Urban-Integrated Casino possible in Detroit

[gthomas]

Caesars Entertainment Corp.




TORONTO, Nov. 2, 2012 /CNW/ - Caesars Entertainment Corporation and Rock Gaming LLC today released its early vision for a downtown Toronto gaming entertainment facility. The renderings depict how an urban-integrated casino could be developed at one of several potential downtown sites.

Caesars and Rock Gaming are leaders in developing integrated entertainment complexes in major urban centres in North America. Caesars is also home to the most iconic names in entertainment including Celine Dion, Elton John, Shania Twain, Rod Stewart and many more.

The group's vision for a development at the Metro Toronto Convention Center [[MTTC), which was recently identified as a potential casino site, focuses on a gaming entertainment complex that will serve as another world-class tourism anchor while complementing the City's pedestrian-focused layout and leveraging its robust public transit system. "We believe that the convention centre site provides a prime opportunity to achieve these important goals," said Caesars Executive Vice President of Communications and Government Relations, Jan Jones.

Highlights of the development, which would feature the "Caesars" brand, include a sophisticated and modern structure with a multi-story glass entry to integrate into the city's urban fabric. The vision also includes the creation of an urban park edged by retail, dining and year-round entertainment.

Jones said the early MTCC renderings are working concepts based on initial input from City leaders, local stakeholders and area businesses. "As stakeholder objectives are refined, we look forward to engaging several local and international architects to further develop concepts for this and other potential casino sites in downtown Toronto," Jones said.

"Regardless of the site, fundamental to our vision is designing a casino entertainment complex that builds partnerships with existing businesses - especially restaurants, hotels, entertainment and cultural venues - to attract more visitors and help all downtown businesses succeed," said Matt Cullen, president and chief operating officer of Rock Gaming.

Why cant Detroit Casinos understand how important in keeping our urban fabric, [[well, what we have left). This is an interesting find, I hope that the 2 planned casinos downtown apply this type of development plan. Our zoning laws has to change..

[Gistok]

We've seen this scene before... when Papas and Gatzaros [[Greektown developers)... first came up with plans for a Greektown casino before the 1996 referendum vote... a glass enclosed casino open to daylight....

As was proved with Greektown... this is one of those things that look great on paper... but just don't work out as planned...

It's kind of funny seeing Toronto getting snookered just like Detroit did about integrating the casino in the the urban fabric....

[[And I'm still pro-casino for Detroit... just not as much as I was 10 years ago... )

[401don]

We've seen this scene before... when Papas and Gatzaros [[Greektown developers)... first came up with plans for a Greektown casino before the 1996 referendum vote... a glass enclosed casino open to daylight....

As was proved with Greektown... this is one of those things that look great on paper... but just don't work out as planned...

It's kind of funny seeing Toronto getting snookered just like Detroit did about integrating the casino in the the urban fabric....

[[And I'm still pro-casino for Detroit... just not as much as I was 10 years ago... )

I live in the Toronto area and believe me Toronto is a long way from being snookered on this. The editorials in the papers are running against ANY casino downtown as is public opinion. There is no room downtown for the type of mega-resort the developers want, not to mention parking. If Toronto does get a casino it will probably be at Woodbine Racetrack [[where slots already exist) or at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, near the waterfront.

[Zacha341]

'Snookered' is the word. It just does not quite work out as envisioned....

It's kind of funny seeing Toronto getting snookered just like Detroit did about integrating the casino in the the urban fabric....

[[And I'm still pro-casino for Detroit... just not as much as I was 10 years ago... )

[401don]

I do like how Rock Gaming [[Gilbert) calls themselves experts on "integrating into the urban fabric" based on his one temporary casino in Cleveland which, granted, does have a window.

[DetroitPlanner]

I do like how Rock Gaming [[Gilbert) calls themselves experts on "integrating into the urban fabric" based on his one temporary casino in Cleveland which, granted, does have a window.

The casino is in an old department store named Higbee's. Higbees was the department store used in the move "A Christmas Story". It is in the 708' tall Tower City complex, one of Cleveland's largest buildings containing two hotels, a train station for rapid rail, and several stores including Brooks Brothers. Much of its interior resembles the Fisher Building. It is about as integrated into the urban fabric as you can get.
http://www.forestcity.net/properties...nal_tower.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VGcZ...eature=related

Unfortunately, the ship has sailed on Detroit Casinos. They are here and we don't have the legislation in place to open more than three, so technically right now what is proposed for Toronto is not possible here.

[davewindsor]

The group's vision for a development at the Metro Toronto Convention Center [[MTTC), which was recently identified as a potential casino site, focuses on a gaming entertainment complex that will serve as another world-class tourism anchor while complementing the City's pedestrian-focused layout and leveraging its robust public transit system. "We believe that the convention centre site provides a prime opportunity to achieve these important goals," said Caesars Executive Vice President of Communications and Government Relations, Jan Jones.

I think that the Caesars and Rock Gaming Proposal for the Metro Convention Center is a pipe dream. Poorly thought out. First, these operators are not going to get it. It was MGM Resorts International that first started aggressively lobbying the Ontario Government for a Toronto Casino. Then, a bunch of other operators submitted proposals including local Toronto billionaires Larry Tanenbaum and Gerald Schwartz. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1236916--toronto-casino-a-hidden-battle-for-the-prize

Second, the CNE already hosts an 86 table temporary casino one month out of every year at exhibition fairgrounds during the fair. http://www.theex.com/attractions-shows/casino/

The infrastructure is already at the fairgrounds for a temporary casino and there's plenty of land and parking for a new one as well as easy access from the Don Valley Parkway plus it can already handle the CNE casino traffic at it's peak use [[the time of the CNE Fair and the best time to visit Ontario Place next door) and you don't have to deal with the level of NIMBY opposition from residential condo owners because it's already being done with the CNE casino for years.

Plus, there's the next question of who's on the hook for the cost of development at and around the Convention Center? The two hotels and convention center at Caesar's Windsor was built 100% on Ontario Taxpayer's dime with a 50/50 split revenue sharing agreement with Caesar's. The value of downtown Toronto land is astronomical and taxpayers would be on the hook for incredibly expensive infrastructure to accomodate the already overwhelmed and overburdened downtown traffic problem in addition to building the actual casino.

The area around Woodbine Racetrack is about as exciting as the area around the now shuttered Windsor Racetrack. I can't see it beating out the CNE Fairgrounds either.

[Zacha341]

Rarely do casinos have windows on the gambling floor. No clocks either. Ceasars Windsor used to have a windows looking out upon the water on the south side circular gambling floor that leads to the hotel tower. That last a few months, then they closed them off with decorative partitions.

I do like how Rock Gaming [[Gilbert) calls themselves experts on "integrating into the urban fabric" based on his one temporary casino in Cleveland which, granted, does have a window.

[Gistok]

Having an "urban" casino is [[as Zacha341 confirmed) a myth... they only seem to build self contained fortresses with no windows. Greektown was planned as an "urban" casino... but look what's become of it. Even the [[former) Trappers Alley skylights can ONLY be seen from the casino entrance areas... and Trappers Alley ceased to be anything except an oversized entrance vestibule to the casino... with no longer ANY logical integration into Greektown proper.

So the sight of those big windows in an urban Toronto casino... is "good on paper"... and little else.... hence my "snookered" comment...