Robert DeSalvio, who led the building of the $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor for five years for Wynn Resorts Ltd., has been replaced four months after opening the casino. His successor is Brian Gullbrants, also a Wynn veteran.
Wynn CEO Matt Maddox commented, “Bob leaves Encore with a hand-selected team prepared to take on the challenges ahead. I salute him for his commitment to the project and, most importantly, his dedication to his team.”
Gullbrants also has experience opening casinos for Wynn, having done so at the Las Vegas Encore in 2008.
DeSalvio opened the Encore Boston Harbor June 23. Earnings were strong for tables but not as robust for slot machines. The most recent figures were from September, when the casino collected $48.9 million, a 7 percent decrease from the previous month.
Meanwhile, Wynn Resorts has been in discussions with John Henry, owner of the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Globe about a joint project to develop 11 acres the casino owns across the street from the casino in Everett, Commonwealth magazine reported last week.
The talks were first held “some time ago,” according to the magazine, which quoted two unnamed people familiar with the discussions. At that time, Wynn officials thought it was too soon after the casino’s opening to move on developing the adjacent surplus parcel.
Last year, Henry reportedly expressed an interest in purchasing the casino. At the time, Wynn was embroiled in hearings with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission about whether it would be allowed to keep its gaming license due to alleged sexual misconduct by founder and former CEO Steve Wynn.
The Globe has declined to shed light on the talks or to make Henry available for comment.
Wynn Resorts, through spokesman Michael Weaver, said the company has received several inquiries from companies interested in developing the land across the street.
Several months ago, just before the June opening of the casino, Maddox commented about the property, “We want to work with the city to create an entertainment district. It’s not all going to be our company—Wynn. We want to work with lots of local developers, potentially other hoteliers, convention centers, etc. But our idea, along with the mayor’s, is to continue to redevelop the area so it’s known as the entertainment district in the Northeast.”
