Stars Stir Up Broadway Theater Owners Through Testimony in Favor of Times Square Casino
Headline: Times Square Casino Proposal Faces Opposition as Public Review Nears Final Stage
In the heart of New York City, the Times Square casino proposal, backed by Caesars Entertainment, SL Green, and Jay-Z's Roc Nation, is approaching the final stages of its public review process. The proposed site, 1515 Broadway, currently home to the Minskoff Theatre and the beloved Disney hit musical "The Lion King," is at the centre of this significant development.
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The project, which promises a Caesars Palace hotel, restaurants, a nightclub, a spa, gambling space, and over $100 million for neighborhood support programs, has garnered both supporters and opponents. While entertainment unions, local businesses, and public figures like Fat Joe and Charlamagne tha God have voiced their support, Broadway theater owners and local community groups express concerns about increased congestion, crime, and harm to the Theater District’s character and local businesses.
The Broadway League, representing 24 theaters, is actively campaigning against the casino, with "No Times Square Casino" slogans appearing on multiple marquees and digital billboards in the downstate New York area. Rapper Fat Joe and radio host Charlamagne tha God have testified in favor of the proposal, countering arguments that a casino would create a black hole in Times Square by emphasizing the benefits for needy New Yorkers and minorities.
The key decision-makers in this process are a six-member Community Advisory Committee, composed of individuals from both city and state offices. Their evaluation and recommendations will play a critical role in the state’s ultimate decision to grant a casino license for this site. Public hearings have been held recently, allowing community members to express their views, with a final advisory vote anticipated by late September 2025.
If the proposal is approved by the Community Advisory Committee, it will proceed to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board. The final decision on licensing for successful bidders will be made by the New York Gaming Commission by the end of 2025.
Notably, during the first hearing, Broadway League President, Jason Laks, expressed disapproval over celebrities testifying while Broadway workers couldn't, as the hearing was held during matinee showtimes.
In summary, the Times Square casino proposal remains a contentious issue, with the Community Advisory Committee set to influence the state's licensing decision soon. The final decision will shape the future of Times Square, potentially bringing jobs, boosting local tourism, and enhancing economic growth, or adding to concerns about congestion, crime, and neighborhood impact.
- The Times Square casino proposal, a venture backed by Caesars Entertainment, SL Green, and Jay-Z's Roc Nation, has both supporters and opponents, with entertainment unions, local businesses, and celebrities like Fat Joe and Charlamagne tha God voicing support, while Broadway theater owners and local community groups express concerns about increased congestion, crime, and harm to the Theater District’s character and local businesses.
- The Broadway League, representing 24 theaters, is actively campaigning against the casino, with "No Times Square Casino" slogans appearing on multiple marquees and digital billboards, contrasting the testimonies of celebrities like Fat Joe and Charlamagne tha God, who have emphasized the benefits for needy New Yorkers and minorities.
- The final decision on licensing for the Times Square casino proposal will be made by the New York Gaming Commission by the end of 2025, influenced by the advisory vote of a six-member Community Advisory Committee, comprised of individuals from both city and state offices, who have heard testimonies from various figures within the realms of policy-and-legislation, pop-culture, general-news, and entertainment.
