5 casino sites: which would you choose? (Chicago, Oak Brook: credit, how much, buy)

[damba]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

Downtown Detroit was nothing until casinos landed there and stimulated development there. Casinos have had positive ripple effects throughout the area they are located economically. Why wouldn't they hire people from the community if they apply there?

With a large regional pool of job applicants, they would not necessarily need to.

[dtcbnd03]

Originally Posted by CCrest182

Again, this isn't really about locals and even fans of sporting events (because most fans are locals). The point of the casino is to attract wealthy tourists to spend money on gambling, food, parties, clubs, and hotel/resort room stays. It's not about providing something for Sox, Cubs, Bulls, whatever fans to do after the game. Increasing out of town revenue/tax dollar is the ultimate goal, and like I said I don't see a location better to maximize that out of town revenue than at the Reese location.

Actually, choking off locals is the whole point of even doing this whole thing. Locals already go to Indiana, Rivers, Harrahs, or Hollywood for their gambling. This is SOLELY being built to be a WORLD CLASS CASINO, that is several steps above the rest in the area, and even the country. Making it a locals casino is exactly what the opponents of this thing are against, because it tends to "keep broke residents broke", and that is definitely true.

I think you're setting yourself up for massive disappointment. As another poster said...people only fly to Vegas for world class casinos...they will never fly to Chicago for that. The weather sucks 6 months outta the year. Tourists fly / drive in to Chicago for the Bean, Architecture Tour, games, sporting events, concerts, lakefront, etc. Which is why we need to direct those tourists to a casino during their stay. Look at Atlantic City and how well those "world class" casinos are doing even though set up solely as a tourist destination. No one goes there and many have folded up shop...

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

I think you're setting yourself up for massive disappointment. As another poster said...people only fly to Vegas for world class casinos...they will never fly to Chicago for that. The weather sucks 6 months outta the year. Tourists fly / drive in to Chicago for the Bean, Architecture Tour, games, sporting events, concerts, lakefront, etc. Which is why we need to direct those tourists to a casino during their stay. Look at Atlantic City and how well those "world class" casinos are doing even though set up solely as a tourist destination. No one goes there and many have folded up shop...

I'm not saying Chicago will turn into the new Vegas.... however, the reality is people from around the world travel to Chicago, and many of those people want to gamble. It's another activity, just like going to a ball game. Having a world class casino for a world class city only makes sense. People don't, and likely won't travel to Chicago solely for a casino. However, having a high class one would only be another thing to do for tourists, and would generate much needed revenue for the city.

I don't understand why you even brought weather into this. I never claimed anywhere I think Chicago will have it's own Vegas strip (though that would be awesome). All I'm saying is this is an all out, world class casino that is being built solely for the purpose of fixing the pension crisis of the state and city. It isn't just another casino in the area for people to go to. And I'm sure building the casino near/connected to McCormick place would make that weather argument irrelevant anyways. The casino is just another way for the city to make money (which it desperately needs). Lowballing this project would be yet another flop on the city's reputation. It's not the time for Chicago to think small. Building a casino on the side of the Dan Ryan or Eisenhower away from the lake is thinking small. Lightfoot seriously might be on to something with this Reese location, IMO.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by dtcbnd03

I think you're setting yourself up for massive disappointment. As another poster said...people only fly to Vegas for world class casinos...they will never fly to Chicago for that.

This. Regardless of where the casino is placed, or who we might wish for its customers to be, its actual customers will almost certainly be a combination of locals and tourists who were already coming to Chicago anyway. It's not likely to draw new tourists to Chicago.

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by SkylarkPhotoBooth

This. Regardless of where the casino is placed, or who we might wish for its customers to be, its actual customers will almost certainly be a combination of locals and tourists who were already coming to Chicago anyway. It's not likely to draw new tourists to Chicago.

You are correct. Locals will, and should come to the casino; especially those that can afford to lose some money gambling. However, building the casino in locations that cater to/benefit locals is not what the city should do. Building by a CTA stop, what this person is claiming would be the right thing to do, would almost certainly be catering to locals, IMO. The Reese location is perfect for out of towners, and wouldn't be impossible to get to for locals either, considering people can always drive to the place, or take Metra Electric.

When it comes to locations for this place, I think tourists should be first in mind, with locals second. Tourists want the view of the lake and skyline, not to travel to some isolated neighborhood on the west or south side.

Also, the goal isn't to add new tourists necessarily. It's to maximize tourist dollars. A high end casino would only be a benefit.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by CCrest182

You are correct. Locals will, and should come to the casino; especially those that can afford to lose some money gambling.

Regardless of who "should" come, history says it will especially be those with gambling problems who clearly cannot "afford to lose some money gambling." This is one reason I find casinos to be sad, and don't really want one blighting downtown.

That's not to say that people who want to throw their money away gambling won't find a way to do it with or without a casino in the city, but I'd rather not gather them all in one place in the middle of everything.

Originally Posted by CCrest182

Tourists want the view of the lake and skyline, not to travel to some isolated neighborhood on the west or south side.

Oh really-- Did you take a poll or something? All evidence indicates that gamblers will go to where the gambling is, whether tourist or local. They ride the shuttle from downtown to Horseshoe now. You don't think they'll take a shorter shuttle ride to a different (less-)isolated place within the city limits?

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

TThe comparisons to East St. Louis and other locales are quite ridiculous: those places were bad neighborhoods long before they had casinos.

That was exactly my point, actually. There are reasons that they are generally placed in poor places to begin with, and also reasons that those places stay poor, regardless of promises of economic benefit to the area.

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by SkylarkPhotoBooth

Regardless of who "should" come, history says it will especially be those with gambling problems who clearly cannot "afford to lose some money gambling." This is one reason I find casinos to be sad, and don't really want one blighting downtown.

That's not to say that people who want to throw their money away gambling won't find a way to do it with or without a casino in the city, but I'd rather not gather them all in one place in the middle of everything.

Agreed, which is why this place NEEDS to be HIGH END and world class. Building an average or low-end casino like another Ameristar or Hollywood would ensure this become a place for poor residents all over the city to come to and gamble. It needs to cater to people with money in general, local or not. This is why I keep saying the city can't lowball or slack on this place, but go all out on and make highly upscale.

Yes, people who shouldn't gamble will end up going there, whether this is built in the heart of Downtown, in Lincoln Park, Lake Forest, it doesn't matter where. But building a high end casino/resort with tourists first in mind is the best way to avoid this becoming a casino where people from poor parts of the city come to and lose their livelihoods on.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by CCrest182

Agreed, which is why this place NEEDS to be HIGH END and world class.

Uh-huh. Good luck with that.

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by SkylarkPhotoBooth

Uh-huh. Good luck with that.

Honestly, if it won't be high end and world class, why even bother with a casino in the first place? That's my opinion.

But this is already in motion, and the city knows this has to be a casino that stands above the rest. I will re-iterate, this will NOT be another Horseshoe or Harrah's. If it is, like you said, the poor residents will be all over it.