15 replies to this topic

[nowyano]

New Bedford is I believe the third or fourth biggest Massachusetts city not in the direct Boston Metro area.  Would the proposed Wampanoag  casino be a good thing for growth in this city?

[Lowerdeck]

I can't see too many places in Massachusetts where a casino would be helpful for the city.  Nearly anywhere BUT Boston, it will become similar to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun - where you just drive there, that's the only place you go, and then head home.  It needs to become a destination like Atlantic City is, and New Bedford probably can't pull it off without several other reasons to be there.

[gregrc75]

Some positive aspects of it being in New Bedford are:
-the proposed commuter rail station to Boston will be adjacent to the site
-it will be right on the waterfront
-less that a mile away you have the ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Cuttyhunk.
-Another mile away you have the airport with airline service to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, and possibly soon to NY.
-I-195 boarders the site
-A new downtown waterfront hotel is already proposed, regardless of any casino announcements
-the downtown has the Whaling National Park

[nowyano]

Lowerdeck, on Jun 8 2007, 08:55 PM, said:

it will become similar to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun - where you just drive there, that's the only place you go, and then head home.  It needs to become a destination like Atlantic City is, and New Bedford probably can't pull it off without several other reasons to be there.

I disagree I think that New Bedford has more to it than Ledyard, CT or Montville, CT.  New Bedford is already a much more attractive destination than either one of those cities.  I think that a casino would help to draw more people to the city, as well as giving them something to build around...

[prudence]

Casinos are not good for cities. New Bedford should hope they don't get it.

[nowyano]

prudence, on Jun 22 2007, 09:02 PM, said:

Casinos are not good for cities.

Why?  I would assume that they add tourist and tax dollars (via hotels) to a city.

[Dozer]

nowyano, on Jun 20 2007, 11:06 AM, said:

I disagree I think that New Bedford has more to it than Ledyard, CT or Montville, CT.  New Bedford is already a much more attractive destination than either one of those cities.  I think that a casino would help to draw more people to the city, as well as giving them something to build around...

I disagree - I wrote on this topic in an older forum, here: http://www.urbanplan...showtopic=34774
Though the validity of my statistics were debated a bit (which is fine - they were not my point), no one was able to point out to me a case study where a casino plopped in the middle of a distressed city tremendously changed the fortune of that city. I am sure there are some rare successes out there (maybe Biloxi?), but I have never been to one.

My favorite line is when people argue a casino will increase business revenue surrounding the casino and increase tourism. A casino is a money vacuum. It sucks the money out of the pockets of it's guests, and leaves most of them with little to spend on surrounding venues. How many people go to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun to enjoy the fine dining in Mashantucket (the town the casino is located)? Casinos are self-contained - dining, entertainment, and gabling are all under one roof. People aren't going to stumble out and wander the streets of New Bedford for entertainment (maybe to find a pawn shop or a house to break in to, sure).

I have grave doubts a New Bedford casino can compete with already well-established Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun anyhow. I think the end result, whether the casino is located in Middleboro or New Bedford, will simply be a further draining of money from a local demographic that can scarcely afford it.

My opinion regarding casino gambling is well known. I think Connecticut opened a Pandora's box by allowing it, and if this were an authoritarian regime and I were it's dictator, I would blow them both up in minutes. Alas, it is not. Yes, the glitzy glamour and dazzling promises a casino has to offer sure do make them appear attractive, to the naive. Only when it's too late, and the true ramifications of such a project become apparent, will people see through the fog a casino casts on the public. That is the real gamble, and we will lose. That's their business folks.

Edited by Dozer, 26 June 2007 - 05:37 PM.

[atlrvr]

Boston's Mayor Menino is now invisting the Wampanoag's to build a $1B casino at the Suffolk Down's race track, now that the trible is losing interest in Middleboro.  The national department of interior would have to approve it, but it would be an interesting play.

[Lowerdeck]

If they got poker, and if it's got easy access to the Blue Line, I'm down with that idea.

[Frankie811]

Casino no, arts yes.  Betting on the arts to revitalize the city.

Edited by Frankie811, 15 July 2007 - 01:38 PM.

[nowyano]

atlrvr, on Jul 13 2007, 01:59 PM, said:

Boston's Mayor Menino is now invisting the Wampanoag's to build a $1B casino at the Suffolk Down's race track, now that the trible is losing interest in Middleboro.  The national department of interior would have to approve it, but it would be an interesting play.

Won't happen, the casino has to be within 50 miles of the tribes home, which is in Mashpee, over 60 miles from Suffolk Downs and Boston in general.

[Lowerdeck]

nowyano, on Jul 16 2007, 06:41 AM, said:

Won't happen, the casino has to be within 50 miles of the tribes home, which is in Mashpee, over 60 miles from Suffolk Downs and Boston in general.

Now that you mention that, I remember when the Nipmucs wanted to build a casino, and every place within 30 miles of Sutton started panicking and trying to fight off a proposed casino, Conn. or Mass.

[runawayjim]

i gotta agree with dozer on this one, but on a condition.  a casino in a city can help it by bringing people there, but only if the casino is only the gaming with maybe a bar.  the hotel would not be attached and there would be no restaurants.  this would keep people going to restaurants that are already there and hotels that are already there.  and if they still have money, they'll go to shows and stuff at theatres that are already there.

Edited by runawayjim, 18 July 2007 - 12:44 PM.

[Recchia]

Or they'll go, piss away their disposable income, stop by McDonalds to get something from the dollar menu cause that's all they can now afford, and then go home.

[JJK5]

I'm not totally opposed to a Casino in Boston, but I don't think Suffolk Downs is the best spot.  As much as we'd love everyone to take the blue line to the casino, most would be driving there.  I don't think that area is set up for that kind of traffic.  Plus who would want to ride the nasty blue line through Eastie at night?  With their poker winnings spilling out their pockets even.

I think they could put up a classy joint, just a casino as runawayjim suggested, on the S. Boston waterfront.  Somewhere along the water.  It'd be close the a transit hub (S. Station).  The silver line would stop there, and the casino could even have free shuttles if they wanted to.

[Lowerdeck]

JJK5, on Jul 18 2007, 08:37 PM, said:

Plus who would want to ride the nasty blue line through Eastie at night?  With their poker winnings spilling out their pockets even.

By that logic, which does make sense though, the only line a casino in Boston could be feasible on is the Green.  And then, the Green would just go to hell with the criminal underworld trying to take advantage of the gamblers.