Would the proposed Wampanoag casino be good for New Bedford?

[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]

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.

[prudence]

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

[nowyano]

Casinos are not good for cities.

[Dozer]

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...

[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.

[nowyano]

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]

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.

[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.

[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]

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