Casinos are one of the only gigs that treats local cover bands well.  I know some Cincinnati cover bands get decent paid gigs at the Indiana casinos, however they're stuck doing John Mellencamp covers and the like. I know some of the bands were getting around $2,000 to play a 3 hour set, which is motivation to not have horns and backing vocals.   

 

 

 

Even the Detroit casinos, which are considerably larger than what will go in Broadway Commons...

 

Do we know how big/small the Broadway Commons casino will be?

Casinos are one of the only gigs that treats local cover bands well. 

 

Wedding receptions do, too.  :)

 

 

The developers are spending a minimum of $250 million on the casino without a hotel.  I would imagine they would have several entertainment options as well.

$250 million is not a lot for a casino without hotel.  MGM in Detroit spent $220 million on converting a former IRS office into their "temporary" casino in 1999.  Note that casino also included a 3,000+ space parking structure. 

...which is all vacant today. They really make that much money that they can abandon their temporary site for something much fancier!

Even the Detroit casinos, which are considerably larger than what will go in Broadway Commons...

 

Do we know how big/small the Broadway Commons casino will be?

 

300,000 Square Feet at 2 or 3 stories.

 

Here is the GoogleMaps street view of a new 300,000 SF casino in Tulsa:

 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=river+spirit+casino+tulsa&sll=36.544949,-87.429199&sspn=13.031023,28.54248&ie=UTF8&hq=river+spirit+casino&hnear=Tulsa,+OK&ll=36.040884,-95.959954&spn=0,359.986063&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=36.041283,-95.961049&panoid=x3WcltBHaRlvy4bV0eE0DA&cbp=12,282.58,,0,5.9

I was hoping it would have a hotel and casino. 

You never know sandpit.  This casino is bound to spark a lot of development.  There's plenty of room for it.

The boat in Lawrenceburg is 400x100 feet, or 1/4 the size of a standard Cincinnati city block.  So you could put four of the Lawreneburg boats on one city block. When you think of it in this perspective, it's relieving to know that all the suckers in a metro area can fit into a 400x100ft. box.   

 

 

 

Back on topic, folks. Pruned some nonconstructive comments by DanB, and the follow-ups that resulted from that.

To clear things up for the uninformed, the Lawrenceburg casino is not a boat, the gambling floor alone is not 40,000 sq. ft. but 150,000 sq ft., and not everyone who enjoys casinos is a sucker.  But don't let facts get in the way of a clever post!

On that note, I'm not a sucker, and I wouldn't ever drive all the way out to Lawrenceburg for a casino, but if I find myself downtown for a few drinks somewhere, it's very likely I may wander over and into the casino for a little while.  Or even take the streetcar down from my house in The Heights.  It's all about the location.  Anyone else feel that way??

I'll go there if they have a cheap prime rib buffet like the places in Vegas. I probably wouldn't spend any money on gambling, though.

^Of course, its just another form of entertainment. 

Hell, I'll go down too ... all I have to do is walk down a bunch of stairs. Plus, it's a quick way to make a bunch of money.

 

What I like about Tunica is the free food and drinks .... I guess with the lack of competition, we won't be seeing that, but it's a great draw and people my age (late 20's - early 30's) love this idea.

Who's the bigger sucker, someone who spends $200 for dinner for 2 at Jeff Ruby's, or someone who takes that $200 to the casino with a chance to come out with more than $200?

Who's the bigger sucker, someone who spends $200 for dinner for 2 at Jeff Ruby's, or someone who takes that $200 to the casino with a chance to come out with more than $200?

 

Both... ;-)

I will enter this casino with $100.  If I run out without winning a dime, I will mentally punch myself in the balls and tell myself to leave lol.

I guess a better example than a nice restaurant would be a Bengals game for 2.  That could account for hundreds of dollars.  By the time one buys 2 tickets, a few beers, hot dogs, etc, you're talking a lot of money.  Who are we to question someone's choice of entertainment by calling them suckers?

^Americans, with the freedom to speak freely. And the freedom to sucker.

It is a choice for someone to go into a casino and spend their money gambling. If they lose their life's savings, that is their responsibility, not ours or the government. If they win, then they can take all the credit. There are no suckers in this, only chances.

It is a choice for someone to go into a casino and spend their money gambling. If they lose their life's savings, that is their responsibility, not ours or the government. If they win, then they can take all the credit. There are no suckers in this, only chances.

Also true if heroin was legal...

It is a choice for someone to go into a casino and spend their money gambling. If they lose their life's savings, that is their responsibility, not ours or the government. If they win, then they can take all the credit. There are no suckers in this, only chances.

 

Somehow I get the feeling that if they lose all their life savings it will end up costing me some money.  If the gov't has taught us anything it's that these people will be bailed out with my tax dollars.

Anyone know what's going on with the large brick building just south of the Broadway Commons that is in the process of being torn down? 

^ Yup. It's a negative consequence of P&G moving an extra 700 workers from the 'burbs to downtown. Parking is going to get insane down there in January. A lot of P&Gers have been grumbing about this one for a few months now.

 

I can't even imagine what's going to happen during the Casino construction when even more hundreds of parking spaces will be temporarily displaced. Hopefully it won't promote the demolition of any non-protected buildings in the area. Parking pressure can lead to some really ludicrous decisions in terms of tearing down beautiful buildings.

There's plenty of parking downtown.  People just need to learn to walk an extra couple blocks. 

When you are talking about an additional 700 workers, there isn't.

Yeah, parking isn't too overbuilt downtown, like it is in many other places.  I get the feeling it's just about right.  700 more cars suddenly appearing would be a tough squeeze.

You're right Sherman.  It's going to get quite crowded down there that's for sure. 

Its funny to hear complaining about downtown density!

When you are talking about an additional 700 workers, there isn't.

 

If only we had some other way to transport all of these workers into Downtown without bringing their cars here too.  Perhaps some sort of system, with maybe one driver transporting dozens, if not hundreds, of passengers.  Does such a system exist here or elsewhere?

^I hear the interstate highway system works well :D  (sarcasm)

 

I think it's going to be a while before everyone fully adjusts, because many of those workers at the Mason Business Center lived near Mason. That's a long drive -- 25 miles or so, to get to downtown, which will further clog Interstate 71.

Maybe this move explains some of the home buying in PRidge.

^I hear the interstate highway system works well :D (sarcasm)

 

I think it's going to be a while before everyone fully adjusts, because many of those workers at the Mason Business Center lived near Mason. That's a long drive -- 25 miles or so, to get to downtown, which will further clog Interstate 71.

 

I hear Metro has some nice new articulated buses that would work very well for a shuttle from Mason to Downtown. :)

When our offices moved from the Scripps building to Atrium II it was a crapshoot as far as parking.  The demolition of that garage for QCSII put a further crimp on supply. A lot of the garages available had waiting lists and were overpriced as well.  I park at GABP, which is decent enough.  I'm not averse to walking, but the eggleston lots are not as close a walk as you might surmise. 

Maybe this move explains some of the home buying in PRidge.

 

Maybe that then explains why the value of my house has risen so much recently......or it could be just that they want more tax dollars?

Its funny to hear complaining about downtown density!

 

lol!  That made my day.

then you are having one lousy day Jimmy!  Hope it gets better!!

Anyone know what's going on with the large brick building just south of the Broadway Commons that is in the process of being torn down?

 

See: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=21002.0

I see a lot of discussion about new parking lots and PG moving people downtown. My mom has worked for PG for more than thirty years. She first worked downtown, then she was transferred to Mason, and now she is moving to... her home. Her team (and most of the similar funds teams) are being relocated downtown. However, they will be working from home and driving to the office downtown rarely for presentations etc. This all starts in January I believe. I think this is the next move for a lot of companies.

Is there any chance that Dan Gilbert will invest in cleaning up Pendleton area? Possibly buying some of the vacant real estate and renovating it?

none whatsoever

none whatsoever

 

ha ha!

Cincinnati wants first Ohio casino

By Jane Prendergast, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 3, 2009

 

Cincinnati's pushing to be the first Ohio city to get its casino built and open.

 

"Absolutely - we want to be the first out of the gate," Mayor Mark Mallory said. "Creating jobs is the most pressing issue. That's what grows us out of the problem that we're in."

I can get behind this idea. I always liked boxing. I remember watching matches at the Gardens(late 80s) and Cintas. Don't really care for the MMA.

 

Rep. Mallory: Put ‘Vegas-style’ boxing arena at new casino

Posted by cweiser December 10th, 2009, 8:57 am

 

Rep. Dale Mallory, a West End Democrat and brother of mayor Mark, wants to see a “Las Vegas” style boxing arena at Cincinnati’s new casino. (He says he’ll talk to Penn National about it, but Penn National won’t own Cincinnati’s casino – Quicken Loans/Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert will.)

To read more: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2009/12/10/rep-mallory-put-vegas-style-boxing-arena-are-new-casino/

I wish they'd just build a new 20,000 seat modern arena and force that dump down on the riverbank to close.

I can get behind this idea. I always liked boxing. I remember watching matches at the Gardens(late 80s) and Cintas. Don't really care for the MMA.

 

Rep. Mallory: Put ‘Vegas-style’ boxing arena at new casino

Posted by cweiser December 10th, 2009, 8:57 am

 

Rep. Dale Mallory, a West End Democrat and brother of mayor Mark, wants to see a “Las Vegas” style boxing arena at Cincinnati’s new casino. (He says he’ll talk to Penn National about it, but Penn National won’t own Cincinnati’s casino – Quicken Loans/Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert will.)

To read more: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2009/12/10/rep-mallory-put-vegas-style-boxing-arena-are-new-casino/

 

Great idea!

Awesome idea! Read up on our boxing legacy:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=q0nI6VgWm7EC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Casino pricetag is $47 million

By Jon Craig, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 11, 2009

 

COLUMBUS - Casino developers spent more than $47 million to win Ohio voters' approval for four urban casinos, including one at Cincinnati's Broadway Commons, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.

 

Another $12 million was spent by five groups opposed to Issue 3, according to reports filed at the Secretary of State's Office. Three of those groups were financed by the owner of Mountaineer Race Track and Casino in West Virginia and Scioto Downs horse track in Columbus - businesses that stand to lose when casinos open.