MA Casino Developments

[BosDevelop]

Since he also can't afford structured parking for "surge crowds" (for concerts)

Has there been any suggesting of a large scale venue? Last I heard they were thinking about adding something similar to the Grand Theater at Foxwoods (i.e. 4,000 capacity). If that is the case and they are not going for a Mohegan Arena size venue (10,000 capacity) there may not be a huge event surge crowd.

 

[Arlington]

Has there been any suggesting of a large scale venue? Last I heard they were thinking about adding something similar to the Grand Theater at Foxwoods (i.e. 4,000 capacity). If that is the case and they are not going for a Mohegan Arena size venue (10,000 capacity) there may not be a huge event surge crowd.

Even at 4,000 capacity and at 50% modal share for cars, 3 people per car, that's 700 structured (or overflow) spots he'd need. At $20k per spot, that's $14m worth of capital tied up just to capture the surge. True, $14m of parking is cheap if that's what it takes to keep a $1b casino busy, but $2m worth of buses is cheaper.

 

[whighlander]

Even at 4,000 capacity and at 50% modal share for cars, 3 people per car, that's 700 structured (or overflow) spots he'd need. At $20k per spot, that's $14m worth of capital tied up just to capture the surge. True, $14m of parking is cheap if that's what it takes to keep a $1b casino busy, but $2m worth of buses is cheaper.

Arlington -- the only advantage rail offers Wynn is for the hotel / casino employees -- the Wynn Everett will have a total of 4000 employees divided among the various shifts

A lot of these folks probably will live in Boston and take the Orange Line to Sulivan where they will be picked-up by a shuttle, or they may live North and take Commuter Rail to North Station and then be picked-up by shuttle

 

[bigeman312]

Fair enough, Arlington. I was referring to the T as a synonym for public transportation, not rail specifically. If there were a public transit component that was cheap and effective that would serve the same role in my mind. No "rail addiction" haha

 

[AmericanFolkLegend]

Dude, Hong Kong loves its rail with a passion too, but Wynn Macau "works" entirely on shuttle bus, water craft and helicopters.

Isn't Macau one of the wealthiest and most densely populated cities in the world? I'm not sure that comparison works.

 

[Arlington]

Isn't Macau one of the wealthiest and most densely populated cities in the world? I'm not sure that comparison works.

It is good enough: buses work for Wynn and he's an enthusiastic user when they work. And not just Wynn, but the CT and NJ casinos use buses as appropriate, too. Limo, valet, u-park, Uber/cab, watercraft, and bus, bus, bus.

The only mode that is not seen regularly at casinos is heavy rail, likely because heavy rail powers the rat race rush hour in a unique way that isn't needed by casinos whose traffic is U uncorrelated to the office rush.

Vegas monorail is as much for conventioneers' rush (at the open and close of an expo's day). Bally's New Orleans has light rail, but it seemed to have minimal interaction when I was there at rush.

 

[FenwayResident]

Isn't Macau one of the wealthiest and most densely populated cities in the world? I'm not sure that comparison works.

Maybe on average it's one of the wealthiest cities. I visited Macau a few years ago and walked around outside of the casino areas and it's pretty dumpy. It felt like a typical tier-2 or tier-3 Chinese city.

 

[datadyne007]

Maybe on average it's one of the wealthiest cities. I visited Macau a few years ago and walked around outside of the casino areas and it's pretty dumpy. It felt like a typical tier-2 or tier-3 Chinese city.

Monaco is also like that.

 

[FK4]

New renderings of the Wynn casino published on Curbed Boston.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/beelinebos/16154109958/

Man, this is gonna be the ugliest big building in the whole region. Ugh. What a turd to drop on the city of Everett.

 

[TheRifleman]

I'm curious what the entire cost of the clean-up of the water and land will be.

I heard stories back in the day that their was stuff oozing out of the ground looking like Crest Toothpaste. I was actually told as a kid to stay away from this area that Monsanto destroyed.

 

[George_Apley]

Man, this is gonna be the ugliest big building in the whole region. Ugh. What a turd to drop on the city of Everett.

That's what Wynn casinos look like. To a T. That's actually nicer looking than some of his other properties.

 

[whighlander]

That's what Wynn casinos look like. To a T. That's actually nicer looking than some of his other properties.

Busses -- surely you heard the joke about Everett and the Revere Tornado -- the Tornado missed doing $5M worth of improvements to Everett by hitting Revere

 

[Arlington]

That's what Wynn casinos look like. To a T. That's actually nicer looking than some of his other properties.

Form follows function.
1) The tower is a hotel that's supposed to make people inside look good and advertise a unique function. It does this.
2) The first floor overloads your senses and makes you forget time. I defer to Wynn on this, in particular, since he's been at this a lot longer than any of us and knows what it is supposed to work like.

You can't pay off neighboring towns with cash offsets if you've spent it all pleasing ArchBoston readers.

 

[Equilibria]

That's what Wynn casinos look like. To a T. That's actually nicer looking than some of his other properties.

That is indeed the case, but it didn't have to be here. The proposals for Revere, Springfield, etc. all made it a point to "not look like a casino" in order to minimize the cheese factor for neighboring communities. The lack of surrounding height into perpetuity means that this lost bit of Vegas will be broadcasting its function into Assembly and Charlestown for decades.

 

[atlantaden]

It's a very smart marketing and business move on Wynn's part. Why should Wynn hide the fact that his hotel is a Casino? The Bronze hotel is his signature trademark and a quite successful one at that. As far as being cheesy, or ugly as it's also been described, I can think of quite a few buildings (unfortunately) in Boston that are far worse and are in prime locations! I actually like the building and I have a feeling that it'll be a point of pride for many in Everett.

 

[Brad Plaid]

I like the tower too, much better than the first proposal. The rest of it though is still ultra-shlock.

 

[Jahvon09]

That same church organization that got most of East Boston's residents to vote against the casino proposal, causing it to be killed, is STILL trying to have the casino stopped from being built in Everett!!!

I got a message for them;

You lost, it is now official, nothing that you can do to stop it! Get over it. Deal with it!!

 

[pixelsand8]

The lack of surrounding height into perpetuity means that this lost bit of Vegas will be broadcasting its function into Assembly and Charlestown for decades.

Assembly is going to get some height that will be comparable to the Casino, so that will mitigate this effect somewhat.

 

[FK4]

It's a very smart marketing and business move on Wynn's part. Why should Wynn hide the fact that his hotel is a Casino? The Bronze hotel is his signature trademark and a quite successful one at that. As far as being cheesy, or ugly as it's also been described, I can think of quite a few buildings (unfortunately) in Boston that are far worse and are in prime locations! I actually like the building and I have a feeling that it'll be a point of pride for many in Everett.

Yeah except the ugly buildings in boston are mixed into the skyline. This just glares out and will be visible from afar in all directions. I think it's as anti-Boston as you could possibly get. So is the whole casino idea.

That same church organization that got most of East Boston's residents to vote against the casino proposal, causing it to be killed, is STILL trying to have the casino stopped from being built in Everett!!!

I got a message for them;

You lost, it is now official, nothing that you can do to stop it! Get over it. Deal with it!!

It probably will eventually happen, but I wouldnt crow about anything yet. There's a lot of local opposition and Everett isnt much of a power wielder. That opposition is going to mount a vigorous fight. Personally, I see this as a cause like fighting the Southwest Expressway through Jamaica Plain. It's anathema to a city that prides itself on modesty and liberal values. Casinos belong in trashy states. Not here.

 

[Arlington]

Yeah except the ugly buildings in boston are mixed into the skyline. This just glares out and will be visible from afar in all directions. I think it's as anti-Boston as you could possibly get. So is the whole casino idea.
...It's anathema to a city that prides itself on modesty and liberal values. Casinos belong in trashy states. Not here.

I'd say you're letting your distaste for gambling (which I share and voted) color your view of the bronze tower.

The tower *is* Wynn cast in bronze, right down to the fake tan, so its not surprising that if you find casinos anathema, you find the tower anathema. If you don't like religion, there's an analogous reason, I suppose, to not like the Mormon Temple on Route 2.

Personally, though, I prioritize that buildings be true to their function, not to my ethics. In this, I'd say both buildings (the Temple and the Casino) are clean, honest presentations of their purpose within.

"Bronze" and "Monolith" are two good words for both casinos and Steve Wynn.