalization of its holdings in Jean, NV. Mixer and Rodrigo saythe combined $576-million acquisition represents the largest pureland transaction on Las Vegas Boulevard.

The two parcels connect to each other as well as MGM's existingassets there, which include the Circus Circus casino resort, givingthe company 102 acres to master plan. When MGM put the propertiesunder contract last month, company CFO Jim Murren intimated thatthe company will take on a partner with which it will design anintegrated resort, adding that he already had received "significantinterest" from third parties.

Given the Circus Circus atmosphere, one possible partner mightbe the group of ex-Disney and Universal Studio executives thatwants to develop a destination resort here anchored by an indoorsnow park and a massive indoor-outdoor water park. Then again, thegroup has said it is seeking 200 acres, and has been negotiatingfor land south of McCarran International Airport. Regardless, MGMisn't yet revealing with whom it is talking.