Rally Against Times Square Casino Planned for Wednesday by Local Theater Group

A Times Square casino proposal led by Caesars, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and SL Green is preparing to receive backlash from the local Broadway community.

The first public hearing for the casino—one of eight that are hoping to receive one of three available New York casino operators’ licenses—will take place on Wednesday. A rally was scheduled to take place in the morning, and several digital boards over nearby theaters will display the message “No Times Square Casino.”

The rally was organized by the No Times Square Casino Coalition, which represents 35 local groups.

Details of the rally

16 different theaters on Broadway agreed to display the anti-casino signage on their marquees from 8:00-10:00 a.m. ET and 4:00-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. 

The anti-casino coalition, which includes members of local theater unions and groups, supported the action. Member groups include the Entertainment Community Fund, New York Theater Locals of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and others.

The public hearings will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Speakers will be given the opportunity to share their feelings about the project on a first-come, first-served basis, or by submitting emails if they cannot be there in person.

The hearings are in anticipation of a vote by the Community Advisory Committee, which will vote on Sept. 30 to determine if the project is fit to advance for final consideration by the Gaming Facility Location Board.

If the casino advances past all of the steps, it will be eligible to receive an operator’s license.

Making adjustments

The Times Square casino group has made several key concessions and changes to its project to try to win the support of the local community.

In anticipation of the rally against its passage, the leadership group decided to change its approach to funding. Rather than allocate $22.5 million over 15 years and 0.5 percent of the casino’s lifetime profits into Manhattan Plaza, an affordable housing complex, the group will now reinvest its money in the broader community.

The plans are now for the funds to reach the West Side Community Fund, which supports groups in Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, and Hudson Yards. 

It also updated its proposal to include local stakeholders in key decisions regarding how the funds are used.

The casino also previously agreed to host regular job fairs for members of the theater community. These fairs wouldn’t land them gigs inside performance halls, but rather would set them up with positions in and around the casino to fill the time between their performing duties.

The $5.4 billion casino project also wouldn’t require the creation of a new building, but rather the renovation of an existing tower filled with office rooms. It would also keep the casino’s gaming floor out of sight from ground level.

The final decision on the licensed casinos is expected to come before the end of the year.