Inner Circle Investments LLC announced plans to build a casino and expo center at the Radisson Hotel in downtown St. Joseph, which it owns. Inner Circle would build the new venue in the hotel parking lot and then relocate the St. Jo Frontier Casino to that location. Plans also include renovating the Radisson and the Civic Arena and building a new parking structure.
Affinity Gaming, which owns the Frontier, would want an incentive to move the casino, said St. Joseph Planning and Community Development Director Clint Thompson, noting Inner Circle would be able to offer a greater incentive than the city for Affinity to make the move. He pointed out that Missouri law allows only the 13 casinos currently operating in the state. “The whole premise is the relocation of the existing casino,” Thompson said.
Thompson noted a 2013 memorandum of understanding between the city and Affinity authorized a study to evaluate a relocation of the casino to the downtown area. Affinity officials recently stated the study indicated the project would not make economic sense, but they have not rejected the plan. “This is an attempt to rekindle those conversations. This is just real preliminary. The whole understanding is how we can work with St. Jo Frontier Casino,” Thompson stated. He said if the project moves forward, Inner Circle most likely would use tax-increment financing from the city.
Inner Circle board member Mark hall added, “Both in terms of expense reduction and in terms of revenue generation, it’s better for Affinity to come downtown.” Hall noted a casino possibly could be developed downtown even if Frontier does not relocate there.
Later this month the St. Joseph city council will vote on a memorandum of understanding with Inner Circle showing support for the project. The memorandum will indicate Inner Circle will use its own funds to prepare a preliminary design with Hunden Strategic Partners. An economic impact study also will be completed.
Approval for moving the casino would be required by the Missouri Gaming Commission, said spokeswoman LeAnn McCarthy.
