Initial reactions
The general belief was that Resorts World New York City and MGM’s Empire City Casino had a leg up in the process since they already owned and operated racinos in New York City. However, both the Times Square project and The Avenir were seen as viable candidates to land the final license.
“I'm shocked by the result,” said Dino Fusco, COO of Silverstein Properties. “We're putting forth a project in a location that could really use this type of complex: jobs, housing, a hotel, restaurants - these are all things we heard from the community.”
Caesars also released a statement following the vote, saying it respected the decision of the advisory board. It also said that its “commitment to New York remains unwavering.”
Not all parties were as amicable as Caesars. Marc Holliday, the CEO of SL Green – a development company that had teamed up with Roc Nation and Caesars – was caught on video sharing choice words with the members of the CAC following the vote.
“We met the standard and then some, and the only ones with courage to stand up was the governor and the mayor appointee, and everybody else runs and hides,” said Holliday. “Go run and hide. Because what you did, the benefits you denied this community, and this city and state, you have to live with that history forever.
“What you did here today was despicable.”
More upcoming votes
Locals raised significant concerns about the Times Square casino, which had planned to renovate office buildings in the heart of the Theater District.
Despite a number of concessions, including agreeing to host monthly job fairs, pledging $15 million to build a museum on social justice, and spreading investment around the entire Manhattan community, the Times Square casino group failed to garner positive sentiment regarding the project.
The Broadway League, a trade association representing theater employees, released a statement celebrating the vote.
“This was a vote to protect the magic of Broadway for the one hundred thousand New Yorkers who depend on it for their livelihoods, and for the tens of millions who come from around the world to experience it," said Jason Laks, President of The Broadway League. “A casino can go anywhere, but Broadway only lives here. We are so filled with gratitude for the committee members and the local elected officials… who looked at the facts, listened to the residents, and stood up for this neighborhood and the theater community.”
Silverstein protested its vote, saying it had received a request from the committee to amend its application the night before the vote. However, their vote met the same fate as the Times Square group.
Companies had to pay a non-refundable $1 million application fee just to get this far in the process.
Each CAC must hold its final vote by Sept. 30. The New York Gaming Facility Location Board will announce the licensees in December.
