Casino

The developer, KG Enterprises, and the Mayor of New Bedford have requested an application extension from the MA Gaming Commission. The aplication was due today. Developer and City indicated were working toward a Host Agreement. No indication If application extension was granted.

Per NB Standard Times, KG Urban also would need to reach a host community agreement with the city by March 26. A final application to the commission would be due May 26.

---

Update from MA Gaming Commission:

KG Urban, in conjunction with the City of New Bedford, is formally requesting a 45 day extension to identify its complete equity for the project. The letter is available here.

Somerset and Crossroads have jointly requested an extension. It was a verbal request with a written confirmation of the request to follow.

The Commission will discuss the current status of Region C at its next public meeting on March 19, 2015. The Commission will review extension requests at that time and will decline further comment on Region C until that public review is complete. It is anticipated that entities will be invited to address the Commission at that time.

NB Standard Times Editorial

What are the odds the Massachusetts Gaming Commission grants another extension to a pair of Region C casino applicants on Thursday?
Let’s look at the horses in this race, shall we?
In Lane 1 is Mass. Gaming and Entertainment, with a proposal to build a $650 million casino and hotel on the Brockton Fairgrounds.
Lane 2 is occupied by a longtime entry, KG Urban, which hopes to convert a seriously contaminated parcel on New Bedford’s waterfront into a $500 million urban casino.
Last to the race, at least in this region, is Crossroads Massachusetts, with a proposal on 100 town-owned acres between Route 103 and Interstate 195 in Somerset, roughly estimated at $350 million.
MGE is already at the starting gate, having filed a substantially complete application for the first phase of the licensing process. KG Urban and Crossroads asked for more time in early February, KG hoping to line up an operator and equity financing, and Crossroads trying to complete the application by building a last-minute partnership.
If MGE were to win the license for Brockton, the third Massachusetts casino would be barely 30 miles from the Wynn casino coming to Everett. It would be farther north than the Plainville slots parlor. And if the Mashpee Wampanoag succeed in their land-in-trust application with the federal government, it would be significantly north of a Taunton casino.


If Crossroads and KG Urban were each able to get to the starting gate with the help of the commission, the odds on the race itself shift toward this part of the state because of Brockton’s proximity to the other Bay State gaming facilities.

We would expect that the commission would select one of the southern projects, all things being equal, to move the center of gravity away from Boston for the region’s benefit and for the state’s (assuming wider dispersal of facilities mitigates some of the impact of market saturation.)

See entire editorial at:

www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20150318/OPINION/150319472

The MA Gaming Commission met today to discuss among other things the request for application extensions by New Bedford and Somerset. Fyi, all meetings are broadcast and you can watch via a Live Stream.

Brockton was up first.
Mr. Carney was there represented by his attorney, Jack Yunits.
Yunits spoke briefly on Brockton status. Said had signed Host Agreement and two meetings were scheduled one for Residents and an other for Business Community! Said parties had already met on Zoning Issues as well as Traffic Concerns. They noted 26 intersections were noted that may require reconfiguration. Yunits then went on record stating the objection of Brockton to an extension of application.

New Bedford next. NB signed their Host Agreement this morning. Went over their plan. They're getting more yearly money 12.5 million, larger hotel, a Marina. They're going to be formidable competition.

Somerset presented. They're not all there as the land where the Casino is going is Town owned which means they have to have a Town vote to sell land to developer.

The Commission discussed for quite a long time and then voted. The two communities were granted extensions of 45 days by a very close vote of 3-2. I don't think Somersert (my opinion) has a shot.

One thing that was brought up and clarified quite succinctly was there is absolutely No guarantee that anyone including Brockton will get a Region C license. The Commission has grave concerns about the viability of a Casino in SE MA due to a bunch of factors. They are actually studying on a parallel path to see if it makes sense.

Some info on the proposed Casino in New Bedford per the Standard Times . Includes a schematic of the proposed site. I sincerely hope the Brockton Residents have some kind of info prior to the Informational Meeting so folks can review and to be able to ask educated questions.

www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20150319/NEWS/150319342

Good work dadof2!!

dadof2 wrote: Some info on the proposed Casino in New Bedford per the Standard Times . Includes a schematic of the proposed site. I sincerely hope the Brockton Residents have some kind of info prior to the Informational Meeting so folks can review and to be able to ask educated questions.

www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20150319/NEWS/150319342

I saw the site plan in the article. I hope that give the Brockton team a kick in the rear to produce something tangible sooner rather than later.
If not, it will confirm peoples ideas that they have no plans and just planned on giving us the cheapest thing possible after winning an uncontested bid.

SeamusMcFly wrote: I saw the site plan in the article. I hope that give the Brockton team a kick in the rear to produce something tangible sooner rather than later.
If not, it will confirm peoples ideas that they have no plans and just planned on giving us the cheapest thing possible after winning an uncontested bid.

Carney and his team seemed to be chastised for the piss poor proposal for Raynham. Hopefully, he's learned from that mistake.

It is surprising that a proposal in New Bedford that is barley off the ground, has a full detailed plan, while there has been nothing at all released about what the Brockton casino may look like.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it fully detailed. It's still schematic and really just blocks and space planning.
But, better than anything we've seen by far.

Oh I agree. To clarify, even a very prelim schematic would help folks at least visualize what direction they're Leaning.

Can Anyone in the know tell us who will giving information? Or will it be a more of question format but no one present with the answers? Will Mr Carney be there...will the firm proposing construction plans be there?

Daisy,

You're asking All the right questions and to this date no answers. As I said I hope this is organized. I'd like to see an agenda which includes speakers, possibly a place to pre-ask questions so they can bundle Questions. I'd like to have the person asking the question handed a mic so we can hear the question. If not possible, have the person answering, repeat the question so we can hear the question. Folks asking questions should have a time limit. I hope Cable will broadcast clearly and concisely.

From the Enterprise:
public forum, which which WILL include the casino developer, is scheduled for 7p.m. on April 9 at West Middle School.

Maybe I better put the date and time on the calendar. It will be Brockton Public Access I presume?

Dad, you're the best! I will be there. Glad to hear the ppl who need to be there will be! I also call BS for any extensions...why enable those who can't live within deadlines?? Why have a deadline...wait but there's an extension???

@Scott the assumption is will be broadcast on Channel 12.

Tom Monaghan- do you know if any other Wards are planning a Public Meeting? I know it's difficult to find a perfect date, but it's unfortunate that the Casino Meeting and the BHS Spring Concert are scheduled for the same night.

Also for those interested,
Casino Opposition Meeting
April 7, 7:00pm
Trinity Baptist Church, Brockton
Sponsored by: Brockton Interfaith Community and Stand Up For Brockton

I'm sure other meetings will be held.The meeting willl be on cable for those who can't make it.
Seems to me our chances don't look to good with the extension they just granted to the other two bidders.Plus the fact they stated they don't have to grant any license at all in this section.

@Tom: even if Brockton was the only community, there was no guarantee they would automatically receive the license. While New Bedford is a formidable opponent, they face the same hurdle as Brockton and Somerset, they all have to get approval from the residents. And while Brockton residents have practically no information still, NB residents have less if that's possible, since their Host Community Agreement was signed this past Thursday!

I believe that if the Gaming Commission feels they're not likely to award the Region C license it's on them to let the communities know sooner or later.

Brockton officials should also be meeting With Carney simultaneously on the Fairgrounds land, as he seems to have indicated he's developing it no matter the Casino outcome.

Plainville casino set to open June 24
'The Boston Globe' - 2015-03-23
Slots par­lor is first un­der gam­bling law
By Sean P. Mur­phy GLOBE STAFF
Four years after the state legalized Las Vegas-style casino gambling, the first slots parlor will open in June, launching an era that officials hope creates thousands of jobs and raises hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue for the state.
At noon on June 24, Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville will throw open its doors to what casino executives expect to be throngs of patrons eager to get inside and try their luck on 1,250 slot machines beckoning with flashing lights and pulsating music.

Lance George, the Plainridge general manager, said there are no plans to close the doors ever again: Like most casinos, it will operate 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
“This opening introduces a new industry to the state and marks the beginning of a new era for Massachusetts,” George said in an interview last week. “There are sure to be growing pains, but it’s very exciting.”

Plainridge Park Casino is built on the site of the Plainridge Racecourse, which will continue offering harness horse racing.
The facility includes 100,000 square feet of gambling, racing, dining, live entertainment, and retail space, plus a parking garage. Among the restaurants is Flutie’s Sports Pub, developed by the former Boston College and New England Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie.
So far, Plainridge has received more than 4,000 applications for approximately 375 full-time jobs and
125 part - time positions , George said. “We’re putting a lot of people to work,” he said, adding that the company has made 40 hires to date, with another 160 employees expected to come on board by May and the rest by opening day. All of the positions come with benefits, including health care insurance and retirement plans, he said.
The facility ’s gross gambling revenues are expected to b e $ 250 million a year, of which the state will take 40 percent, a $100 million windfall. Another 9 percent is required to be put in a special fund to support the horse racing industry.
Penn National, which operates more than two dozen casinos, paid $25 million for the state’s single slots parlor license and agreed to spend another $4 million to improve nearby roads. Penn National was one of three bidders for the license and was chosen by the state Gaming Commission over rival proposals for facilities in Leominster and Raynham.

Boston Globe Media Partners LLC

Just heard on Fox News Boston that the Springfield casino will begin construction, ready for 2017. Amazing that the state approved casino gambling 4 years ago and it's taken this long, well it shouldn't surprise me...Masslowchusetts.

The attached link is from NB ST. It's a little more info in their application. Embedded in is a clearer schematic of their proposed site.

I wish we were getting more transparency on the Brockton site.

www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20150319/NEWS/150319342