lexicon506
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Revere could use the money from casino revenues, and it would be a safer distance from the main commerical areas of Boston so not to affect them as much. While I would support a more moderate casino to revitalize Suffolk Downs, the type of resort they're proposing is a bit too much.
Casino plan may pit two moguls
Wonderland talks set stage for possible battle
By Matt Viser, Globe Staff | December 3, 2007
Donald Trump and the owner of Wonderland Greyhound Park have started talks about teaming up on a resort casino proposal at the Revere track, setting the stage for a potential battle with Suffolk Downs in East Boston, which is operated by a business foe of Trump's who also seeks to build a casino.
Trump telephoned Wonderland owner Charles Sarkis Monday and set the talks in motion during a 15-minute conversation, Sarkis said. The discussions are another sign of the intense jockeying among developers who are trying to get deals in place in response to Governor Deval Patrick's proposal to license three casinos around the state.
A Trump bid from Revere could set up a turf war with Suffolk, which is owned by a former friend of Trump's, Richard Fields. Fields and Trump had a falling out over a casino partnership and are currently embroiled in a $1 billion lawsuit in Florida's Broward County. The suit, filed in 2004, has generated four boxes full of legal claims and counterclaims over a casino deal in Florida that went sour.
The Globe reported on Thursday that Trump executives have been scouring the state for potential casino sites, including the Holyoke Mall, Plainridge Racecourse, and sites in Fall River, New Bedford, and Warren. Sarkis's confirmation of talks is the first time a possible Trump location has been identified in metropolitan Boston.
"He was very intrigued by the situation. He said the Boston area is a place where there should be a casino. It makes all the sense in the world," said Sarkis, who also owns the Back Bay Restaurant Group.
"You've got somebody very experienced, and someone with a national reputation, and somebody who can get the job done," he said. "We feel we're the most viable site around."
Trump declined requests for comment, as did Fields and Suffolk Downs officials.
Patrick filed legislation in October that would license one resort casino in each of three separate regions - Western Massachusetts, Southeastern Massachusetts, and metropolitan Boston. His proposal faces a stiff fight in the State House, where Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has expressed skepticism and has not set dates for hearings.
The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that it is commissioning a study, expected to be completed early next year, of the social and economic impact of Patrick's plan.
Much of the speculation about casino sites has focused on the state's existing racetracks, which are located in communities already accepting of gambling. Wonderland has held casino discussions with a wide number of investors, including the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Martha's Vineyard. This would allow Wonderland to get a leg up by partnering with a Massachusetts-based Indian tribe, which gets special preference under Patrick's proposal.
Wonderland officials have also had discussions with officials from Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Those tribes would not qualify for preferential treatment under Patrick's plan, but they all are looking to invest profits from their existing casino operations.
Discussions have been ongoing for nearly a year between Sarkis and Fields over a partnership between Wonderland and Suffolk Downs, which are just 2 miles apart. Several legislators have said an agreement would allow the owners at the two tracks to focus on the bill's passage instead of on battling one another.
Twice they've come close to signing a deal, and Sarkis said he and Fields agreed on the terms about a month ago, but other Suffolk officials did not want to sign because they thought it was too generous to Sarkis.
Sarkis would not disclose the terms of the deal, but previous discussions have involved bringing Sarkis into a casino development at Suffolk, while tearing down the Wonderland track and redeveloping that site, possibly as a hotel or something unrelated to the casino at Suffolk.
Officials at both Suffolk and Wonderland say a deal between them is still possible.
Officials at Wonderland, which is located along a section of Route 1A in Revere, argue that a casino and hotel would complement existing plans to revitalize Revere Beach. The track is several hundred yards from the beach, but Wonderland officials say they would build a massive boardwalk to connect the property to the waterfront.
Wonderland has a much smaller plot of land - 36 acres at Wonderland compared with 163 acres at Suffolk - and Suffolk also has an aggressive lobbying team and support from Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
The roots of the relationship between Trump and Fields stretches back to about 15 years ago, when Fields began working as manager for Trump's former wife, Marla Maples, who had a budding Broadway career and a new relationship with the celebrity businessman.
In the late 1990s, Fields and Trump began looking to partner with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to build two massive casino resorts in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. Trump eventually backed out when told that he would not be able to install Las Vegas-style slot machines.
Fields split off and partnered with a Baltimore-based real estate firm. After several years of lucrative returns from the casinos, Trump sued Fields, contending he pilfered his plans and misled the Seminole Tribe to believe he was still working for Trump.
Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.
Casino plan may pit two moguls
Wonderland talks set stage for possible battle
By Matt Viser, Globe Staff | December 3, 2007
Donald Trump and the owner of Wonderland Greyhound Park have started talks about teaming up on a resort casino proposal at the Revere track, setting the stage for a potential battle with Suffolk Downs in East Boston, which is operated by a business foe of Trump's who also seeks to build a casino.
Trump telephoned Wonderland owner Charles Sarkis Monday and set the talks in motion during a 15-minute conversation, Sarkis said. The discussions are another sign of the intense jockeying among developers who are trying to get deals in place in response to Governor Deval Patrick's proposal to license three casinos around the state.
A Trump bid from Revere could set up a turf war with Suffolk, which is owned by a former friend of Trump's, Richard Fields. Fields and Trump had a falling out over a casino partnership and are currently embroiled in a $1 billion lawsuit in Florida's Broward County. The suit, filed in 2004, has generated four boxes full of legal claims and counterclaims over a casino deal in Florida that went sour.
The Globe reported on Thursday that Trump executives have been scouring the state for potential casino sites, including the Holyoke Mall, Plainridge Racecourse, and sites in Fall River, New Bedford, and Warren. Sarkis's confirmation of talks is the first time a possible Trump location has been identified in metropolitan Boston.
"He was very intrigued by the situation. He said the Boston area is a place where there should be a casino. It makes all the sense in the world," said Sarkis, who also owns the Back Bay Restaurant Group.
"You've got somebody very experienced, and someone with a national reputation, and somebody who can get the job done," he said. "We feel we're the most viable site around."
Trump declined requests for comment, as did Fields and Suffolk Downs officials.
Patrick filed legislation in October that would license one resort casino in each of three separate regions - Western Massachusetts, Southeastern Massachusetts, and metropolitan Boston. His proposal faces a stiff fight in the State House, where Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has expressed skepticism and has not set dates for hearings.
The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce announced Friday that it is commissioning a study, expected to be completed early next year, of the social and economic impact of Patrick's plan.
Much of the speculation about casino sites has focused on the state's existing racetracks, which are located in communities already accepting of gambling. Wonderland has held casino discussions with a wide number of investors, including the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Martha's Vineyard. This would allow Wonderland to get a leg up by partnering with a Massachusetts-based Indian tribe, which gets special preference under Patrick's proposal.
Wonderland officials have also had discussions with officials from Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Those tribes would not qualify for preferential treatment under Patrick's plan, but they all are looking to invest profits from their existing casino operations.
Discussions have been ongoing for nearly a year between Sarkis and Fields over a partnership between Wonderland and Suffolk Downs, which are just 2 miles apart. Several legislators have said an agreement would allow the owners at the two tracks to focus on the bill's passage instead of on battling one another.
Twice they've come close to signing a deal, and Sarkis said he and Fields agreed on the terms about a month ago, but other Suffolk officials did not want to sign because they thought it was too generous to Sarkis.
Sarkis would not disclose the terms of the deal, but previous discussions have involved bringing Sarkis into a casino development at Suffolk, while tearing down the Wonderland track and redeveloping that site, possibly as a hotel or something unrelated to the casino at Suffolk.
Officials at both Suffolk and Wonderland say a deal between them is still possible.
Officials at Wonderland, which is located along a section of Route 1A in Revere, argue that a casino and hotel would complement existing plans to revitalize Revere Beach. The track is several hundred yards from the beach, but Wonderland officials say they would build a massive boardwalk to connect the property to the waterfront.
Wonderland has a much smaller plot of land - 36 acres at Wonderland compared with 163 acres at Suffolk - and Suffolk also has an aggressive lobbying team and support from Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
The roots of the relationship between Trump and Fields stretches back to about 15 years ago, when Fields began working as manager for Trump's former wife, Marla Maples, who had a budding Broadway career and a new relationship with the celebrity businessman.
In the late 1990s, Fields and Trump began looking to partner with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to build two massive casino resorts in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. Trump eventually backed out when told that he would not be able to install Las Vegas-style slot machines.
Fields split off and partnered with a Baltimore-based real estate firm. After several years of lucrative returns from the casinos, Trump sued Fields, contending he pilfered his plans and misled the Seminole Tribe to believe he was still working for Trump.
Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.
