Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia
Encyclopedia
Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia was a proposed casino
to be located first along the Delaware River, then under pressure from local residents attempted to move to the The Gallery at Market East
in Center City in Philadelphia, PA. It was one of five stand-alone casinos awarded a gaming license on December 20, 2006 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
.
The Philadelphia Inquirer states that Stephen Wynn (Graduate and former Trustee of University of Pennsylvania
) and Wynn Resorts
have signed a non-binding deal to take over the long delayed Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia.
On October 26, 2010 it was announced that Harrah's Entertainment
(pending signing final agreement) would buy a one-third stake and be in charge of operations in the casino. Harrah's Provided artist rendition of what the project would looking like to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
, that featured Horseshoe as the Casino brand on November 18, 2010. These plans show a two-story, 57463 square feet (5,338.5 m²) casino located at Columbus Boulevard and Reed Street. The casino will sit back about 300 feet (91.4 m) from Columbus Blvd. Plans include an Asian gaming room, a noodle bar, and a riverfront sports bar under a steakhouse. Parking will be in surface lots with 1,376 spaces. The casino is expected to cost $438-million and will include 1,500 slots and 70 table games. The second phase will include a 2,250-space parking garage located at Columbus Blvd. and Tasker Ave. Harrah's Entertainment failed to meet the deadline and the license was revoked on December 16, 2010.
in South Philadelphia
. It was to be built on a 16.5 acres (66,773.2 m²) site between Tasker and Reed Streets that was to include 3,000 Slot machine
s, an 1,800 seat showroom, a 4,500 space parking garage, and future expansion to a casino with 5,000 slot machines and a 500-room hotel.
In September 2008, residents opposed to the development forced the developers of the Foxwoods Casino to move proposal to The Gallery at Market East. This proposal was endorsed by both Mayor Michael Nutter and Governor Ed Rendell
but was opposed by local residents. The original proposal for the Foxwoods Casino at The Gallery at Market East was for a 3,000 slot machine casino on two floors currently occupied by Burlington Coat Factory
, forcing that store to relocate.
On February 26, 2009, it was announced that the developers were looking into locating their new casino onto three floors of the former Strawbridge's
flagship store, which is currently vacant and owned by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
, the owners of The Gallery.
In April 2009, Comcast exec and Foxwoods investor Ed Snider
was forced to return campaign contributions to then-Governor Ed Rendell
, which was barred by campaign finance laws.
In June 2009, the Center City site began to unravel in the face of opposition from the owner of the buildings top 15 floors. The difficulties Foxwoods has faced in Philadelphia also highlight the challenges of building an urban casino. Casino companies, for the most part, have avoided such plays in the US, sticking to less controversial rural, suburban or riverboat locations, industry observers say. Casino developers almost always face complaints about traffic and the impact on nearby residential areas wherever they build, but such concerns become particularly intense amid densely packed city neighborhoods.
In February 2010, Steve Wynn was brought in as the managing partner of the project. The location was returned to its original Waterfront site, and Wynn said that there would be no hotel built on the location. Steve Wynn views Philadelphia as a major feeder market to his Las Vegas resort. The casino will be about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the SugarHouse Casino
which is also on the riverfront just north of downtown.
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
to be located first along the Delaware River, then under pressure from local residents attempted to move to the The Gallery at Market East
The Gallery at Market East
The Gallery at Market East, or "The Gallery" as it is known to locals, is an urban mall in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States with over 130 stores and a food court. The mall's major anchor stores are Kmart and Burlington Coat Factory....
in Center City in Philadelphia, PA. It was one of five stand-alone casinos awarded a gaming license on December 20, 2006 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 2004 as the state licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state....
.
The Philadelphia Inquirer states that Stephen Wynn (Graduate and former Trustee of University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
) and Wynn Resorts
Wynn Resorts
Wynn Resorts Limited is a publicly traded corporation based in Paradise, Nevada that is a developer and operator of high end hotels and casinos. It was formed on October 25, 2002 by former Mirage Resorts Chairman and CEO Stephen A...
have signed a non-binding deal to take over the long delayed Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia.
On October 26, 2010 it was announced that Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment
Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a private gaming corporation that owns and operates over 50 casinos, hotels, and seven golf courses under several brands. The company, based in Paradise, Nevada, is the largest gaming company in the world, with yearly revenues $8.9 billion...
(pending signing final agreement) would buy a one-third stake and be in charge of operations in the casino. Harrah's Provided artist rendition of what the project would looking like to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 2004 as the state licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state....
, that featured Horseshoe as the Casino brand on November 18, 2010. These plans show a two-story, 57463 square feet (5,338.5 m²) casino located at Columbus Boulevard and Reed Street. The casino will sit back about 300 feet (91.4 m) from Columbus Blvd. Plans include an Asian gaming room, a noodle bar, and a riverfront sports bar under a steakhouse. Parking will be in surface lots with 1,376 spaces. The casino is expected to cost $438-million and will include 1,500 slots and 70 table games. The second phase will include a 2,250-space parking garage located at Columbus Blvd. and Tasker Ave. Harrah's Entertainment failed to meet the deadline and the license was revoked on December 16, 2010.
History
Originally, it was planned to be located along the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
. It was to be built on a 16.5 acres (66,773.2 m²) site between Tasker and Reed Streets that was to include 3,000 Slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s, an 1,800 seat showroom, a 4,500 space parking garage, and future expansion to a casino with 5,000 slot machines and a 500-room hotel.
In September 2008, residents opposed to the development forced the developers of the Foxwoods Casino to move proposal to The Gallery at Market East. This proposal was endorsed by both Mayor Michael Nutter and Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
but was opposed by local residents. The original proposal for the Foxwoods Casino at The Gallery at Market East was for a 3,000 slot machine casino on two floors currently occupied by Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 450 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.. In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction...
, forcing that store to relocate.
On February 26, 2009, it was announced that the developers were looking into locating their new casino onto three floors of the former Strawbridge's
Strawbridge's
Strawbridge's was a department store in the northeastern United States with stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. In its day a gracious urban emporium, the downtown Philadelphia flagship store added branch stores starting in the 1930s and together they enjoyed annual sales of over a...
flagship store, which is currently vacant and owned by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust
The Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust is one of the first publicly traded real estate investment trusts, established in 1960 by Sylvan M. Cohen .The PREIT corporate offices are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, the owners of The Gallery.
In April 2009, Comcast exec and Foxwoods investor Ed Snider
Ed Snider
Edward M. Snider is the American Chairman of Comcast Spectacor, a Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company that owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, the Wells Fargo Center, the Spectrum, the regional sports network Comcast SportsNet and Global Spectrum, an international facilities...
was forced to return campaign contributions to then-Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
, which was barred by campaign finance laws.
In June 2009, the Center City site began to unravel in the face of opposition from the owner of the buildings top 15 floors. The difficulties Foxwoods has faced in Philadelphia also highlight the challenges of building an urban casino. Casino companies, for the most part, have avoided such plays in the US, sticking to less controversial rural, suburban or riverboat locations, industry observers say. Casino developers almost always face complaints about traffic and the impact on nearby residential areas wherever they build, but such concerns become particularly intense amid densely packed city neighborhoods.
In February 2010, Steve Wynn was brought in as the managing partner of the project. The location was returned to its original Waterfront site, and Wynn said that there would be no hotel built on the location. Steve Wynn views Philadelphia as a major feeder market to his Las Vegas resort. The casino will be about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the SugarHouse Casino
SugarHouse Casino
SugarHouse Casino is a casino entertainment development along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Fishtown neighborhood. It was one of five stand-alone casinos awarded a gaming license on December 20, 2006 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board...
which is also on the riverfront just north of downtown.