A proposed casino project in downtown Rochester, New York, would include an up-to five-story casino with a 3,000-seat theater and parking. Estimates place the cost at between million and 0 million, but the plan needs local support to proceed.
Developer Bob Morgan saysthere are big changes in store for downtown Rochester as many new companies come into the city and photonics go online, and he wants a casino to be part of those big changes. But that won’t happen if local support doesn’t exist.
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is trying to gauge the level of support for a local casino project, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown advised she keep an open mind about potential benefits and be prepared for strong opposition to any casino plan.
Brown recently dealt with the development of the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in downtown Buffalo, which is a fully licensed gaming casino. Because it is a full gaming casino, Buffalo receives up to $7 million in annual revenue sharing.
The proposed Rochester development, though, would include a performing arts center, and might not be a full casino operating under a gaming compact requiring it to share revenues.
Meanwhile, Morgan suggests the Seneca Nation build and operate a casino and entertainment facility. He says it would create about 500 jobs.
