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Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for Hofs

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:31 am
by HofstraPride1
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/pol ... g-va62guc7

Yes we need development finally at Coliseum property, but not something as destructive as casino gambling which would be terrible for Hofstra and make it harder to recruit students as many parents would rightly have concerns. Is good to see Hofstra against it and I hope they can somehow prevent the project, but will be tough since many have already lined up in support and there is tons of money being thrown the county’s way.


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:44 am
by HofstraMathew
Don't worry; NYS only has 3 licenses to award and there are around 8 or 9 serious proposals. I would say this is the least likeliest of any of the proposals to be issued a license.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:50 am
by HofstraPride1
HofstraMathew wrote:Don't worry; NYS only has 3 licenses to award and there are around 8 or 9 serious proposals. I would say this is the least likeliest of any of the proposals to be issued a license.
I hope you are right and Stuart Rabinowitz is also part of the committee deciding who gets the licenses. My fear though is that Sands will still press ahead though with expectation that state will soon always more licenses.


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 12:35 pm
by mikey75
As Hofstra's President Rabinowitz lobbied against any sort of casino being put on the Coliseum grounds. Now, I understand as member of the NYS Gaming Commission which has jurisdiction over games of chance he's all for it. If true, it just confirms why that guy always rubbed me wrong.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 12:49 pm
by mikey75
Sorry. More accurately, Rabinowitz was named the NYS Gaming Commission Facilities Location Board. Shocking.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 1:15 pm
by The Shadow
Why do I have a very strong feeling that this Sands Casino will easily become a reality? As they always say, "Just follow the money!" There is too much money to be made with this proposal. Having the Sands involved as the lead on this proposal can only spur this to completion. The Sands name recognition alone is worth money. I remember my folks telling me about the Sinatra Rat Pack at the Sands. Look, I also had reservations about this idea, but maybe HU can get involved as a way for a Hotel and Resort major with internships next door. How does UNLV feel about all the casinos in Vegas? I can really see this proposal becoming a huge success. Renovating the Coliseum again for sports will not be as successful as a concert venue. You are not going to make money in the present Coliseum with a minor league hockey or basketball team considering all the NBA and NHL teams a short distance away. Look, if you were a student now, you can gamble on your cell phone.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 1:17 pm
by HofstraPride1
mikey75 wrote:Sorry. More accurately, Rabinowitz was named the NYS Gaming Commission Facilities Location Board. Shocking.
My feeling when he was named to this was he was trying to be in position to help stop a possible Coliseum casino. What makes you think he now supports it?


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 1:18 pm
by HofstraPride1
The Shadow wrote:Why do I have a very strong feeling that this Sands Casino will easily become a reality? As they always say, "Just follow the money!" There is too much money to be made with this proposal. Having the Sands involved as the lead on this proposal can only spur this to completion. The Sands name recognition alone is worth money. I remember my folks telling me about the Sinatra Rat Pack at the Sands. Look, I also had reservations about this idea, but maybe HU can get involved as a way for a Hotel and Resort major with internships next door. How does UNLV feel about all the casinos in Vegas? I can really see this proposal becoming a huge success. Renovating the Coliseum again for sports will not be as successful as a concert venue. You are not going to make money in the present Coliseum with a minor league hockey or basketball team considering all the NBA and NHL teams a short distance away. Look, if you were a student now, you can gamble on your cell phone.
Sorry UNLV is hardly a benchmark we want to live up to. There are zero benefits in my book to having a casino in the neighborhood no matter who is running it.


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 1:48 pm
by mikey75
HP1. I totally agree with your comment about UNLV not being a benchmark as you put it for Hofstra. I'm concerned about Rabinowitz changing his tune on this because the Rechlers will be involved and he was a lap dog for them for years.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 1:52 pm
by mikey75
HP1 - See Newsday article dated 10/4/22 where Rabinowitz seems to be changing his tune at least in my view.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:38 pm
by HofstraPride1
mikey75 wrote:HP1 - See Newsday article dated 10/4/22 where Rabinowitz seems to be changing his tune at least in my view.
Thanks for sharing and here is link for others who want to see it https://www.newsday.com/beta/opinion/th ... i-o7kc32fw

I don’t view this though as Rabinowitz changing his view on the coliseum proposal though and more just regarding casino proposals in general. Rechler’s involvement I agree is a concern though since him and Stu go way back. You also wonder if Stu may not be as concerned about Hofstra now that he is former president, although I hope that isn’t the case of course.


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 11:11 am
by The Shadow
Speaking of UNLV, the hospitality school is very highly ranked. I checked a few college ranking websites, and UNLV was consistently in the top 10 for hotel and hospitality. Also speaking of gambling, near where the Target store in Westbury, off the Meadowbrook Parkway, was the Roosevelt Raceway for harness racing. This was relatively close to both Nassau Community and HU. For many years, from the 1940's to the 1980's, there were huge crowds attracted for some races. I realize this was last century, and harness racing is not the same as a casino, but it was still gambling. There is gambling in Queens by the Aqueduct Racetrack at Resorts. There is gambling at Jake's Casino in Islandia. If you want to gamble in person, there are places relatively close to central Nassau. I also realize, it is not the same as walking from the HU dorms across the road to a casino, but these same students could walk to the renovated Coliseum for concerts.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2023 12:24 pm
by HofstraPride1
The Shadow wrote:Speaking of UNLV, the hospitality school is very highly ranked. I checked a few college ranking websites, and UNLV was consistently in the top 10 for hotel and hospitality. Also speaking of gambling, near where the Target store in Westbury, off the Meadowbrook Parkway, was the Roosevelt Raceway for harness racing. This was relatively close to both Nassau Community and HU. For many years, from the 1940's to the 1980's, there were huge crowds attracted for some races. I realize this was last century, and harness racing is not the same as a casino, but it was still gambling. There is gambling in Queens by the Aqueduct Racetrack at Resorts. There is gambling at Jake's Casino in Islandia. If you want to gamble in person, there are places relatively close to central Nassau. I also realize, it is not the same as walking from the HU dorms across the road to a casino, but these same students could walk to the renovated Coliseum for concerts.
Yes UNLV has parlayed their location being in casino center to aid hospitality program and Stockton University in South Jersey has done same opening an Atlantic City satellite campus. We do not have a hospitality program of course although there was talk of starting one in 2000s before we focused instead on medical school. Either way even if we did launch one and there was synergy with casino resort, no matter how you slice it I think a net negative for Hofstra, even when favoring in the world class restaurants that would be there.


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2023 8:55 am
by HofstraPride1
Great column by President Poser about why casino would be terrible idea for area and hits the nail on the head https://www.newsday.com/beta/opinion/co ... a-gwk1leoa


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2023 10:36 am
by HofstraPride1
Here is an online petition against the casino I urge people to sign https://www.change.org/p/say-no-to-the-casino


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 5:54 pm
by mikey75
For those following this - the Sands has bought off Nassau Community College, enlisted former Gov. Paterson, and Rechler owns Stu Rabinowitz. The stench from the money trail is pretty strong.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:54 pm
by HofstraPride1
mikey75 wrote:For those following this - the Sands has bought off Nassau Community College, enlisted former Gov. Paterson, and Rechler owns Stu Rabinowitz. The stench from the money trail is pretty strong.
1000%. I have a bad feeling this is a runway train and Hofstra has little power to stop it. We still have to go down swinging though and there are many hoops Sands has to go through still.


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 1:33 am
by dutchalum01
HofstraPride1 wrote:Great column by President Poser about why casino would be terrible idea for area and hits the nail on the head https://www.newsday.com/beta/opinion/co ... a-gwk1leoa


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Any bullet points? Minnesota here so not a sub to newsday. TIA.


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Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 1:06 pm
by EvanJ
In addition to Newsday, Hofstra e-mailed that to me. You could e-mail Hofstra to request Poser's statement.

Re: Casino proposed at coliseum property would be awful for

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 1:55 pm
by HofstraMathew
Let's discuss the facts as we know them.

1. NYS is issuing an additional 3 casino licenses; this is 100% happening. There is thought to maybe stagger them but over the next few years they will be issued.
2. All 3 licenses will be issued in the downstate area (essentially NYC, Nassau, Suffolk or Westchester). All 3 will be in these counties.
3. NYS has stated that a requirement of receiving a license is support from the local government and community. So definitely reach out to the Nassau County executive office as if they aren't on board with this then it won't happen.
4. While yes some big players are listed in support of this. The other casino projects have much bigger supports. You are talking small potatoes in Rechler, NCC, etc compared to the businesses and people backing the other casinos. For example Caesars in times square has Caesars (the largest casino company in the US) Sl Green, Jay z and a group of Broadway theatres & restaurants all supporting the bid.

This casino won't happen. Definitely keep reaching out to the local government and when the actual proposals are submitted to the committee from the Casino division that is awarding the licenses. But the other bids will really need to be terrible for this one to even be considered.