CHICAGO | City Casino

[bnk]

my subscription expired, anyone care to share some insight in this crains article


https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/chicago-casino-bidders-fight-win

Behind the scenes of Chicago's casino bid battle
Rivals and allies are busy taking shots at each other—some valid, some not. Here's an inside look at the fight to win a prized Chicago casino.

December 22, 2021 01:15 PM UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO


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This site might sum it up





https://www.usbets.com/takeaways-downtown-chicago-casino-presentations/

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by bnk

my subscription expired, anyone care to share some insight in this crains article


https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/chicago-casino-bidders-fight-win

Behind the scenes of Chicago's casino bid battle
Rivals and allies are busy taking shots at each other—some valid, some not. Here's an inside look at the fight to win a prized Chicago casino.

December 22, 2021 01:15 PM UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

It’s petty stuff

In a new report made available to me, C3 Gaming Group, an industry consultancy working for Bally’s, projects that five years after opening, its casino by McCormick Place would have an effective tax on gross receipts of 32.7%, compared to 26.9% paid by Bluhm’s Rivers Casino in Des Plaines and 25.5% by Hard Rock’s outlet just over the Indiana border.

Chris Jewett, Bally’s director of corporate development, replies that the firm recently completed work on a $150 million project in Rhode Island, and says that the marshaling yard property ultimately will be controlled by the agency that operates McCormick Place.

Then there’s Nadhmi Auchi, the British businessman once convicted in France of accepting kickbacks. His company still controls the 78 property that Bluhm and Related Midwest are proposing to site the casino.

According to Bluhm, Auchi’s firm has agreed to sell the property to the new group for roughly $70 million. A spokesman for Related Midwest underlines that Auchi’s company, General Mediterranean Holding, will not have “any ownership or interest” in the proposed casino.

[generallogan]

Originally Posted by galleyfox

We’re quibbling about 5 minutes driving time between the 78 and McCormick Place, when the 78 should not be a driving destination at all.

This exactly. The 78 site should not be a driving destination, with only two access points, Wells/Wentworth and Roosevelt. Has anyone driven on Wells north of the 78 to Harrison? Not a road that screams easy access to a 24/7 casino. As transportation enthusiasts, I'd think most people on these boards would want the ultimate 78 site to be 80/20 public transportation/personal cars, and the site does indeed lend itself to this breakdown if built out as commercial/hotel/residential mix focusing on life sciences.

80/20 public/private transportation does not lend itself to a casino, in fact the opposite, with 80% of gamblers likely choosing to arrive by car. The LSD proposals can all be built with (or in the case of MPEA East already has) direct ramps from highways into parking lots. Again, this is what the target demographic Casino gambler (NON-Chicagoans from the suburbs or midwest) wants, easy access via a car.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by generallogan

This exactly. The 78 site should not be a driving destination, with only two access points, Wells/Wentworth and Roosevelt. Has anyone driven on Wells north of the 78 to Harrison? Not a road that screams easy access to a 24/7 casino. As transportation enthusiasts, I'd think most people on these boards would want the ultimate 78 site to be 80/20 public transportation/personal cars, and the site does indeed lend itself to this breakdown if built out as commercial/hotel/residential mix focusing on life sciences.

While they are extending Wells and what you say is true, there's multiple other main roads in and out of downtown that serve the 78 either directly or very close - Roosevelt, State, Clark, etc are all well equipped technically and go right there or a block away.

In all honesty, none of these places are really ideal for anything traffic related. There will be people going to the 78 one who won't drive, but the traffic will be a nightmare there regardless (more than it already is in the area) and also in literally every other site.

When all is said and done, I actually don't think that the Marshalling Yards or McCormick are going to win. If you're thinking about the workers there and everyone's commitment to hiring people who need the jobs, you are going to make it more convenient for them to get to work in various modes of transit. Those who cannot afford a car are essentially shut out the Marshalling Yards easily. McCormick Place site is basically 1.5+ mile walk from the nearest CTA station. The 78 site is basically about a half mile away from the Roosevelt stop and close to 2 major interstates that serve the south and west sides too on top of that. If you're talking an equity game from who actually works there, which everyone has basically committed to then The 78 is the best bet for that by far.

[thegoatman]

Originally Posted by marothisu

While they are extending Wells and what you say is true, there's multiple other main roads in and out of downtown that serve the 78 either directly or very close - Roosevelt, State, Clark, etc are all well equipped technically and go right there or a block away.

In all honesty, none of these places are really ideal for anything traffic related. There will be people going to the 78 one who won't drive, but the traffic will be a nightmare there regardless (more than it already is in the area) and also in literally every other site.

When all is said and done, I actually don't think that the Marshalling Yards or McCormick are going to win. If you're thinking about the workers there and everyone's commitment to hiring people who need the jobs, you are going to make it more convenient for them to get to work in various modes of transit. Those who cannot afford a car are essentially shut out the Marshalling Yards easily. McCormick Place site is basically 1.5+ mile walk from the nearest CTA station. The 78 site is basically about a half mile away from the Roosevelt stop and close to 2 major interstates that serve the south and west sides too on top of that. If you're talking an equity game from who actually works there, which everyone has basically committed to then The 78 is the best bet for that by far.

There will be a new red line station built at the 78, which is perfect.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by thegoatman

There will be a new red line station built at the 78, which is perfect.

Right that too..

[OrdoSeclorum]

Originally Posted by generallogan

This exactly. The 78 site should not be a driving destination, with only two access points, Wells/Wentworth and Roosevelt. Has anyone driven on Wells north of the 78 to Harrison? Not a road that screams easy access to a 24/7 casino. As transportation enthusiasts, I'd think most people on these boards would want the ultimate 78 site to be 80/20 public transportation/personal cars, and the site does indeed lend itself to this breakdown if built out as commercial/hotel/residential mix focusing on life sciences.

80/20 public/private transportation does not lend itself to a casino, in fact the opposite, with 80% of gamblers likely choosing to arrive by car. The LSD proposals can all be built with (or in the case of MPEA East already has) direct ramps from highways into parking lots. Again, this is what the target demographic Casino gambler (NON-Chicagoans from the suburbs or midwest) wants, easy access via a car.

These arguments about "casinos need cars" are so strange. Sure, most people arrive to most crummy casinos in this country by car. And most people arrive to most hotels by personal car in this country. In Chicago, very few tourists, visitors and conventioneers are driving their personal cars around. Hotels need car access, but even a very large hotel like the Palmer House with over 1600 rooms doesn't cause traffic jams due to traffic because those 3500 guests and employees aren't arriving and leaving at the exact same time.

I've been in town when there's a huge convention, a U2 concert and a soccer game all going on on the same day and I barely even notice anything different. Chicago is a huge city. If the South Loop can accommodate 70,000 Bears fans all arriving and departing at the exact same time, a constant trickle of Ubers picking up and dropping off 1/20th the number over many hours few blocks away isn't going to be unworkable.

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by marothisu

While they are extending Wells and what you say is true, there's multiple other main roads in and out of downtown that serve the 78 either directly or very close - Roosevelt, State, Clark, etc are all well equipped technically and go right there or a block away.

In all honesty, none of these places are really ideal for anything traffic related. There will be people going to the 78 one who won't drive, but the traffic will be a nightmare there regardless (more than it already is in the area) and also in literally every other site.

When all is said and done, I actually don't think that the Marshalling Yards or McCormick are going to win. If you're thinking about the workers there and everyone's commitment to hiring people who need the jobs, you are going to make it more convenient for them to get to work in various modes of transit. Those who cannot afford a car are essentially shut out the Marshalling Yards easily. McCormick Place site is basically 1.5+ mile walk from the nearest CTA station. The 78 site is basically about a half mile away from the Roosevelt stop and close to 2 major interstates that serve the south and west sides too on top of that. If you're talking an equity game from who actually works there, which everyone has basically committed to then The 78 is the best bet for that by far.

Roosevelt, Clark & State are not equipped to handle the number of tour busses that will be required to fill the casino. While the Rsvlt CTA station is an excellent feeder for pedestrians, we have to acknowledge the number of Hotel shuttles, and suburban shuttles that will be generated. The decking over of Wells street will most likely be the access for the busses. Cant imagine a graceful way to handle that traffic.

McMK has the dedicated bus lanes along the Metra row as well as a built out Cermack rd already handling this specialty traffic. And 78 has no equivalent to the LSD access and I55/94 access.

Be interesting to see the details from the developer on what their estimates are for each mode of transit usage.

[Mr Downtown]

Problem with the new 15th & Clark Red Line station is that it will be a long, lonely walk to the casino site at the 78. Maybe that will feel tolerable on a summer evening in 2055, once everything is built out and retail leased. But in the meantime, traversing the windswept wastes? That's not a walk that's going to seem appealing to any visitors. Same with the long walk up the Roosevelt viaduct from the Roosevelt stations. Yes, South Loopers going to Whole Foods do it, but we don't enjoy it.

The marshaling yards, like the Burnham Lakefront, is supposed to have a busway next to the IC tracks allowing south lakefront express buses to leave Pointe du Sable Lake Shore Drive at 31st and come downtown via a new busway with a couple of stations en route and then the McCormick Busway.

[Randomguy34]

A 3 block walk is hardly a long, lonely walk....

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

A 3 block walk is hardly a long, lonely walk....

Have you seen the condition of casino creatures?

[left of center]

There are buses to NWI casinos all along 90/94 south of 31st St that pick up south side residents 24/7. If those casinos can pay for the cost of shuttling people 10-15 miles, surely the casino at the 78 can economically operate small shuttle buses/vans that regularly take people to the Roosevelt stop, the future 15th red line stop, and even Union/Ogilvie for the suburban crowd.

Fact is, we are simply not going to find the "perfect site", one that site immediately on top of transit, is centrally located, has a large area to build on, is near other attractions/entertainment areas, is near large roadways, etc. We can only find the site that comes closest to meeting those criteria. The 78 comes pretty damn close, along with the McCormick spot which is 2nd in my opinion. The other sites, while they may excel in one or two areas, all have overall bigger problems that make them less viable options.

[Randomguy34]

A website was created for Hard Rock's proposal 4 days ago. The website is very detailed and mentions that private capital is already secured for the project. The website's existence might not imply anything and be just for formality, but still, why only now make a public website? Hopefully this isn't a bad omen that the city is leaning towards One Central's proposal

Website: https://www.hardrockchicago.com/

[jpIllInoIs]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

A website was created for Hard Rock's proposal 4 days ago. The website is very detailed and mentions that private capital is already secured for the project. The website's existence might not imply anything and be just for formality, but still, why only now make a public website? Hopefully this isn't a bad omen that the city is leaning towards One Central's proposal

Website: https://www.hardrockchicago.com/

Well art least they preserve the "hallowed" parking lot. Imagine the uproar had the plan included developing the most sacred parking lot in Chicago, And the children what about the children?

[Klippenstein]

I don't understand this map. This is supposedly Amtrak? And why don't they know where OPC and MSI are located?

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

I don't understand this map. This is supposedly Amtrak? And why don't they know where OPC and MSI are located?

Yeah this is a sloppy graphic. Probably thrown together by an intern and not reviewed (Shedd "Quarium"?)

The red line is actually the "CHI Line", which should be yellow per the legend.
It is a sort of vague circulator proposal that Bob Dunn has included in all the One Central plans. They have not specified what kind of transit it would be, or who would pay to build/operate it. Given the routing I assume it would be some kind of bus route, requiring an extension of the McCormick busway to 31st, and a busway onramp at McFetridge (see below).

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

The marshaling yards, like the Burnham Lakefront, is supposed to have a busway next to the IC tracks allowing south lakefront express buses to leave Pointe du Sable Lake Shore Drive at 31st and come downtown via a new busway with a couple of stations en route and then the McCormick Busway.

I've only heard vague things about this. In the Burnham Lakefront plans it seems like this wouldn't be a busway so much as just a slightly widened Lake Park Ave. If it's mixed traffic instead of a true busway, doesn't seem ideal...

[Klippenstein]

If they're really serious about this development (which is often hard to believe based on their promo materials) they are going to need to have a road connection to the neighborhood not just DLSD and McFetridge Dr. That area around Soldier field is already the biggest bottleneck on South DLSD. It seems their best bet would probably be 16th St. It looks like there's some electrical lines there between Prairie and the tracks that they would need to relocate anyway, which might make room for an overpass. Of course they would get a lot of pushback and adding only one more access point is inviting a different traffic bottleneck, but I can't really see another option. Perhaps they could put a smaller entrance at or 14th St or 15th Pl.

This is probably not even worth thinking about...

[ardecila]

It's far from clear that One Central will ever get approved, but it certainly will never get the alderman's blessing if it has a vehicle connection to the Prairie District.

I think there are 2 pedestrian connections planned to the west, with the primary pedestrian gateway at Prairie and 15th Pl in Mark Twain Park. The existing pedestrian connection to the lakefront at 18th would also be preserved somehow inside the podium of One Central, and this would also include an entrance to the shopping mall.

[thegoatman]

This ain't happening, they need to go ahead and approve the decision for Related/the 78 so we can get our observation tower already

[Randomguy34]

Lol Crain's is basically letting anyone submit an op-ed at this point.

A McCormick Place casino would be yet another mistake
Do Chicago and its people really want a black box blinking lurid, colored lighting to blemish its signature postcard-perfect lakefront and skyline?
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/mccormick-place-casino-would-be-yet-another-mistake