Some fear rezoning of Bader Field could mean a Wynn-win for A.C.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Staff Writer, (609) 272-7258
Published: Sunday, October 1, 2006
ATLANTIC CITY — Las Vegas golden boy Steve Wynn%26#39;s tentative plans for a new casino here have city officials feeling downright giddy. Even Wynn%26#39;s former archrival, Donald Trump, is brushing off the welcome mat.
Yet not everyone is happy with the idea that a prime development site could be rezoned for casino use to accommodate Wynn. Casino operators are privately grumbling about Wynn supposedly receiving preferential treatment.
Gaming giant Harrah%26#39;s Entertainment Inc., owner of four Atlantic City casinos, confirmed that it has been talking to lawmakers to stop the possible rezoning of Bader Field, the old municipal airport that was closed for good Saturday to make way for redevelopment.
“We would be absolutely opposed to it,” said J. Carlos Tolosa, president of Harrah%26#39;s Eastern Division. “We have had some conversation with various politicians. We%26#39;ve told them how we felt. It would be pretty unfair to alter the rules against the operators who have been here for a very long time.”
Tolosa noted that Harrah%26#39;s has already spent billions of dollars in Atlantic City and is prepared to invest billions more on expansion projects. There are fears that Harrah%26#39;s could scale back or even scrap those plans if Bader Field is rezoned for a casino competitor like Wynn, gaming analysts say.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine disclosed Tuesday that he met privately with Wynn on Sept. 22 to discuss plans for a new casino and that “Bader Field came up in the conversation.”
Bader%26#39;s nearly 150 acres of bayside property, at the foot of the Route 40 entry corridor, would provide a huge footprint for the type of spectacular megaresort that Wynn has so famously developed in Las Vegas.
“I think that Bader Field has many, many potentials, in addition to casinos,” Corzine said in an interview.
Mayor Bob Levy said Bader%26#39;s redevelopment is uncertain at this point, although the city will consider a mix of residential and commercial construction to turn the site into a showplace. Levy also met privately with Wynn on Sept. 22 to discuss his casino project, but Bader Field did not come up during their conversation, the mayor said.
Levy strolled the Boardwalk with Wynn to take a look at the new casino and nongaming attractions that are reshaping the city into a more upscale tourist destination. Levy said Wynn was impressed by the city%26#39;s resurgence, and clearly the mayor was impressed with Wynn.
“He%26#39;s a superstar,” Levy said. “I%26#39;m just the mayor here.”
Atlantic City and Wynn have had a love-hate relationship ever since the casino mogul left town in 1987 after selling the Golden Nugget, now the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort.
Wynn returned in 1995 with plans for an opulent, 2,000-room casino hotel rivaling anything in Las Vegas. As a condition of his proposed casino, Wynn required the state to build a new tunnel and roadway that uprooted residents of an established, middle-class neighborhood. The $330 million road project sharply divided the city between protunnel forces and Wynn opponents.
Gaming rival Donald Trump ridiculed the tunnel as a “private driveway” to Wynn%26#39;s proposed casino. But before the tunnel was completed in 2001, Wynn sold his Mirage Resorts casino company to gaming giant MGM Grand Inc. — now known as MGM Mirage — and his Atlantic City project died.
Trump and Wynn have since patched up their differences. Wynn was a guest at Trump%26#39;s storybook 2005 wedding to Melania Knauss and Trump attended the grand opening of Wynn%26#39;s $2.7 billion Las Vegas casino later in the year.
“Steve Wynn is a good friend of his and he%26#39;s delighted to have him come to Atlantic City,” said Rhona Graff, Trump%26#39;s executive assistant.
At this point, Wynn is not talking to the media about his Atlantic City project. Gaming analysts expect Wynn to announce plans for a lavish casino and a new ramp that would directly connect Bader Field to the Atlantic City Expressway. Such a link would allow Wynn to siphon gamblers off the expressway before they hit the Boardwalk casino strip, giving him a big advantage over his competitors.
Corzine said talks with Wynn have not yet advanced to the point where roadway improvements have been discussed. Wynn understands that Bader Field%26#39;s redevelopment could be a slow, deliberate process as city officials ponder whether a casino or other types of projects would be a good fit for the site, the governor said.
“It doesn%26#39;t mean that there won%26#39;t ultimately be one there,” Corzine said of the possibility of a new casino at Bader. “But I think you have to think about it in a sequential fashion.”
Wynn is not the only developer planning a new casino. Most notably, Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. plans to knock down the aging Sands Casino Hotel to make room for a $1.5 billion megaresort and Wall Street investment bank Morgan Stanley is recruiting a casino partner for a 20-acre site in the South Inlet next to Showboat Casino Hotel.
Michael Garrity, director of MS Gaming Holdings, Morgan Stanley%26#39;s gaming subsidiary, declined to comment about Wynn.
Pinnacle spokeswoman Pauline Yoshihashi said a Wynn casino would greatly enhance the Atlantic City market. She said Pinnacle would not comment on Bader Field%26#39;s redevelopment because no formal proposals have been made yet.
Harrah's a little jealous or just worried about Wynn coming
“We would be absolutely opposed to it,” said J. Carlos Tolosa, president of Harrah%26#39;s Eastern Division. “We have had some conversation with various politicians. We%26#39;ve told them how we felt. It would be pretty unfair to alter the rules against the operators who have been here for a very long time.”
WELL isn%26#39;t this a little IRONIC, it sounds that harrah%26#39;s president is a little tad worried and jealous that Wynn may be getting a little preferential treatment.
Maybe Harrahs should bite its tounge since they do own almost half the casinos in AC.
Heres another quote from Harrahs
'; Tolosa noted that Harrah%26#39;s has already spent billions of dollars in Atlantic City and is prepared to invest billions more on expansion projects. There are fears that Harrah%26#39;s could scale back or even scrap those plans if Bader Field is rezoned for a casino competitor like Wynn, gaming analysts say.';
This sounds more of a threat than anything, It sounds that Harrahs really thinks that they control AC and that AC needs them and cannot survive without them. It sounds like Harrahs are a bunch of control freaks who want to own everything in AC they probably have visions of changing Atlantic City;s name to Harrahs Atlantic City.
It sounds like Child%26#39;s Play to me sayig that look how much money we have soent on AC and look what we have done for AC. Well in the end if Harrhas has no customer base than where will they be. I%26#39;m sure they have lost many customers since the takeover of many properties.
I also thoght that there was a law that prohibits someone from owning more than a crtain amount of Casinos in AC ?
I%26#39;m sure Harrahs will continue to try to Bully around and payoff political figures in order to have it their way but in the end i think that they will eventually lose. They probably have bitten off more than they can chew in Las Vegas and AC buying up all these properties and in the end hurting us the players.
I am through with Harrahs and the way they treat their customers. I will nor spend a nickle in their properties. Since i have made the Tropicana my Host casino i have been more than satisfied with what my host does for me and my experience playing at The Trop.
It seems from reading and talking with many Harrahs customers that their experiences all have declined and are very unhappy. How can Harrahs justify sending out $59.00 room rates and a buy one get one free buffet as comps to their loyal players and some of many many years and think that they will still come to spend their money there.
It%26#39;s a shame but the good thing is there are many new Hotel / Casino%26#39;s coming to AC and if i were Harrah%26#39;s exe%26#39;s i would be very worried.
As they say:
'; PAYBACK IS A BIOTCH ';
BOTTOM LINE
If you want value for your money and a good casino i would suggest giving The Tropicana a try. Their comps are fantastic compared to what you will get a Harrah%26#39;s properties for spending the same money. I did am i am so glad.
CHEERS !!!!!!!!!
Harrah's a little jealous or just worried about Wynn coming
Real nice there Term.Hope Wynn gets in,in A/C. He did it up nice in Vegas. We spent alot of time in his casino when we were out there last month.They treat you pretty good,no matter if you played the pennys or the $5 slots.And you hit it on the head when you said Greedy Harrahs is worried they will lose control of their Lousy treament of their unhappy customers they have left. We are like you,we have been going to all casinos except Harrahs properties.We are going overnite next week,staying at the Hilton.Was up to Turning Stone on Fri. Their slots seem to be getting a tad losser(I think its since they know slots are coming to Pa. shortly).The wife won $1500 at Bingo,so glad for her,she really deserves it.Am trying to keep an eye on all these A/C developments, thanks for keeping us informed. Cheers!!!
Hey Money another nice Bingo Hit for the Wife. I have been reading alot on the Slots coming to PA. It should be interesting when all of this unfolds.
CHEERS !!!!!!
Wynn has been in AC twice already - first, the Golden Nugget (now the Hilton) and second, the Borgata - which he sold before it opened. It was Wynn who got the AC connector built despite HUGE opposition from the Donald. Although I%26#39;m sure Wynn is serious about these plans, most likely he will get just so far with the project before selling it for a handsome profit.
Thois of you who remember the Golden Nugget know just what a beautiful hotel-casino it was, decorated lavishly but tastefully in a Victorian style. Wynn always does a nice project and any new competition in AC is good for the players.
ACMama
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