MA Casino Developments

This state does not need 3 full blown casinos. Why not just allow Plainridge to expand and call it a day? See how one goes before we go ahead and have 3 built. It's right on route one and 495. There is barely any residential neighborhoods around it. There's room to expand and add a hotel and more gaming space.

Is CT still floating the idea of building a casino near the Mass border in Central CT to combat the Springfield casino?
 
mass88 said:
This state does not need 3 full blown casinos. Why not just allow Plainridge to expand and call it a day? See how one goes before we go ahead and have 3 built. It's right on route one and 495. There is barely any residential neighborhoods around it. There's room to expand and add a hotel and more gaming space.

Is CT still floating the idea of building a casino near the Mass border in Central CT to combat the Springfield casino?
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Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are doing a joint venture to redevelop the long-vacant Showcase Cinemas on I-84 in East Hartford into a 'satellite' casino geared to quick in-and-out trips. That seems to be lurching forward while the other potential site choices have pretty much evaporated because of Springfield. Public polling's been extensive about East Hartford, and most people have said they'd be likely to visit both casinos because Springfield is better place for a day trip and East Hartford's better place to kill a couple hours. The lack of audience overlap is the main reason the two CT casinos are the financial backers; doesn't split their audience any more than MGM's.

If I had to hedge, I'd say the Showcase Cinemas redev--if it happens--is the only one that'll ever be considered.

  • Location on the HOV lane section of 84 sprinkled amid the 384, 291, CT 15, and CT 2 interchanges is just about the only place they could put it that would have no adverse effect whatsoever on car congestion. And, in fact, that was the whole reason Showcase built the megaplex there 20 years ago back before the market collapse for megaplexes. Any other site would get traffic opposition.
  • Foxwoods + Mohegan so dominate CT politics that no other bidders with any kind of pockets are going to touch the state because it's just not worth it to be the newbie trying to break in while the other two wag the dog. It's been tried before, and every time the developer interest is lukewarm or they only dip their toes in the pool. This wouldn't be happening at all if it weren't one or both of the incumbents. This is a big advantage Springfield's got; it's majority CT patronage from the conjoined metro area, but the gatekeepers north of the border aren't previously spoken for like they are south of the border.
  • If it were anybody but the incumbents, the lobbying pressure from Foxwoods and Mohegan would exert just enough pressure to discourage outsiders and stall it. So the fact that it's being positioned as their satellite office a non-threat to traditional 'destination' casino patronage is in large part why it's advancing at all.


I'll believe it when I see it because that Showcase parcel is cursed as a lifelong underachiever, and I don't think the co-investors are giving this one too much rope if opposition materializes. But if it does, I would bet that's the last casino that gets sited in CT. There's a lot of trust in Foxwoods and Mohegan to do the state well, and a lot of suspicion of out-of-staters given the grifting ownerships that ruined Atlantic City. With how torturous a process it was in the early-90's to even gain that trust in the first place, I just can't picture some third party being allowed the breathing room to make a serious sales pitch without getting an immediate cold shoulder.
 
617 said:
Stupid question but for me an important one:

MA has no happy hour and does not allow discounted drinks so that also applies to he free drink delivery at casinos when you're playing...does that mean none of these casinos will have to waitresses delivering drinks? That's a huge part of the "Vegas" experience in my opinion.

Also Gov Baker recently said he has no plans to allow happy hour.
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617 -- haven't you ever been to a Wine or Beer Tasting?

These are just big samples
 
This past week they have been cutting down trees, clearing brush, and staking out the Everett site.
 
HalcyonEra said:
He is spot on. It is ridiculous and antiquated. But what he doesn't address is the resistance from current liquor license holders, some of whom paid exorbitant amounts for their license in locals where they are in short supply. Unfortunately, I think it would be that group who would put up the biggest stink against change to protect their investment.
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Yep, same deal with taxi medallions, and ironically, casino licenses. Any artificial constraint on supply raises the cost of entry. Any lifting of that artificial constraint results in a loss for those already in the market, who made their investments premised on existing (distorted) market dynamics. I'm of two minds on this:

  1. Tough, business decisions involve risk management, you bet on a regulatory scheme remaining in place, you lost
  2. Yeah, it's kind of unfair, but let's at least phase in a more open structure
Realistically, the second point is the only one that can work politically, so let's lift the restriction over a five year period.
 
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You can be a planner in Everett. This has been posted and reposted with an extended deadline. It surprises me, since the market for jobs like this is fairly competitive.

Senior Planner
City of Everett
The city of Everett seeks qualified applicants for the position of Senior Planner. The successful candidate will provide professional planning services; coordinate interdepartmental review of site plans; subdivision and special permit development applications; assist with long range planning activities; and respond to public inquiries about matters pertaining to the Planning Board, Everett Redevelopment Authority and the Department of Planning & Development. Examples of work include: Attending Planning Board meetings, preparing meeting agenda and staff report; filing notices of Planning Board decisions; oversees preparation of meeting minutes. Receiving and processes applications and plans in accordance with applicable laws, procedures, and deadlines. Reviewing plans and specifications for compliance with municipal and state regulations. Monitoring the progress of approved projects for completion deadlines and participates in the preparation of amendments to the zoning ordinance, subdivision rules and regulations, and site plan rules and regulations. As well as, working with the planning director to undertake comprehensive planning studies or specific strategic planning studies, and preparing grant applications in pursuit of goals identified in such studies. Also, coordinates workshops and forums to facilitate public involvement for planning initiatives and providing technical advice to municipal staff, boards, committees, and the public. Any other duties as required. Position requires a bachelor’s degree in planning, public administration, or other related field (master’s degree preferred) and four years professional planning experience, a minimum of two years municipal planning experience preferred. A combination of experience and education may be considered. The applicant must possess a valid driver’s license. Position requires knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, particularly as applied to Massachusetts land use laws pertaining to zoning and subdivision control, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, and the ability to work well with the public. Candidates are required to have general knowledge of GIS and Microsoft Office. Salary up to $70,000. All interested candidates are required to submit a resume of credentials in addition to a cover letter and three written professional references to the Director of Human Resources, City Hall, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149. The deadline for filing applications for this position is Wednesday, October 7, 2015.
 
HenryAlan said:
Yep, same deal with taxi medallions, and ironically, casino licenses. Any artificial constraint on supply raises the cost of entry. Any lifting of that artificial constraint results in a loss for those already in the market, who made their investments premised on existing (distorted) market dynamics. I'm of two minds on this:

  1. Tough, business decisions involve risk management, you bet on a regulatory scheme remaining in place, you lost
  2. Yeah, it's kind of unfair, but let's at least phase in a more open structure
Realistically, the second point is the only one that can work politically, so let's lift the restriction over a five year period.
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Ideally you could gradually introduce regulatory changes to create better regulations and reduce the negative effects of market disruption. In reality sometimes gradual change is far more difficult to manage than abrupt change.
 
Tuesday nights' Democratic Debate is being held at the WYNN/Las Vegas...does anybody know if Marty Walsh is in attendance? :)
 
tangent said:
14% reduction in square footage for MGM Springfield:

http://www.masslive.com/mgm_springfield/index.ssf/2015/10/mass_gaming_commission_chairma.html#incart_m-rpt-1
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Give it a few more months. By then it will be a bingo parlor with a dozen penny slots. Springfield should call MGM's bluff and tell them to take a hike unless they build something remotely close to what they promised. It would be a dangerous game of cat and mouse but at this point MGM is jerking the city around big time between all the delays, the scrapping of the tower and now an almost 15% reduction in size. What's next? Time is of the essence with Connecticut getting its act together for a nearby casino.
 
NECN's Peter Howe is blasting casino updates on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/PeterHoweNECN

$WYNN's Chris Gordon says Everett toxic remediation starting "any day now," work runs 4 months and can go through winter.

$WYNN will put 8 solar-powered dust monitors around Everett #casino site, can shut down work if wind is blowing toxics around.

$WYNN's Chris Gordon: #Everett #casino site remediation will generate 5-6 truckload removals per day, occasionally a max of 15

$WYNN's Chris Gordon: Expecting #casino contractor picked by January, construction spring, $1.7B resort done by second half 2018

$WYNN's Robert DeSalvio says they've redesigned #casino, raising it 11 feet to above 500-year flood with eye to #climatechange

$WYNN Everett #casino will have a "chairman's salon" overlooking main gambling floor with high-$$$ games.

$WYNN #Everett #casino will have 3d floor pool overlooking #Boston harbor with windows that can slide open warm days.

$WYNN: #Everett #casino will be same height as top tip of nearby MWRA wind turbine, 150 feet shorter than tallest Mystic power plant stack

$WYNN #Everett #casino now 629 hotel rooms, 4,580 "gaming positions" on 190,000 sq feet (4.75 acres) of gambling space
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It's amazing that the Democrats in this state are this stupid. Wynn is just going to steamroll these corrupt politicans after Everett Residents voted in the casino along with the state wide vote that got approved.

The taxpayers in the end will get stuck with the Infrastructure bill because of our corrupt system. Along with 93 North & South going into Boston being a traffic nightmare on Friday & Saturday nights.

Somerville Square, Assembly Row along with Everett 99 good luck in that area.
This Deal was all political for the Unions to get their jobs to make sure the gravy train continues for these moron politicans in this state
In the end what does this specific development benefit? Not the taxpayers and it's citizens.
 
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TheRifleman said:
It's amazing that the Democrats in this state are this stupid. Wynn is just going to steamroll these corrupt politicans after Everett Residents voted in the casino along with the state wide vote that got approved.

The taxpayers in the end will get stuck with the Infrastructure bill because of our corrupt system. Along with 93 North & South going into Boston being a traffic nightmare on Friday & Saturday nights.

Somerville Square, Assembly Row along with Everett 99 good luck in that area.
This Deal was all political for the Unions to get their jobs to make sure the gravy train continues for these moron politicians in this state
In the end what does this specific development benefit? Not the taxpayers and it's citizens.
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Riff -- if nothing else the Cleanup of the Everett site makes all the it worthwhile -- your "ani-mitigations" included in the accounting

25 years from now there will be a "New Esplanade" along the both sides of the Mystic {Sommerville & Everett] with hopefully some sort of pedestrian connection -- and your issues will be relegated to the proverbial "Ash Bin of History"
 
TheRifleman said:
In the end what does this specific development benefit? Not the taxpayers and it's citizens.
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It's a business. People work there. Other people spend money there. If you don't like it, don't go. This ain't communist Russia.
 
whighlander said:
Riff -- if nothing else the Cleanup of the Everett site makes all the it worthwhile -- your "ani-mitigations" included in the accounting

25 years from now there will be a "New Esplanade" along the both sides of the Mystic {Sommerville & Everett] with hopefully some sort of pedestrian connection -- and your issues will be relegated to the proverbial "Ash Bin of History"
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Don't get me wrong WYNN will develop something spectacular for the area. The Traffic is going to be the real problem.
At this point in the game its not WYNN problem to solve and our politicians and state planners either don't care or are basically incompetent to have a clue.

Most casino developments bankrupt small businesses and demoralize the surrounding communities which can devalue real estate prices overtime. I'm curious if this can buck the trend with so much going on in Boston/Cambridge Ma.

If any communities decline it would probably be Everett, Malden, Revere, Chelsea.

Anybody see a real estate correction anytime soon on this board? I continue to see massive demand but their is supply coming on the market finally.
 
No nightclub:

No nightclub for Everett casino
Wynn officials say state’s early closing laws make the club a losing proposition

JACK SULLIVAN Oct 29, 2015


WYNN RESORTS, which touts itself as an all-inclusive mecca that offers entertainment choices beyond gambling, has killed the planned nightclub at its proposed Everett casino because state alcohol laws require bars to close when patrons would be revving up for the night.

“In Las Vegas, you can keep the bars open all night,” Wynn Everett President Robert DeSalvio told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, pointing out that the most profitable times for a nightclub would be weekends after 10 or 11 at night. “Here you can’t. It limits the amount of hours that you get use of the room… We fairly quickly came to the understanding it was not in the cards.”

State alcohol laws require bars to close by 1 a.m., 2 a.m. at the latest if a special permit is granted.

In addition to eliminating the 25,000-square foot nightclub and using the space for convention meetings, a smaller lounge, and outdoor space, DeSalvio said the design of the planned $1.7 billion facility was undergoing some changes to account for potential future environmental problems such as storm surge from the Mystic River. The company is planning to raise the hotel tower about 11 feet, the equivalent of one story.
...
Full article: http://commonwealthmagazine.org/gambling/no-nightclub-for-everett-casino/
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datadyne007 said:
No nightclub:
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Data -- a few more highlights of the article:

The changes also include:
  • a 25-percent increase in the number of rooms, bringing the total to 629,
  • a reduction in the number of parking spaces, in part to push people to use the water taxi or public transportation. While the number of off-site parking spaces will remain at 800, Wynn will reduce the number of parking spaces in its casino garage by 17 percent.

    “The plan is to reduce public parking and increase reliance on public transit,” DeSalvio said, pointing out that the company is paying a subsidy to the MBTA for upgrades to service on the Orange Line.

DeSalvio said the company expects to tap a contractor after the first of the year with an aim to open the doors in the second half of 2018. There were few questions from the commissioners, with Chairman Stephen Crosby hailing the changes and the presentation.

“This was a really good presentation,” Crosby said at the conclusion. “It’s exciting to see it materialize.”
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Second that Exciting to see it materialize!

A couple of more observations now that prep for construction is beginning:
  • Who is it who keeps claiming that there are no full service hotels being built?
  • Someone also seems to always be complaining about too much parking and not enough transit


Oh well what can you expect from a Casino developer as they always degrade the surroundings and bring ruin to the city

This project and the new brewery might just make it worthwhile to trek to Everett :cool:
 
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