Caesars Entertainment, Roc Nation, and SL Green are upping their efforts of wooing New Yorkers and gain support for their Times Square casino bid in Manhattan, NYC. On Monday, the consortium hosted a free eight-hour lunch and dinner buffet. The only thing in return for the free meals was to diners to hear about the benefits of its integrated casino resort project.
For the project, SL Green will lend its 1515 Broadway skyscraper for the plan, if the group manages to acquire one of the three full-scale casino licenses in the downstate region. But in order for the consortium to make it, its bid needs to be approved by the Gaming Facility Location Board, and community backing is one of the most important factors.
Trying to Woo Community
The free buffet was hosted at The Purple Tongue, which is a wine bar in close proximity to Times Square at 410 W. 43rd St. Rapper Fat Joe, who is part of Roc Nation’s music label was at the event to greet guests and shared the word on why the company’s casino bid for Manhattan would be beneficial to the neighbourhood and its people.
On Monday, Caesars Entertainment also promoted the benefits of a such gaming property. The gambling leader projects that the casino on Times Square would produce US$166 million in new annual retail spending in the neighbourhood, an increase in Broadway ticket sales by US$65 million every year, and generate an additional US$636,000 overnight room stays at hotels.
Furthermore, the company promises to invest around US$115 million to bolster diverse theater programs and deliver daycare services for Broadway performers, workers, and their close ones. This is most likely an attempt to alleviate opposition from the Theater District, which claimed that a casino would take clients away from many restaurants that attendees usually visit.
In addition to that, the Times Square casino bid was also opposed by a coalition named “No Times Square Casino.” The group is led by the Broadway League, and it represents theatre owners and producers who are against such a gaming resort in the area. It is also backed by five neighbourhood associations, several restaurant owners, and a church.
Some of the coalition’s concerns regarding the project include the worsening congestion in an already car-clogged neighbourhood. There are also worries that visitors will be enticed to stay within the casino walls instead of patronizing the district’s restaurants and existing entertainment venues, while also disrupting the businesses that have already proven to be beneficial to the city.
Previous Attempts to Win Over Locals
Monday’s free buffet was not the only attempt from Roc Nation to gain community backing for its Manhattan casino project. In May 2023, the company bought several pull-page ads in various media outlets, which highlighted the benefit of having a casino in the area. It also launched an open letter detailing the positive impact of such a project.
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