KCRag Forum

http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/mission ... lText=true

Only five attractions in Kansas City — the Power & Light District, Ameristar Casino, Harrah's Casino, Kauffman Stadium and Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun — attract more than a million visitors a year from anywhere, according to the Kansas City Business Journal.

I guess it must have edged out Bass Pro Shops. That is a depressing list.

bahua wrote:I guess it must have edged out Bass Pro Shops. That is a depressing list.

My thoughts exactly. Woo-hoo! More people go to P&L than Harrah's Casino!

KCMax wrote:

bahua wrote:I guess it must have edged out Bass Pro Shops. That is a depressing list.

My thoughts exactly. Woo-hoo! More people go to P&L than Harrah's Casino!

I'm not sure that was in order.

I was intrigued it's

4x KC
1x NKC

Why would downtown hotels see more revenue? Don't people that come to a city for the casino stay at the casino hotel?

KCMax wrote:Why would downtown hotels see more revenue? Don't people that come to a city for the casino stay at the casino hotel?

1 million people is an average of 2740 guests per day. the NKC Harrah's has 390 rooms. that would be like having every room holding 7 guests every day of the year. that shows that people stay at plenty of other hotels.

building a casino downtown could drive the need for a 1000 room hotel by itself

flyingember wrote:

KCMax wrote:Why would downtown hotels see more revenue? Don't people that come to a city for the casino stay at the casino hotel?

1 million people is an average of 2740 guests per day. the NKC Harrah's has 390 rooms. that would be like having every room holding 7 guests every day of the year. that shows that people stay at plenty of other hotels.

building a casino downtown could drive the need for a 1000 room hotel by itself

Aren't most of those "visitors" Kansas Citians who will sleep in their own bed?

KCMax wrote:

flyingember wrote:

KCMax wrote:Why would downtown hotels see more revenue? Don't people that come to a city for the casino stay at the casino hotel?

1 million people is an average of 2740 guests per day. the NKC Harrah's has 390 rooms. that would be like having every room holding 7 guests every day of the year. that shows that people stay at plenty of other hotels.

building a casino downtown could drive the need for a 1000 room hotel by itself

Aren't most of those "visitors" Kansas Citians who will sleep in their own bed?

I think the answer is yes, most of the them are from KC, but I am always surprised by how many people make a night or weekend out of visiting a casino in the area. I don't really get it, but I think they generate a lot more hotel room nights than it seems and probably would do more if it was located actually in the city.

I'm still not very keen on it though. It seems like one of the less appealing development ideas for the DT core. I'd rather them be on the periphery.

A casino somewhere along streetcar line (or within a few blocks) would be an extra thing to do for downtown hotel visitors, especially convention people. It does make sense to loosen the river only law and allow them within downtowns.

.

pash wrote:There is also such a thing as a casino that's not a garish Vegas-style monstrosity.

it also doesn't need to just be a casino. work in things downtown needs into the project

shopping, entertainment, restaurants, nice sports bar, private event space, etc

pash wrote:There is also such a thing as a casino that's not a garish Vegas-style monstrosity.

Yeah, like the one in downtown KCK.

flyingember wrote:

pash wrote:There is also such a thing as a casino that's not a garish Vegas-style monstrosity.

it also doesn't need to just be a casino. work in things downtown needs into the project

shopping, entertainment, restaurants, nice sports bar, private event space, etc

I think this is such a good idea. KC would benefit SO much by getting this law changed and adding a large downtown casino. This could be a huge development with a wide variety of things. I see this being a casino, a couple restaurants, a sort of urban mall, and then a large hotel above it all. This seems like it would be hulking and take up several blocks, but we could put this all on one block. Just build up. With underground parking. This could be a chance to add a large skyscraper to our skyline, as well as another shopping, dining, entertainment option downtown. Critical mass. If we could put together a project like this it would be a GAME CHANGER.

And of course this building could have an ultra lux lounge up top. Time for us to replace the void in that market since Skies left us. Anyone been to the Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop over in STL? It has a sweet open-air rooftop deck and lounge that is open to the public. This would be so excellent over here.

For whatever reason I seriously doubt that a casino would invest that much money into downtown KC. Just compare the casinos and their amenities that were built in St Louis to KC and you will see a big difference. The KC market, and that includes the racetrack casino, is a poor cousin to the St. Louis market.

What is stopping someone from building a casino downtown by our river like Lumiere Place in St. Louis? The rule is only that it need be within 1000 feet of water.

State gaming commission gives the license. Right now it is not interested in issuing new licenses or expanding gaming in Missouri. Its primary interest is protecting what is already there - it does not want closed casinos.

KCMax wrote:What is stopping someone from building a casino downtown by our river like Lumiere Place in St. Louis? The rule is only that it need be within 1000 feet of water.

two rules

within 1000 feet
the gaming floor has to float. Lumiere Place actually floats in the biggest loophole I can imagine on the subject

http://midwest.construction.com/feature ... ature6.asp

flyingember wrote:

KCMax wrote:What is stopping someone from building a casino downtown by our river like Lumiere Place in St. Louis? The rule is only that it need be within 1000 feet of water.

two rules

within 1000 feet
the gaming floor has to float. Lumiere Place actually floats in the biggest loophole I can imagine on the subject

http://midwest.construction.com/feature ... ature6.asp

One can build it but it still cannot be a casino without the state gaming commission granting a license.

Can't you transfer licenses? Like if Harrah's wanted to relocate to downtown, could they just keep their license and move? Or do they re-apply for a whole new license?

I suppose its all a moot point. IMO, casinos aren't that great of an economic development tool.

KCMax wrote:Can't you transfer licenses? Like if Harrah's wanted to relocate to downtown, could they just keep their license and move? Or do they re-apply for a whole new license?

I suppose its all a moot point. IMO, casinos aren't that great of an economic development tool.

yes. there was something about this in the new 2012 or 2011

I don't know enough to argue if a casino is a good development tool. but drawing 1 million visitors per year is exactly what KC got out of it, only in horrible places. it could be a loss leader activity to get people to experience downtown