Barbie
07-25-2003, 07:38 PM
If you don't, why not?
Calgary already has a bunch of Casinos...and there are MANY broke, addictive people out here...do we need more?
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SUPER CASINO (http://www.canada.com/calgary/story.asp?id=A8D361CB-A937-42C7-B859-4DDBFBF4FA02)
Super casinos proposed
$50-million complex one of four bids
Tarina White
Calgary Herald
Friday, July 25, 2003
CREDIT: Dean Bicknell, Calgary Herald
Frank Sisson of Frank Sisson's Silver Dollar Casino says new casinos add attractions to bring in more people.
ADVERTISEMENT
Casino operators vying to open Calgary's next casino are proposing to spend $50 million -- and possibly more -- to create a "tourist destination" complex to draw in the crowds and keep the cash flowing in.
Gateway Casinos, a British Columbia-based gaming management company, wants to build a hotel and dinner theatre in conjunction with a casino at the Freeport Industrial Park next to the airport.
The added features would attract people who aren't eager to rattle the slot machines, said Howard Worrell, vice-president of Gateway's Alberta operations.
"I believe the public is always looking for good value and entertainment and we think this venue will provide that," Worrell said Thursday.
The $50-million entertainment complex is one of four new casino bids for Calgary.
Gateway recently submitted an application for a casino license to the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.
If successful, the group would build a 280,000-square-foot facility with two restaurants and 1,700 parking stalls.
Three other casino proponents are Deerfoot Inn and Casino Inc., Rocky Mountain Casino Group and the Calgary Flames.
A decision by the province is expected as early as this fall.
After realizing a casino in the Pengrowth Saddledome wouldn't be large enough for the NHL club's purposes, the Flames joined a bid brought by
Dr. Mark Zivot and Lorne Paperny, as well as Stuart and Len Libin.
Flames president Ken King said it's necessary for any new casino to provide entertainment aside from slot machines and game tables. The Flames' proposal would see a casino built along Country Hills Boulevard east of Barlow Trail. It would include a show lounge and the possibility of a hotel.
"You have people (at the casino) who are on an entertainment expedition," said King.
Calgary-based Rocky Mountain Casino Group has also proposed building a theatre restaurant and hotel in addition to a casino. It has teamed with the B.C.-based Great Canadian Casinos company on the venture.
The group is also planning a heritage centre to showcase Calgary's history, which would be a separate building from the casino.
If successful, group president Spence Bozak and his team plan to spend about $70 million on a 576,000-square-foot complex along Deerfoot Trail at Country Hills Boulevard.
"We're trying to create a tourist destination," said Bozak.
Despite the fact that five casinos already exist in Calgary, Bozak said there is demand for another.
"Calgary is underserved with casinos. We certainly know that there's demand for a casino," said Bozak, noting that Calgary's population is pushing the one million mark.
Ald. Joe Ceci disagrees, saying although casinos benefit the community economically, they also come with negative social implications.
"The presence of another casino will spell some bad times for (gambling addicts) and their families," said Ceci.
Operators of Calgary's two dinner theatres are not threatened by the possibility of such an entertainment complex opening in town.
"The city's continuing to grow and expand. . . so it's a very progressive market," said Wanda Love, manager of Jubilations.
Debbie Sturrock, spokeswoman for Stage West Theatre Restaurant, agreed. "We've been around a long time so it's not going to hurt us."
At this stage, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is evaluating the proposals.
The applications are part of a new casino licensing process passed by the province last year.
Jody Korchinski, spokeswoman for the commission, said it is possible that none of the applicants will be selected to operate a new casino in Calgary.
"If all of the criteria expected are not met, the (commission) board could decide to not grant a licence," Korchinski said.
Calgary already has a bunch of Casinos...and there are MANY broke, addictive people out here...do we need more?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
SUPER CASINO (http://www.canada.com/calgary/story.asp?id=A8D361CB-A937-42C7-B859-4DDBFBF4FA02)
Super casinos proposed
$50-million complex one of four bids
Tarina White
Calgary Herald
Friday, July 25, 2003
CREDIT: Dean Bicknell, Calgary Herald
Frank Sisson of Frank Sisson's Silver Dollar Casino says new casinos add attractions to bring in more people.
ADVERTISEMENT
Casino operators vying to open Calgary's next casino are proposing to spend $50 million -- and possibly more -- to create a "tourist destination" complex to draw in the crowds and keep the cash flowing in.
Gateway Casinos, a British Columbia-based gaming management company, wants to build a hotel and dinner theatre in conjunction with a casino at the Freeport Industrial Park next to the airport.
The added features would attract people who aren't eager to rattle the slot machines, said Howard Worrell, vice-president of Gateway's Alberta operations.
"I believe the public is always looking for good value and entertainment and we think this venue will provide that," Worrell said Thursday.
The $50-million entertainment complex is one of four new casino bids for Calgary.
Gateway recently submitted an application for a casino license to the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.
If successful, the group would build a 280,000-square-foot facility with two restaurants and 1,700 parking stalls.
Three other casino proponents are Deerfoot Inn and Casino Inc., Rocky Mountain Casino Group and the Calgary Flames.
A decision by the province is expected as early as this fall.
After realizing a casino in the Pengrowth Saddledome wouldn't be large enough for the NHL club's purposes, the Flames joined a bid brought by
Dr. Mark Zivot and Lorne Paperny, as well as Stuart and Len Libin.
Flames president Ken King said it's necessary for any new casino to provide entertainment aside from slot machines and game tables. The Flames' proposal would see a casino built along Country Hills Boulevard east of Barlow Trail. It would include a show lounge and the possibility of a hotel.
"You have people (at the casino) who are on an entertainment expedition," said King.
Calgary-based Rocky Mountain Casino Group has also proposed building a theatre restaurant and hotel in addition to a casino. It has teamed with the B.C.-based Great Canadian Casinos company on the venture.
The group is also planning a heritage centre to showcase Calgary's history, which would be a separate building from the casino.
If successful, group president Spence Bozak and his team plan to spend about $70 million on a 576,000-square-foot complex along Deerfoot Trail at Country Hills Boulevard.
"We're trying to create a tourist destination," said Bozak.
Despite the fact that five casinos already exist in Calgary, Bozak said there is demand for another.
"Calgary is underserved with casinos. We certainly know that there's demand for a casino," said Bozak, noting that Calgary's population is pushing the one million mark.
Ald. Joe Ceci disagrees, saying although casinos benefit the community economically, they also come with negative social implications.
"The presence of another casino will spell some bad times for (gambling addicts) and their families," said Ceci.
Operators of Calgary's two dinner theatres are not threatened by the possibility of such an entertainment complex opening in town.
"The city's continuing to grow and expand. . . so it's a very progressive market," said Wanda Love, manager of Jubilations.
Debbie Sturrock, spokeswoman for Stage West Theatre Restaurant, agreed. "We've been around a long time so it's not going to hurt us."
At this stage, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is evaluating the proposals.
The applications are part of a new casino licensing process passed by the province last year.
Jody Korchinski, spokeswoman for the commission, said it is possible that none of the applicants will be selected to operate a new casino in Calgary.
"If all of the criteria expected are not met, the (commission) board could decide to not grant a licence," Korchinski said.