Churchill Downs would build casino downtown
Mar 4, 2014 1:14:06 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Mar 4, 2014 1:14:06 GMT -5
Pipe dream? Will the casino issue ever be put to a vote?
Churchill Downs would build casino downtown, Louisville mayor says
Louisville Courier Journal
By Gregory Hall
FRANKFORT, KY. — Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer says Churchill Downs Inc. officials have told him they would prefer operating a casino in downtown Louisville rather than at the Central Avenue racetrack if expanded gambling is ever legalized in Kentucky.
In a prepared statement issued after the mayor’s comments Tuesday, Kevin Flanery, president of the track, appeared to agree in principle with the mayor’s assertion.
“We’re on the same page with the mayor,” Flanery said. “We obviously have to see how the legislation is written” but if a downtown site benefits the city, the state and Churchill Downs, the track would support that.
Attorney Ed Glasscock, a co-chairman of the pro-casino Kentucky Wins! group that Churchill is involved in, said the decision on a downtown site was jointly reached about six months ago and was at Fischer’s suggestion.
“It’s certainly in the best interest of the community that they build it downtown and continue the momentum that we have now downtown,” Glasscock said, citing the museums, baseball park, KFC Yum! Center and other attractions.
Previously, Churchill’s stance has been that it would be open to a location other than its racetrack where it is set to conduct horse racing for the 140th year.
Fischer said a Churchill casino in the urban center would be “fantastic for activity and commerce in downtown” and that the decision “makes a lot more sense in terms of the conventioneers” who could walk to a casino, creating more buzz for downtown.
Fischer directed questions about the discussions to Churchill officials.
Fischer’s comments came on the eve of a scheduled meeting between House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Louisville, and officials from the state’s racetracks to see whether some compromise can be reached among them on gambling legislation to jump-start the issue.
Glasscock said he hopes the meeting will satisfy Clark that the state racetracks are in agreement on casino legislation. Glasscock said he also hopes that would lead to the legislation being considered first by the House and break a logjam between the two chambers.
Glasscock said it might be easier for Churchill to build at its Central Avenue site, since it owns land there. Taking on the added expense of a downtown site, he said, “shows that commitment that Churchill Downs has to Louisville and to the commonwealth … they are committed to the community and are willing to build it downtown and that’s the commitment they’ve made to Mayor Fischer and his administration.”
Whether Churchill ever will get the opportunity to open a casino in the state, however, may be a longshot, as the Kentucky General Assembly shows no signs of being closer to passing a casino bill or constitutional amendment.
Opponent Martin Cothran of the Family Foundation of Kentucky said shift by Churchill on a casino’s location is a “nice gesture, but I don’t think that helps their case” getting votes.
Cothran alluded to a comment by Clark earlier in the session that the gambling issue wasn’t dead but was at the funeral home.
“We’d just like to point out, usually when you get to the funeral home, you’re dead and that’s where we think this is,” Cothran said.
Clark said he’s heard talk about Churchill committing to downtown, but he didn’t want to speak for the company.
Clark has proposed a constitutional change that simply would legalize casinos and a companion bill that would allow eight casinos with five run by racetracks. His bills have gotten committee hearings, but no votes are scheduled.
A Senate bill by Majority Caucus Chairman Dan Seum, R-Louisville, allows seven casinos with 10 percent of revenues returned to the horse industry. Seum presented his plan to the Senate majority caucus but didn’t have support to move that amendment.
Since then there’ve been no public indications that either chamber would act on expanded gambling this year.
Louisville-based Churchill owns three non-racetrack casinos and owns all or part of five racetracks, three of which have expanded gambling.
Fischer, who was interviewed by phone, said he’s spending about a third to half of his time pushing for a casino amendment and an amendment that would allow communities vote to implement a sales tax. Both efforts have failed to get out of committee so far in the 60-day session that just completed its 34th day.
Both constitutional amendments require three-fifths approval from both chambers to get on the November ballot for ratification.
Fischer says he wants to see both, for similar reasons, but that the two — or Churchill’s downtown decision — are not linked.
“They both share the same principle, just let the people decide,” Fischer said, referring to the ratification referendum that would follow legislative approval. “The economic contribution from both of these could be very material to the city.”
And Fischer said he remains hopeful for both issues.
“I think we’ve seen that anything can happen in Frankfort,” he said.
Both Fischer and Glasscock said they believe the casino issue could be aided later in the session when legislators are dealing with the budget and discover few alternatives to fund education improvements and government services.
“Expanded gaming obviously just shouts out at you as an obvious way to do that,” Fischer said.
Churchill Downs would build casino downtown, Louisville mayor says
Louisville Courier Journal
By Gregory Hall
FRANKFORT, KY. — Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer says Churchill Downs Inc. officials have told him they would prefer operating a casino in downtown Louisville rather than at the Central Avenue racetrack if expanded gambling is ever legalized in Kentucky.
In a prepared statement issued after the mayor’s comments Tuesday, Kevin Flanery, president of the track, appeared to agree in principle with the mayor’s assertion.
“We’re on the same page with the mayor,” Flanery said. “We obviously have to see how the legislation is written” but if a downtown site benefits the city, the state and Churchill Downs, the track would support that.
Attorney Ed Glasscock, a co-chairman of the pro-casino Kentucky Wins! group that Churchill is involved in, said the decision on a downtown site was jointly reached about six months ago and was at Fischer’s suggestion.
“It’s certainly in the best interest of the community that they build it downtown and continue the momentum that we have now downtown,” Glasscock said, citing the museums, baseball park, KFC Yum! Center and other attractions.
Previously, Churchill’s stance has been that it would be open to a location other than its racetrack where it is set to conduct horse racing for the 140th year.
Fischer said a Churchill casino in the urban center would be “fantastic for activity and commerce in downtown” and that the decision “makes a lot more sense in terms of the conventioneers” who could walk to a casino, creating more buzz for downtown.
Fischer directed questions about the discussions to Churchill officials.
Fischer’s comments came on the eve of a scheduled meeting between House Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Louisville, and officials from the state’s racetracks to see whether some compromise can be reached among them on gambling legislation to jump-start the issue.
Glasscock said he hopes the meeting will satisfy Clark that the state racetracks are in agreement on casino legislation. Glasscock said he also hopes that would lead to the legislation being considered first by the House and break a logjam between the two chambers.
Glasscock said it might be easier for Churchill to build at its Central Avenue site, since it owns land there. Taking on the added expense of a downtown site, he said, “shows that commitment that Churchill Downs has to Louisville and to the commonwealth … they are committed to the community and are willing to build it downtown and that’s the commitment they’ve made to Mayor Fischer and his administration.”
Whether Churchill ever will get the opportunity to open a casino in the state, however, may be a longshot, as the Kentucky General Assembly shows no signs of being closer to passing a casino bill or constitutional amendment.
Opponent Martin Cothran of the Family Foundation of Kentucky said shift by Churchill on a casino’s location is a “nice gesture, but I don’t think that helps their case” getting votes.
Cothran alluded to a comment by Clark earlier in the session that the gambling issue wasn’t dead but was at the funeral home.
“We’d just like to point out, usually when you get to the funeral home, you’re dead and that’s where we think this is,” Cothran said.
Clark said he’s heard talk about Churchill committing to downtown, but he didn’t want to speak for the company.
Clark has proposed a constitutional change that simply would legalize casinos and a companion bill that would allow eight casinos with five run by racetracks. His bills have gotten committee hearings, but no votes are scheduled.
A Senate bill by Majority Caucus Chairman Dan Seum, R-Louisville, allows seven casinos with 10 percent of revenues returned to the horse industry. Seum presented his plan to the Senate majority caucus but didn’t have support to move that amendment.
Since then there’ve been no public indications that either chamber would act on expanded gambling this year.
Louisville-based Churchill owns three non-racetrack casinos and owns all or part of five racetracks, three of which have expanded gambling.
Fischer, who was interviewed by phone, said he’s spending about a third to half of his time pushing for a casino amendment and an amendment that would allow communities vote to implement a sales tax. Both efforts have failed to get out of committee so far in the 60-day session that just completed its 34th day.
Both constitutional amendments require three-fifths approval from both chambers to get on the November ballot for ratification.
Fischer says he wants to see both, for similar reasons, but that the two — or Churchill’s downtown decision — are not linked.
“They both share the same principle, just let the people decide,” Fischer said, referring to the ratification referendum that would follow legislative approval. “The economic contribution from both of these could be very material to the city.”
And Fischer said he remains hopeful for both issues.
“I think we’ve seen that anything can happen in Frankfort,” he said.
Both Fischer and Glasscock said they believe the casino issue could be aided later in the session when legislators are dealing with the budget and discover few alternatives to fund education improvements and government services.
“Expanded gaming obviously just shouts out at you as an obvious way to do that,” Fischer said.
