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Casinos themselves will not be a destination in Cleveland. But, my hope and the hope of many others is that it will be PART of a larger group of destinations that will make Cleveland a viable place for a long weekend. I still think the Indians & Cavs (and maybe the Browns) will be the larger draw for many out-of-towners. But in the mode of the "stay-cations" or closer vacations, a Cleveland 3-day weekend filled with an Indians (or Cavs) game, Rock HOF, Aquarium or Great Lakes Science Center and Casino makes sense. And, of course, for the business traveler that has business at the Med Mart/Convention Center, all these items help make Cleveland more appealing. And, if nothing else, I believe in the "keeping up with the Joneses" theory. If everyone else has it (Casino), we should too. Hopefully it is done right.

So how do we stop it!?!?!?!

As an SW employee, I would REALLY appreciate that happening!!! SW? South West or Sherwin-Williams? SHERWIN

As an SW employee, I would REALLY appreciate that happening!!!

Excellent point, freethink!!! That is still a nice spot of town, but it really could be so much more.

Is it just me, or is the announcement of the casino coming at the perfect time for the MM/CC? MM/CC goes to the current site, FCE gets casino at Higbee's (perhaps allowing them to build a hotel on the back end of TC). Finish Flats East Bank with a neighborhood (and perhaps an aquarium) and we are gold!!!

C-Dawg, I completely understand the state of MAC athletics. But if it is built downtown, it is being built for more than MAC basketball.

A new, 10-11,000 seat arena would be incredible. As much as it would be nice to build it "basketball specific", it definitely needs to be built to be able to host hockey and/or indoor soccer/lacrosse. Meanwhile.. http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/in...tor_mack_r.html Rhoades has been at Akron since 2005, seeing the athletic program through unprecedented growth that includes a new football stadium expected to open in the fall, an indoor football practice facility and student center, plus plans for basketball arena improvements to begin in the spring.

I read an editorial or perhaps letter to the editor in Crain's that made a point that at least got me thinking= if we rebuild on the same site, will we have to close down the Convention Center for 2-3 years? If so, how much $$$ could we possibly lose? Sure, some events might be moved to the IX Center (ugh), but many could be lost to other cities. And, when our new Convention Center was done, how many would come back? Impact could be greater than just a couple years of lost shows. Yes, I know, so we lose a couple of years for 50 good years in the right spot that helps all of Cleveland. I just thought it was an interesting point and one to consider.

Grumpy, I'm disappointed you were kidding, because this has actually been a thought of mine for a long time. My thought (and I'm no designer or developer) has been to reconstruct the inside for smaller items= rooms to show movies about sea life, classrooms for learning, conference rooms, etc. Then, build off the front (or the back)= the side facing the water. Spill (pun intended) the aquarium over the hill and towards the tracks and route 2. Have at least a window or 2 so those that are at Rock HOF, Great Lakes and on Route 2 can actually see some of the sea life. Being a Boston College fan, I went to last Saturday's game. Many Bostonians that came in for the game (I know, less than 11,000 fans, but estimates of 2,000 BC fans from out of town) said Cleveland was nice but not enough big ticket items downtown. Tribe game and Rock Hall were big. Sure, theater district is nice, but for the average person coming in they probably won't check out a show (coming for a sports event). An aquarium would be a huge draw, and this would be a great site!!!!

This is very exciting news. One building that I have seen very little about is the white building right on PSquare (I believe it is the old May Co. bldg.). Anything being done there? I believe they were one of the buildings to get a historic tax credit. I'm sure there is something about this site on the forum, but I could not find it.

An ideal scenario would be a location with 3 parts= aquarium on one side, hotel in the middle (with bar & restaurant, of course) and a "Kalahari-type" waterpark on the other side. Views of the lake at all 3 places. Ideally this would happen when the Port clears out, but perhaps if the Convention Center/Medical Mart is at Tower City, current Convention Center could serve this purpose. Or, vice versa.

Is it too optimistic to think, if TC is chosen (I agree with many that it will be there), that when the announcement is made about the med mart and new conv. center that there will also be an announcement about what will happen with the current convention center?

I would think this COULD gain some momentum after the football stadium is complete and used for a year or two.

The football stadium right on campus will also be a new "draw" to downtown. Yes, it might only be 5-7 weekends a year, but with a handful of other events at the stadium this will only add to the need for good hotel space in downtown Akron.