Proposed Casino to be Branded as Hollywood Casino
NBC4 is reporting that the proposed Arena District Casino would be branded as a “Hollywood Casino”, similar to its Indiana counterpart. In the article, a representative says that renderings won’t be made available before election day, but states that the casino will be a single-story structure with an attached parking garage, and will include a performance stage and dining options.
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Related Tags: Arena District • casino • gambling • november 3 2009 ballot • Politics • voting
October 8th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
At least it’s a garage and not a parking lot. But single story?
October 8th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Yeah, I was expecting that it would at least be two stories. The rep quoted in the NBC4 article doesn’t mention what types of dining options will be available, but if the Indiana location is any indicator, then it looks like we can expect some sort of buffet, some sort of steakhouse, and some sort of casual eatery.
I also googled a few images of the Indiana Hollywood. Looks decent enough on the inside… but it also looks like it is at least 2 stories:
October 8th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Uggh. Why not call it Uncle Huckster’s Vegas for Poor People (TM), featuring house DJ Kevin Federline?
October 8th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Here are the Yelp reviews
And a few from Yahoo!
This is what people are really pinning their hopes on for Ohio’s future (as some of the commentary would leave you to believe)? These casino companies-ESPECIALLY in Columbus-could probably do very well working with the local business folks to come up with a unique concept that would fit well into the community and would be somewhat successful.
I can see this cookie cutter crashing and burning after the initial glitz wears off.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I like the Arena District as much as the next person but it would be really fantastic if we spent more time building the rest of downtown. Wouldn’t it be great if people were walking all over the city at night? Instead of just in the Short North and the Arena Districts?
Also, I’m having a really tough time visualizing a one-story casino. That doesn’t feel like much a destination spot to me.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:13 am
It just occurred to me that if we get a casino my boss is going to want to come here a lot more often than he does now. Yet another reason I hate this idea.
This casino is open until 4:30am during the week and 5:30am on weekends. Depending on it’s location in the Arena District, that would make me reconsider moving in to those new apartments they are building. The douches standing outside of Brothers until 3am+ were enough to make me scream obscenities from my balcony a few times. I can’t imagine having it be a regular occurrence.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:28 am
One story??…..Lame. You wouldn’t even be able to see it from the highway very well, thus, some people wouldn’t even know it’s there. I just hope to god the exterior is nothing cheesy or looking like a cartoon building, which most casinos typically are. i had visions of something semi grand and elegant, not something that looks like a glorified strip center bingo hall with flashy lights.
October 9th, 2009 at 12:29 am
lifeontwowheels Says: Here are the Yelp reviews And a few from Yahoo!
Actually, those are the Aurora, Illinois casino location. The link I originally posted was to the Hollywood Casino in IL and not in IN. ;) Thanks to Somer for noticing. ;)
October 9th, 2009 at 12:32 am
That logo looks pretty cheesy…
I’m hoping more and more that the rest of Ohio decides not to stick a cookie cutter destined-for-failure casino in one of our most promising areas. Why do they get to vote on that, btw?
October 9th, 2009 at 1:03 am
lame lame lame. the casino in indiana is quite possibly the worst casino i have ever been to. they don’t even have poker tables there. after hearing about this lame 1 story mini casino coming to columbus, my vote is no. this won’t attract out of state gamblers, will feed off those that can’t afford it, because people like me will continue to go to real casinos NOT in columbus which will be home to one of the worst casinos in the nation…
i knew this was going to happen, deep down i knew this was the plan. had my hopes up for nothing.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:26 am
It would take a supernatural force and a whole hell of a lot of design and delusion to convince me that I’m experiencing “Hollywood” based on the comp images here.
Aside from that - evidently these assholes don’t have the brains or respect for our city to deliver us a unique casino concept? Instead they propose a crappy stamped out templated simpleton casino concept? What an insult to the collective intelligence and aspirations of all the brilliance in this town.
Soulless, selfish, uncreative simple minded developers. #Fail
October 9th, 2009 at 5:32 am
Super weak . but does that mean we vote no? or can we just reject the plans for the casino?
October 9th, 2009 at 6:33 am
JenniferBrown says: I like the Arena District as much as the next person but it would be really fantastic if we spent more time building the rest of downtown. Wouldn’t it be great if people were walking all over the city at night? Instead of just in the Short North and the Arena Districts?
I second that Jennifer! This city tends to put all its eggs in one basket. So when it comes time to redevelop the rest of the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods, what is left to put there? It makes me think I should stop trying to be an urban pioneer on the near east side and just join the masses. Screw everyone else, I’ll just go where they are moving everything to. Very disappointing once again!
October 9th, 2009 at 7:29 am
See this is going to most likely change my mind on thinking this is a good thing.
If they want to infiltrate Columbus they should at least do it with some creative thinking. Not try to do the cheapest thing possible with the highest out come. Do not Want anymore
October 9th, 2009 at 7:58 am
@ColumbusDreamer - I’ll be voting - No.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I’m voting no. I don’t know why our constitution should need to include specifics on where casinos can be placed. This concept, if it had to be in Columbus, would be a better fit at the Continent, not the thriving Arena District.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I’m with you guys. Looks cheap and cheesy. I don’t want four McCasino’s in a weak market state.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I mean, Niagara Falls has better casinos. Detroit has better casinos. Who is the expected target here?
October 9th, 2009 at 8:45 am
idiotic name and concept solidifies NO vote. get ready for a bunch of washed up artists to land in the AD for the main stage. if you know a 60’s or 70’s band that has just one original member willing to play under the band name, you can count on them making a series of appearances as part of the glitz and glamour of “Hollywood” in Columbus.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:46 am
So how can three of these one story generic casino’s actually create the 34,000 job?
Compare the casino size to the OSU Medical Center expansion where 1 billion is being spent to create a 17 story tower creating between 6-10k new jobs … anyone else think the job creation numbers for issue 3 are vastly incorrect?
Additionally how could 8,500 jobs be involved in each of these casinos? It sounds like a building version of a clown car…
October 9th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Yeah, I was leaning towards ‘no’ and this pretty much seals it. Lame.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:51 am
@futureman - That does seem like a very high figure. They might be adding in the indirect employment numbers as well. But maybe the other casinos would be more “grand.”
Also, those Issue 3 ads are intentionally misleading. They say that the tax rate on casinos in Ohio will be the fourth highest. It doesn’t say that multiple states charge one of those three higher tax rates. The casinos would be getting a tax bargain in Ohio. If we have to do this, the state should get at least a 50% cut.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Isn’t one of the points being used to make the case for the casino is that other bordering states have a casino and having one here would draw visitors from neighboring states?
October 9th, 2009 at 9:12 am
With the amount of revenue projected to be generated by this, I would expect a bit more creativity on the part of the architects. Draw from the rich history of the city and surrounding communities as an influence for design. A framed poster of Bogart and Marylin with some faux-crystal chandeliers is cheesy at best.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I haven’t heard that, but I doubt it would be the case. No one from Michigan is going to drive here for that dumpy casino when they have the MGM Grand and Greektown. No one from Pa. is going to come here when they already have dumpy casinos in their back yard. People traveling for the casino are not going to explore outside the casino. They come to gamble, not take in the sights. It would be amazing if the Arena District restaurants saw a 5% increase in sales with a casino present. It’s just not going to happen.