When a convention is in town businesses that are nearby usually get more business. At least that’s the way to bet.
That’s how the owners of the Jack Cleveland Casino were betting when the Republican National Convention came into town two weeks ago to nominate Donald Trump. They lost that bet although we won’t know how badly until the Ohio Casino Control Commission releases revenue reports on July.
Due to heightened security that closed some roads and blocked off a nearby parking structure except for 200 spaces, business was clearly down at the Jack. At the same time protestors on Public Square further constructed patrons from entering the front door.
Delegates who might have wanted to play found that the walkway between the Quicken Loans Arena, where the convention was held, and Tower City, was closed.
Vice President of Operations Mark Tricano told the Plain Dealer: “From a business perspective it was certainly challenging. The vast preponderance of our business is local and when they have concerns about safety or traffic they kind of avoided downtown this week.”
Even though the casino had a permit to serve liquor for longer hours, business was slow.
Many workers who sometimes visit the casino during their lunch hour took the week off from work, plus buses that bring seniors from the outlying areas were cancelled for the week.
Tricano put a positive face on all of it, saying that the city’s best face was shown, and that it will probably attract more tourists in the future. “I think the city did a phenomenal job and it will pay off in the long term for us,” he said.
