Summary
- Caesars has a plan to create a casino at 1515 Broadway.
- The Coalition for a Better Times Square supports the plan.
- No Times Square Casino Coalition feels the casino would have a negative impact on the community.
With casino licensing up for grabs in New York City, several major companies are in the running to try and snag it. One such company is Caesars Entertainment. Working with SL Green, the plan is to create a Caesars Palace property at 1515 Broadway in Manhattan.
The application filed by the partners should be reviewed this year by gaming officials. In the meantime, Broadway businesses have come out against the project stating it will be negative for the community.
No Times Square Casino Coalition
The No Times Square Casino Coalition is a group of Broadway businesses that are not in favor of the casino plan. The group argues that the casino would detract from the community’s vibrancy and negatively affect businesses and residents. Residents, community organizations, businesses, and Times Square stakeholders are involved in the coalition.
The coalition’s mission statement focuses on the importance of the Theater District. The area has 41 theaters that feature Broadway shows and bring in millions of visitors from across the US and worldwide to the city. The group includes the Broadway League, Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Association, and the Manhattan Plaza Tenants Association.
Expected Negative Impact from the Casino
The opposition has listed several issues on its website regarding why the casino would be problematic. First, the group points out the congestion in Times Square. The area is already heavily trafficked; adding a casino would only worsen it.
The group also says that casinos do not generally drive new tourism to an area but act as a magnet for local gamblers and prey on the vulnerable. The coalition feels that a Times Square casino would cause economic and social disruption and would make the area less welcoming to families.
Additional negatives listed at the site include undermining the area’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and weakening the tax base. The coalition states that visitors come to Times Square and walk about, visiting various businesses. With a casino, the patrons stay indoors and will not support the nearby businesses.
Will the Coalition Affect Caesars’ Efforts?
Now we wait and see if the coalition’s push against the casino will work or if Caesars will remain in the running for gaming licensing in New York City. The plan does have support, with the Coalition for a Better Times Square backing the plan.
This coalition includes Actor’s Equity and Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians. We shall see in the coming months how officials perceive Caesar’s plan and if it stands a fighting chance against the many other proposals on the table.
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