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Back in February, we learned that Ohio casinos might make another appearance on the ballot this November, after being shot down multiple times over the past decade. The big difference with this new proposal is that the Columbus casino location would sit very close to the heart of downtown in the undeveloped western portion of the Arena District.
Many on Columbus Underground have voiced their opinion on the casino proposal… some for it, and some against it… but according to this Dispatch blog post, the casinio gained a huge new opponent yesterday: Nationwide. NRI (Nationwide’s real estate development arm) has almost singlehandedly built the entire Arena District as we know it, and they’re making it pretty clear that they are anti-casino.
Anyone want to start placing bets on whether or not this will spell doom for the casnio proposal, or if the developers will simply relocate a few miles away to another location place that might not have such strong opposition?
Columbuzz Says: I obviously don’t have a problem with casinos, but they keep trouncing out the same, old, tired proposals.
Last year they proposed one casino outside of Cincy. This year they’re proposing three casinos including the one in the Arena District. Sounds like a slightly different proposal to me.
Walker: Different in that respect, yes. What I meant was the benefits never seem to change. Loopholes never get closed. They continue to talk to specifically about locations. Same old garbage.
More bad news:
Bad news for casino supporters
Posted by James Nash, Statehouse reporter
Backers of a proposal for casinos in Ohio’s largest cities won’t be able to count on support from leaders of the state’s most gambling-friendly county.
The Democratic and Republican party organizations in Mahoning County both came out in opposition to the Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan, which would build casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo and Cincinnati.
READ MORE
see not everyone is crying NIMBY!
i’d say the last thing youngstown needs is a casino. who would go there to gamble?
i’m not strictly agianst or in support of gambling anywhere in the state, but AD or anywhere else downtown sounds like a bad idea to me.
I used to be completely against Ohio gambling, but I guess I am softening a little. I am now coming around on Racinos (Race Track Slots); I guess I am OK if Cleveland wants a Casino, since the Cavs owner supports it. I am completely and totally opposed to the Arena District location for a Casino – the wrong vibe for that space. I am on the fence whether a Casino at Cooper stadium would be a good idea or not. There was an interesting discussion on WOSU Columbus on the Record this week (5/22). There is no timeline for when the 4 casinos would be built, so likely Penn National would build Cleveland and Columbus quick and delay Toledo and Cincinnati since they would cannibalize their existing interests in nearby states. Personally, I agree with Paula Brooks (in Business First this week) that a Casino would suck income from surrounding small businesses and not generate additional income, just reallocate it. I guess that’s why I am OK with Racinos, because we would not build additional structures per se, just adding features to existing facilities. I don’t need to gamble, I’ve got plenty of gambling being done for me in my 401k. I am seriously considering reallocating it to all Ohio stocks and bonds so I am at least funding something I care about instead of companies in other states/countries.
unless its a true casino project..and not some ridicolous slots parlor like you find in PA, i have no interest in it.
Being the uppity type that I am, I called the Public Affairs office for Penn Gaming. Spoke with a representative for about 30 minutes. I wanted to confirm some things being said, and also get the link for a rendering or design. No luck on the design url. According to the Penn reps, they are working on it, but could confirm a) It would be a single-story, but at least 18 ft high ceiling, b) the decision not to have a Hotel (ie: Skyline addition), was in part speed of construction and “other factors” and part lack of confirmation from the public on what will sell; and finally c) they promise the entrances (plural?) would be attractive and grand. The representative reminded me that since a Law has not been passed yet, that such things are purely speculative and subject to a decision in Nov.
Also pressed them about the restaurant question and the Racino concept. Responses were that they have plenty of expertise in providing “quality” food/beverage establishments, given their multiple successful sites, and they were no local partnership options for locating to race tracks (Racinos). We can read through the lines and understand I consider the real answers:
Q:Why not partner w/ local restaurants for a tenant who specializes?
A: They want to keep all the money for themselves.
Q: Why not locate to one of the existing Racetrack locations?
A: Because the race tracks are connected to their competitors (WV Mountaineer, etc.)
Lastly, I asked them about the name, Hollywood Casino, and why they choose that. The representative told me to ask that of the Marketing Dept. but personally liked my idea of “The Scioto Nugget” for the name! Haha!
“Lastly, I asked them about the name, Hollywood Casino, and why they choose that. The representative told me to ask that of the Marketing Dept. but personally liked my idea of “The Scioto Nugget†for the name! Haha!”
Why would you call it “The Scioto Nugget†when it is on the OLENTANGY river?!?