NEW YORK | Casino Development| FT| FLOORS

[mrnyc]

^ great find and yeah that looks pretty wide open to me.

these will take away some gamblers from aquaduct and empire tho.

[NYguy]

^ It will take away some, no doubt. But to people who just want to play some slots, (and don’t wanna travel all the way into the city or Coney Island), it will just come down to what’s closer, or more convenient.

But a few thoughts on some of those requirements…






This one seems impossible, at least in the usual way. If they’re relying on “community” boards to show support, they will all come up short. Only NIMBYs are drawn to community boards, and opposition to anything is always the loudest voice. A referendum of support for casinos is why we’re getting casinos in the city in the first place. Most people support it, even if the community boards say they don’t.

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/n...-approved.html






Not sure how or why this adds up to a million bucks. But if you want to open a casino, you have the money.






This, being heavily weighted at 70%, leads me to believe that they are looking at new impact, as opposed to existing racinos that will just swap out some equipment. (Though the part about speed of opening favors the existing racinos).


We won’t know who all of the bidders are until after the rfp is released, but some sites seem out of the question. Steve Cohen’s plan to build a casino and (something) on the parking lot next to CitiField is a legal battle for the ages, since that parking lot is technically parkland. No way the board will get bogged down in that, something they would likely lose.

Another site I just don’t see having the major impact they want is Empire City in Yonkers. It’s difficult for tourists to even get there (let alone New Yorkers), and there’s really no other reason a visitor would leave the city to go there.

Love it or hate it, Times Square - despite not having the space for a typical casino layout - is the center of the tourism universe in New York. You can get there from anywhere.

Hudson Yards has both the tourism, and the space for a uniquely designed casino resort.

Coney Island has the history (famous for its early gambling and amusements), the zoning, the land, and the access (multiple subway lines) to draw people. It can and does handle crowds on a regular basis. Just not in the winter, when the amusements are closed, and the cold winds blow off the ocean. But that’s why the zoning was put in for indoor attractions, as well as hotels. And I’ve felt the wind blowing in off the Hudson, just as cold, where Related plans it’s casino/resort.

I stand firm on my personal picks. We’ll see what this board does.

[streetscaper]

Don't the rail yards at Hudson Yards have to first be decked over before construction of any casino? Whereas with Times Sq, the building already exists and would merely undergo a large-scale renovation. So 'speed of opening' is yet another large point for Times Sq over any other new proposal.

As I mentioned on Yimby, Times Square is clearly far-and-away the best location for the casino, it’s just so obviously better than any of the other options, and it already has the backing of so many major players in the city. At this point, I would be gobsmacked if another location is chosen over SLGreen/Ceasars/JayZ in TimesSq (assuming 2 spots go to the existing casinos, and there's only really only one spot left)

[streetscaper]

Also LOL @ a million dollars application fee...wtff

[NYguy]

^ That's whey the state's in a hurry to get this thing going. I believe the funds are already included in the budget. And they're going to grab all they can in the process. (Because they know a casino in the city is a big win for either company, so they won't complain.)




https://tenor.com/search/million-stickers

Originally Posted by streetscaper

Don't the rail yards at Hudson Yards have to first be decked over before construction of any casino? Whereas with Times Sq, the building already exists and would merely undergo a large-scale renovation. So 'speed of opening' is yet another large point for Times Sq over any other new proposal.

Yeah, they are using the casino as a "push" to jumpstart development on the second phase. Or so they say.

[mrnyc]

^ as far as i am concerned the dream is to get the western yards decked and whatever mix they put on it is secondary.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

^ as far as i am concerned the dream is to get the western yards decked and whatever mix they put on it is secondary.

Related has said the second phase is what has driven the entire railyards development. And through zoning, they have certain obligations (school, affordable housing, etc.), which they have agreed to, and have stated would still be met, even with the casino plan. My guess is that the commercial portion of that obligation (the office tower), is what would change. A hotel/casino falls under that category.

I remember at some point they were trying to get federal funding to get the platform started because it includes a provision for the new Gateway tunnel. Not sure where that stands now.

[NYguy]

This guy thinks a casino should go on Rikers Island…


https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/29/o...nd-casino.html

Where’s the Best Place to Build a Casino in New York City?


Dec. 29, 2022
By Neil Barsky

…..Efforts by the city and state to make way for one or more casinos have been met with opposition from groups concerned about traffic congestion and increased neighborhood crime. The Shubert Organization, a major owner of theaters, and the Broadway League, the trade association for the Broadway theater industry, have come out in opposition to a proposed casino in Times Square. More opposition will certainly arise. Other possible locations include Hudson Yards and Coney Island. Like closing Rikers, the effort to bring a casino to the city will require political leadership, compromise and a fair bit of creative thinking.

There is, however, one solution that could boost the city’s efforts to close Rikers, generate hundreds of millions of dollars for its coffers and isolate the new casino from every neighborhood in New York City.

The city should build a large Las Vegas-style hotel and casino complex on Rikers after the jail complex is shut down.

Such a project would be a major attraction for the 23 million people living in the metropolitan area and the tens of millions more who visit the city each year. It would provide thousands of construction jobs for New Yorkers, and steady employment for thousands more. It would stem the flow of the billions of dollars that have been sucked out of the city and into casinos in nearby states over the past half century. And it would demonstrate that New York City can still get things done on a colossal scale.

At 413 acres, about two-thirds of a square mile, Rikers Island is nearly 15 times the size of Hudson Yards on Manhattan’s West Side. That is more than enough space to build a casino, a convention space, a 3,000-room hotel, a concert venue and restaurants. A narrow bridge connects the island to Queens and would need to be expanded. Ferries from the Bronx could provide access from the north. Bus lines could be established from the south. Parking could be built on the island. It is an urban planner’s dream.

…..Resorts World at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens has over 6,000 slot machines, but lacks table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette and poker, though they are available electronically. It has only modest entertainment and restaurant offerings. Despite these limitations, Resorts World produces a staggering amount of revenue. Between its opening in 2011 and 2020, the facility reportedly generated over $3 billion for New York State’s lottery educational fund. If that is what a large video gaming operation can generate, it does not require a stretch of the imagination to believe Rikers can make multiples of that amount.

Rikers Island today is a national symbol of human degradation, and the city’s valiant efforts to close the place need a hard shove. As Mayor Adams would be the first to say, it is time to think big.

[NYguy]

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by NYguy

This guy thinks a casino should go on Rikers Island…

That's got to be on a short list of worst ideas... Where to even begin?

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

That's got to be on a short list of worst ideas... Where to even begin?

People have all sorts of ideas about what to do with Rikers, one of the hardest places to get to in the entire city. I didn’t see that casino idea coming. No one will take a shot at it.

[NYguy]

https://www.casino.org/news/new-york...-solicitation/

New York Committee to Meet to Discuss Casino Solicitation


December 31, 2022
Steve Bittenbender

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) announced late Friday afternoon that its Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) will meet Tuesday afternoon in New York City. The agenda posted for the 3:30 pm ET meeting shows the board will consider a “request for application” (RFA) to develop casinos.

The board will also discuss what the license fee will be for the casinos, as well as the minimum required investment for the developments. State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, a Queens Democrat who chairs the Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming, and Wagering, expects the licenses to go for at least $500 million each.

Tuesday’s meeting has been expected. On Oct. 4, the NYSGC announced the first three members of the location board. That started a 90-day clock for the state to develop the solicitation calling for proposals.

[NYguy]

https://gothamist.com/news/ny-offici...ee-set-at-500m

NY officially solicits bids for full-fledged casino with license fee set at $500M


By David Cruz
Jan 3, 2023

New York's bid to award up to three licenses for full-fledged casinos advanced on Tuesday after officials unanimously voted to formally solicit applications, with an asking price of $500 million for each license.

The state Gaming Facility Location Board voted to open up the application process for a full-fledged casino, which would allow live table games and create more tax revenue for the state.

The board will review each application and consider several factors, including how many jobs a prospective operator plans to create, how much revenue a casino expects to bring in, and a commitment to contract with minority and women-owned business enterprises. Jobs generated by casinos must also pay a living wage.

[NYguy]

https://connecticut.news12.com/las-v...tions-open-for

Las Vegas Sands eyes Nassau for new casino as applications open for downstate NY


Jan 04, 2022

Nassau County could become the home of a full-service casino and resort.
The New York Gaming Facility Location Board voted on Tuesday to open up the application process for three downstate casinos.

Las Vegas Sands, a Nevada-based casino and resort company, has been eyeing possible locations to open a casino on the Island. There have been talks about establishing one at the Nassau Hub.

Some who live or work in the area say they are all for it.

"It definitely impacts the area in home values. I also think it could bring a lot of revenue to some of the businesses,” says Katie Cobb, of Islip.

However, Uniondale mother Diana Blanco says she thinks a casino would be detrimental to the local families.

"I am looking more for my kids and more of what it would do to our community -- not just moneywise," she says.

Another possible location mentioned was in the UBS Arena at Belmont Park.

Las Vegas Sands said in a statement to News 12, "We are excited for the opportunity to present an extremely competitive and compelling proposal. These new licenses represent the potential to generate thousands of good paying jobs and build an exciting new industry for the region's economy."

The state Gaming Facility Location Board will oversee all incoming license proposals.

The Gaming Commission will have the final say where the three downstate casinos will go.

https://commercialobserver.com/2023/...with-gambling/

Soloviev Group Envisions an Entertainment District by the UN — With Gambling





BY MARK HALLUM
JANUARY 4, 2023

...Soloviev Group chairman Stefan Soloviev and CEO Michael Hershman are playing for these big stakes, with a 6.7 acres south of the United Nations purchased by Soloviev’s late father, Sheldon Solow, from Consolidated Edison in 2000 for $600 million that they hope will be the big winner.

It will include a park with sports fields, a hotel, a performance space and at its centerpiece will be a Ferris wheel. The gaming floor will be underground, and if they don’t get the permit they will simply revert to their original plan for a 1.2 million-square-foot office building, according to the developers.

As the owners of one of the largest pieces of undeveloped property in Manhattan, the two heads of the firm gave Commercial Observer the broad outline of their vision for what they’re calling Freedom Plaza.

The New York State Gaming Commission is putting together the parameters for a request for applications, which is expected to be released Jan. 6. CO will be sitting down with several of the real estate figures vying for the licenses in the coming days.

Commercial Observer: When did you first see this as a potential site for a casino, and what were some of the other uses that you considered for it?

Stefan Soloviev: So originally, we went through the [Uniform Land Use Review Procedure] where we were approved for a 1.2 million-square-foot office tower. We’ve had a lot of interest in bioscience for that property. There were some economic conditions that came into play between the time Solow owned the property and now, and he wisely chose not to develop the property. The casino idea, I would say, came up a little more than a year ago.

How is the concept shaping up?

Michael Hershman: It shouldn’t be any surprise to you that the community wanted something that would be green, that would be able to be used by not only locals but visitors. So we incorporated the casino into a larger picture of an entertainment district where we have not only a casino and hotel, but also a 4-acre park with sports fields, with walking paths. Also, from a cultural standpoint, it would have a museum dedicated to the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, in essence of democracy.

But also the fact that it goes with the entire concept of doing a Freedom Plaza so people can come not only to visit a casino and use the hotel — and by the way, we have plans to build two residential buildings on the property as well, which goes toward satisfying the critical shortage of housing in Manhattan.

Tell me a little bit more about this community outreach that your firm performed, because that can sometimes be a little bit contentious. What was that experience like?

MH: It’s very difficult to build anything without some degree of community opposition. We own a residential building right across the street from this property, so we’ve been in touch with the community associations in the area for some years now, even before we began to develop [685 First Avenue] and getting feedback from them as to what it is the committee would like to see happen. Obviously, you get mixed responses from a number of different businesses, folks that reside in the area, but, almost universally, they all want to have a substantial green area on the property for the community.

What other kinds of entertainment features will it have apart from a gaming area, and what will the gaming area look like?

MH: It will have an auditorium to bring in live entertainment, much like you see in other casinos, whether they be in Connecticut or whether they be in Las Vegas.

The auditorium would be connected to the hotel. Obviously it’s too early, we don’t have finalized architectural drawings yet. But the casino would indeed be a major casino that would have the same gaming that you’d find in casinos in Las Vegas.

Do you have any gaming operators lined up as partners?

MH: We know that others who are looking to build a casino, whether it’s in Times Square or whether it’s Citi Field, have aligned themselves with some very well-known names. From the very beginning, Stefan’s vision was that it’s nice to have a name but we want to have an entity, an institutional casino partner that has the same sort of view of social responsibility, giving back to humanity, working with the local community to make this something more than just a place to go and gamble. And I think it’s fair to say that we’re down to the final evaluation of several major casinos that we’ve been in touch with, and we’ll make that announcement after Jan. 6.

[NYguy]

Once again, "Freedom Hill"...

[streetscaper]

Dumb location for a Ferris wheel imo

[BK1985]

Originally Posted by streetscaper

Dumb location for a Ferris wheel imo

Agreed, it doesnt even clear the heights of the surrounding buildings, the only open view is of LIC (LOL). If they really wanted something with a view they should have gone with an observation tower, IMO.

[NYguy]

https://commercialobserver.com/2023/...sino-proposal/

Thor’s Melissa Gliatta Discusses Its Coney Island Casino Proposal


BY MARK HALLUM
JANUARY 5, 2023

Thor Equities is stacking its bench with players that will give its owner, Coney Island native Joe Sitt, what he hopes will be the most compelling argument to be awarded one of three downstate casino licenses.

The firm has assembled a team of Saratoga Casino Holdings, the Chickasaw Nation and Legends to help Thor run an attraction that could make Coney Island a year-around destination, rather than a summertime hangout mostly confined to the beach’s boardwalk.

If Thor and its partners get a license, it could only be a matter of time before they drop $3 billion to redevelop 5 acres between Stillwell Avenue, West 12th Street, Surf Avenue and Wonder Wheel Way into an entertainment complex with a casino, a roller coaster, an indoor water park, hotels and museums.

Thor Chief Operating Officer Melissa Gliatta spoke with Commercial Observer recently, giving a glimpse into the minds of the developers as they await a Jan. 6 release of a request for applications (RFA) from the New York State Gaming Commission.

Commercial Observer: Why does Thor view Coney Island as one of the best locations for a new casino in New York City?

Melissa Gliatta: I think the No. 1 thing we’re aiming for is for people to understand that Brooklyn is, in our opinion, the best location for a casino. A lot of the talking points that you’ve heard us say, and I’ll happily reiterate, is the fact that we are incredibly excited to see a very economically underserved area become a vibrant entertainment location, 365 days a year. That’s always been our hope for Coney Island from the very beginning.

Apart from creating a year-round economic engine for Coney Island, how are you and your partners planning to convince the Gaming Commission that this is an economically sound proposal?

I think the most important thing was who we partnered with, right? We gave that enormous amount of consideration because we believe that you get one shot here. We had to assemble what we consider to be the best of the best team to give us the best odds for success and winning. By doing that, and really making sure that we were our most competitive, we feel like we have really touched on all the strengths of it.

This is an opportunity to bring generational jobs — jobs that you can go into and build a strong career and make a meaningful difference. So for us, we feel like it hits a lot of those points. Times Square, it’s so great to hear about that project, but Times Square is in Manhattan and they have so much already. You’ve got Broadway, you’ve got all the excitement of the Times Square district. I hope that doesn’t come through overly enthusiastically. We’ve been working on this a long time.

How long has Thor been looking at this development site, and how does the current zoning help or hinder a casino development?

We have been assembling land in Coney Island for, goodness gracious, almost probably 20 years now. Joe grew up in the backyard and I’ve worked with Joe for literally 28 years, so almost three decades of working together.

The area has been zoned for entertainment for a long time. If you know Coney Island, it’s been a playground for amusement and entertainment for over 100 years. So we do believe that you know we have flexible zoning that allows for a variety of different entertainment uses that are allowed for zoning here and not anywhere else. What we have to wait for right now is the RFA.

How did you go about choosing Saratoga Casino Holdings, The Chickasaw Nation and Legends as partners, and how do they give you the edge in this bid?

We wanted the combination of Chickasaw and Saratoga together. We thought being able to team them up would really be complementary and allow us to have a New York base operator that understands gaming and operations in New York, as well as an operator that literally is running the biggest casino in the world, because we believe that if we are able to successfully win this bid and build this project that it will be one of the most successful entertainment venues in the world.

It’s like probably putting together a basketball team or something, right? You want to make sure you have all the right position players. But at the same time you have to work together as a team. And I think for us, that’s the vetting process and kind of what we went through with finding out who we thought would really be the right cohesive team. Because even just going for this RFA together is a lot of work together, and really think about it even at the next level. It’s why it’s such an important strong foundation.

[NYguy]

• Video Link

[SkyHigher]

i think this is the massive real estate project george clooney is rumored to be involved in