Rapper and entertainment mogul Jay Z was vocal in support of a Caesars Entertainment-owned casino in New York City.
The music legend, whose real name is Shawn Carter, held a Caesars Palace Times Square Community Advisory Committee last week. He spelled out his views on the issue about a month after his Roc Nation entertainment firm partnered with Caesars Entertainment for the project.
Caesars’ proposal said the casino would generate $7 billion in taxes over the next decade. Additionally, they said the casino would create 3,000 construction jobs and more than 3,800 permanent jobs.
The New York Gaming Commission is expected to award the three downstate casino licenses by the end of the year. Then, the state legislature might turn its attention to online casino legalization.
Jay-Z Says Casino Won’t Compete With Existing Businesses
Representatives from the company, including Jay-Z, outlined the plan and what a potential casino in the heart of the city’s tourism area could do for the region. The Brooklynite said Times Square would be the “perfect place for us.” He also hoped to alleviate concerns about how a casino might affect other businesses in the area.
“When you come into a space, particularly like Broadway, we’re not coming to compete … we’re coming to add,” he said. “Anything that we’ve done in the past, we’ve always included the community. We’ve never excluded the community.”
The meeting included artist rendering of the project, which showed a red facade at Times Square street level, which included images of potential casino entertainment performers.
The meeting also showed a blueprint of the entire project. Plans call for a hotel tower along with a casino, sportsbook, poker room, spa, restaurants, and more.
Broadway Group Opposes Plan
However, several community organizations oppose the project. The Broadway Group, on of the city’s most prominent theatre associations is firmly against the project. Several gathered in Times Square in late June to protest the $5.4 billion project.
“They are looking to profit on the backs of residents, local businesses, and the theater workers, producers, and owners who have brought us back from the pandemic,” Broadway League President Jason Laks told Broadway World. “SL Green and Caesars can continue to promise millions of dollars to buy a veneer of support. But the residents and workers of this neighborhood see through it.
“These are massive corporations with virtually unlimited resources. But Broadway represents creative vitality and is the beating cultural heart of this city, something fundamentally different from what a casino represents.”
The city is expected to announce winners of the three casino licenses by Dec. 1.
Other potential projects include a casino near the United Nations, a Hard Rock casino near Citi Field and a Bally’s casino in the Bronx.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
