For months, as New York goes further along the downstate casino timeline, only a few names have grabbed headlines of late.
And not for the most positive of reasons.
This time, however, opposition to a Hudson Yards proposal may open an avenue for a Times Square project.
As reported by Crain’s, with Related Companies and Wynn facing major pushback for a proposed casino along the Western Rail Yards in Manhattan, Caesars Palace Times Square may now become a more serious contender to receive one of the three downstate licenses, which could open the door to offer NY online casinos once lawmakers legalize iGaming.
“I’d counted out Times Square,” an anonymous elected official told Crain’s.
“But in a world in which Hudson Yards is dead and the other three [Manhattan] bids are not sophisticated then maybe we’re back to considering Times Square.”
Caesars Palace Times Square believes it has inside track for license
While two racinos are considered frontrunners for downstate licenses, the third remains up in the air. And for some time, the Caesars proposal from SL Green and Roc Nation has flown a bit under the radar.
But considering the location, within a 54-story building in Times Square, proponents of the project believe Caesars Palace could be a home run.
CEO Marc Holliday told Crain’s recently that the Caesars proposal is arguably the most conveniently located of any downstate casino bid.
While Times Square is a popular tourist attraction, foot traffic sits some 40% below pre-pandemic levels, according to the Times Square Alliance. Caesars Palace would help reverse that trend, as it would “create more demand than it can accomodate,” as Crain’s reported.
As a result, local hotels, restaurants, and retailers would benefit from Caesars Palace, which Holliday said has the support of almost 200 organizations.
As Holliday put it:
“I think we have massive community support for this project, more than any other bid right now by a wide margin.”
Opponents: Caesars Palace ‘not good for Broadway’
This is not to say that Caesars Palace now has a clear path to a license. In fact, the proposal itself has faced plenty of opposition, from several groups voicing displeasure last month back to the Shubert Organization pushing back on the bid.
This time around, protest stems from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which represents the majority of Broadway theater workers.
“A casino in New York would add a new dimension to New York City’s vibrant entertainment industry but placing it amidst our theater district would be a mistake,” the union told the New York Post. “Casinos are self-contained and are designed to keep patrons inside for as long as possible.
“Meanwhile, our iconic theater district and Broadway are still recovering from the financial hardship brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Another opponent of the Caesars Palace proposal, the No Times Square Casino Coalition, commissioned a poll released in May that said 71% of voters in or near Times Square were against a Caesars casino in the area.
Carl Mulert, a national business agent of IATSE Local 829, told the New York Post that a casino would not increase attendance. Rather, it would only worsen the problematic traffic in the area.
“It’s already incredibly congested,” Mulert said. “We don’t want more. It’s not good for Broadway.”