Jay-Z and his entertainment agency Rock Nation have launched several ads to win the support of New York City residents in pursuit of a Downstate Casino license. The company bought full-page ads from multiple media outlets in “Never Sleep City,” highlighting the benefits of having a casino in Times Square.
Currently, Empire State intends to issue three commercial game licenses for the northern region. To pursue one of the licenses, Rock Nation has partnered with gambling giant Caesars Entertainment and real estate company SL Green. But their bids are not the case at the moment.
In an open letter, the company said Caesars Palace Times Square would benefit retailers and neighboring areas as well as across New York, including hotel and restaurant workers in the area. The letter also states that their bid has committed more than US$115 million to various theater programs that will be provided with daycare centers for Broadway workers and their families.
The consortium announced a partnership and casino tender in the fall of 2022. In their media, the companies announced plans to open game properties in the world’s top tourist destinations. As one of its partners, Rock Nation’s role is to team up with local organizations to help revitalize Times Square to re-imagine the local programming.
If they own one of the licenses, the three companies want to start a casino on 1515 Broadway in Times Square. But the venue has faced some opposition from the Broadway coalition, citing potential debt from casinos in the region that could worsen traffic, cause economic disruption and make the area less family-friendly.
However, Rock Nation and the rapper argue that the project will provide value to tourists and residents while improving the economy. In the letter, they said the casino will be an opportunity to create a destination in the center of Times Square, the intersection of the world. The Grammy Award winner said the partnership will bring economic opportunities, growth, and abundance to the region.
But it has to be explained that the fight for the three available licenses will be more than difficult. This is due to rumors that Yongkers’ Empire City Casino and Queens’ Resort World New York City have pole positions for two licenses. It’s because they’re already running some kind of gambling and it’s going to be faster to expand to full-fledged casinos.
There are also many other strong candidates who have already submitted bids to state officials. These include Las Vegas Sands, which expressed interest in casinos on Long Island in early 2023. For this project, the company wants to use the land currently occupied by the Nasau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
BY: 슬롯머신