Western Fair Gateway Casino Expansion - Page 2

Dither City · #21 Posted **Dec 13, 2017, 7:38 PM**

CBC has little more information on Gateway Casino project for Western fairgrounds few of London counselors sounded like complete idiots but that's par for the course.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london...sion-1.4444044

https://globalnews.ca/news/3910908/g...o-development/

MrSlippery519 · #22 Posted **Dec 13, 2017, 8:32 PM**

Parking should not be a concern there are heaps of parking spaces at the fair and across where the arena is.

Regarding the casino itself I have said before I think it is great compared to what is there now being slots. Has anyone actually went there recently? Its a pretty sad looking place certainly not something people would think of for a fun night out.

Oliverfox · #23 Posted **Dec 14, 2017, 7:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrSlippery519

Parking should not be a concern there are heaps of parking spaces at the fair and across where the arena is.

Regarding the casino itself I have said before I think it is great compared to what is there now being slots. Has anyone actually went there recently? Its a pretty sad looking place certainly not something people would think of for a fun night out.

I agree, there is more then enough parking in the proposed plan.

However, the casino itself is in the wrong spot, it should be placed along Dundas st. where the current Queens park is.

TheBostonBoy44 · #24 Posted **Dec 14, 2017, 1:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliverfox

However, the casino itself is in the wrong spot, it should be placed along Dundas st. where the current Queens park is.

I doubt the OEVCA, the BIA and other community groups would support that it front onto Dundas over Queens Park, which has significant heritage and cultural value.

I do agree that the whole casino/slots both in present and proposed form lack street presence. I think that in order for them to sell the experience of the new entertainment district, centered around the casino, they will need to enhance the frontage along Florence.

MolsonExport · #25 Posted **Dec 14, 2017, 2:57 PM**

ahhhh tons of fugly surface parking to make the area a windswept wasteland. What an anti-shot in the arm for urban fabric. The place will be 80% parking lots.
if this is supposed to be such a great money maker, why not have multistory parking and save the land for something more interesting? Charge for parking.
We will never learn. Selling our souls forevermore.

GreatTallNorth2 · #26 Posted **Dec 14, 2017, 6:47 PM**

And say goodbye to the trackside music festival and any possible expansion of similar events. They have said they will build a smaller grandstand which means events won't come there b/c the capacity will be too small to attract big names.

TheBostonBoy44 · #27 Posted **Dec 14, 2017, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

And say goodbye to the trackside music festival and any possible expansion of similar events. They have said they will build a smaller grandstand which means events won't come there b/c the capacity will be too small to attract big names.

With that being said though, several casinos have performance venues within. Although likely smaller than the grandstand venue they currently have, there would almost be a constant draw at the casino, attracting both small local talents and some larger acts.

It's not like the grandstand was a major venue outside of Trackside, especially with other venues like Bud Gardens, Music Hall and even Aelion being right down the street.

The success of Trackside cannot be understated, and I can't imagine it not being around anymore, it would just have to evolve from its current state.

Djeffery · #28 Posted **Dec 14, 2017, 11:35 PM**

Trackside doesn't used the grandstand so that won't have any affect on the event.

Pimpmasterdac · #29 Posted **Dec 15, 2017, 4:35 AM**

Plans for the expanded casinos awesome! Honestly the way the fall Western Fair has been deteriorating that last few years, bring on the expansion. Better London & Western Fair do something with that area than let it sit underutilized.

Of course our do-nothing councils will sit with their thumbs up their asses, studying this untill the cows come home. I understand there's foregone rent but it'll drive investment and jobs into a hurting area of London.

Oliverfox · #30 Posted **Dec 15, 2017, 5:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBostonBoy44

I doubt the OEVCA, the BIA and other community groups would support that it front onto Dundas over Queens Park, which has significant heritage and cultural value.

I do agree that the whole casino/slots both in present and proposed form lack street presence. I think that in order for them to sell the experience of the new entertainment district, centered around the casino, they will need to enhance the frontage along Florence.

Another option that would work (and be a lot easier) is if they built the casino fronting Queens Park on the footprint of the Progress Building. This way you could have the casino and restaurant patios spill into the park and create a pleasant village square feel.

GreatTallNorth2 · #31 Posted **Dec 15, 2017, 8:12 PM**

I am not a big fan of the casino as I don't think it really adds any value to London, but if they are going to do it, I would say this is an opportunity for council to dictate to the casino to build something that fits in the neighbourhood, designed nicely and make it an attraction beyond gambling. I like the "village" idea. We don't need more soulless boxes in our city.

kaiserLDN · #32 Posted **Dec 15, 2017, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

I am not a big fan of the casino as I don't think it really adds any value to London, but if they are going to do it, I would say this is an opportunity for council to dictate to the casino to build something that fits in the neighbourhood, designed nicely and make it an attraction beyond gambling. I like the "village" idea. We don't need more soulless boxes in our city.

I am for this casino but I agree everything else you wrote. Village idea is cool. I think also working with a few developers and the city to coordinate a few residential towers close by. If Gateway, the city and a developer or 2 worked closely together like a team then I think this project could work really well for the city. Making good use of the land there is key

Just to throw this out there.. I also thought at some point in the future the race track land could be turned into a CFL stadium when the city is big enough. I feel at some point the land would be to valuable to just have a race track.

Djeffery · #33 Posted **Dec 16, 2017, 12:30 AM**

The footprint of a stadium the size of Tim Hortons Field would cover basically from "Stage 10", the outdoor stage just north of the Progress Building, and go east to Egerton and south to Florence from there. Basically, half the Progress Building and all of the Grandstand and Slots. I'm not opposed to that idea, although I think if we ever got a CFL team, I think the stadium would go at Western in partnership with them. But hypothetically speaking, that would have to be something that would have to be planned for in advance of any other development at the Fair, or the space won't be there later. Just for perspective sakes, the current grandstand seats 4000 people.

jammer139 · #34 Posted **Dec 17, 2017, 10:29 PM**

Good news if this project proceeds. Casino and Hotel will be approximately 700 additional jobs.

haljackey · #35 Posted **Mar 22, 2018, 7:16 PM**

Vote + open house
https://getinvolved.london.ca/expansion-gaming

And story
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london...fair-1.4586791

haljackey · #36 Posted **Mar 24, 2018, 4:07 PM**

Gateway upset with pace and red tape involved with city hall casino deal.

https://london.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1355240

kaiserLDN · #37 Posted **Apr 24, 2018, 4:32 PM**

Happy to see this moving forward.

http://lfpress.com/news/local-news/p...ling-in-london

MolsonExport · #38 Posted **Apr 24, 2018, 4:43 PM**

Pro-gambling, anti rapid transit.

Makes no fucking sense. The latter builds a community, the former helps to destroy it.*

Gambling is a tax on the poor, the superstitious, and the mathematically-challenged. It redistributes wealth upwards, and is therefore regressive.

Gambling was supposed to save Atlantic City. Take a look at what happened.

Quote:

*the alarming rise in the number of people with a severe gambling problem; the havoc that problem gamblers wreak on themselves, their families, and the community-at-large; increased crime, notably fraud, theft, domestic violence, suicide, counterfeiting and money laundering; the cannibalistic effects large casinos, bingo halls, and electronic gambling in bars and lounges have on local small business revenues and employees; and increased health care, social service, policing, and other public service costs governments must bear to deal with the negative fallout from legalized gambling

https://link.springer.com/content/pd...3648230928.pdf

Dupcheck · #39 Posted **Apr 24, 2018, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Pro-gambling, anti rapid transit.

Makes no fucking sense. The latter builds a community, the former helps to destroy it.*

Gambling is a tax on the poor, the superstitious, and the mathematically-challenged. It redistributes wealth upwards, and is therefore regressive.

Gambling was supposed to save Atlantic City. Take a look at what happened.

https://link.springer.com/content/pd...3648230928.pdf

I agree. Gambling brings more problems than solutions. Most of the jobs it creates are part time and sketchy.

jammer139 · #40 Posted **Apr 25, 2018, 10:15 AM**

Gambling is no different then any of the other SIN taxes. Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs (Pot).

Brings most of the same issues in your quote.

I don't see anyone banning Booze, Tobacco.
Hell our morally superior Liberal government in Ottawa is legalising Pot.

Build it here too as they are building it all around us. St Thomas or Woodstock will happily take the Casino if we don't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Pro-gambling, anti rapid transit.

Makes no fucking sense. The latter builds a community, the former helps to destroy it.*

Gambling is a tax on the poor, the superstitious, and the mathematically-challenged. It redistributes wealth upwards, and is therefore regressive.

Gambling was supposed to save Atlantic City. Take a look at what happened.

https://link.springer.com/content/pd...3648230928.pdf