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City by the Lake.org, The Voice of Michigan City, Indiana _ City Talk _ South Bend Casino moving foward

Posted by: Southsider2k12 Nov 29 2016, 09:54 AM

This will serve as another gut punch to local revenues from Blue Chip Casino, similar to when Four Winds opened in New Buffalo, though hopefully at a smaller scale.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-casino-project-would-reverberate-through-local-economy/article_bacd3e2a-6866-5a62-90c8-69dea917e8da.html

QUOTE

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is expected to announce today plans to move forward with a proposed $400 million casino project at Prairie Avenue and the St. Joseph Valley Parkway — literally next door to the restaurant.

The Bureau of Indiana Affairs recently approved the project — which includes a 500-room hotel, housing and government offices — agreeing to take 166 acres of land at that location into trust for the tribe.

A news conference announcing the decision — featuring tribal Chairman John Warren, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and others — is set for 11 a.m. today at Four Winds Field.

Posted by: Hypnotic Dec 3 2016, 12:00 AM

I'll guarantee our incompetent officials never even tried to lure this casino which will include an 18 story hotel to Michigan City. Sad

We have 150+ acre plots in multitudes of locations. The city could definitely use the jobs and another $8-$10 million in annual casino funds for the city could have spearheaded massive redevelopment projects. This is a lost opportunity in becoming the "Atlantic City of the Midwest" they often tout. It fits into their 'create, play, repeat' branding and would go a long way in making Michigan City "the premier lakefront getaway." Mayor Brillson would have been all over this as she worked tirelessly to bring Four Winds to Michigan City but the land based law stifled her efforts.

Blue Chip Casino's gaming floor is perhaps the ugliest and smallest of all the local casino's. It is not even comparable to Four Winds or the other regional destinations. The lights are in torch mode when most gaming floors are moderately dim for relaxation. There is no art displays, monuments, sculptures or fountains. There is no bars on the floor or connections to event centers, restaurants and clubs. It is rather bland and lifeless so I expect they will fall further behind if this eclipses Four Winds in size and aesthetics.

The 'theater' at Blue Chip is laughably bad. I thought they were going to build a "Star Plaza" type venue and not take the convention floor with a stage approach. They can't attract even C-List acts to perform there while Four Winds routinely features headline performers. Boyd Gaming spent a modest $130 million to overhaul Blue Chip while this casino is $400,000,000! Poor Michigan City......

Posted by: Hypnotic Dec 3 2016, 01:10 AM

I just read that the General Assembly passed land-based casino's into law in Indiana. So if Blue Chip wants to compete they better be making plans for a $100 million+ expansion to offer the type of environment and experience the South Bend casino will offer as well as the Majestic Star who announced a new $135 million land based casino.

Posted by: Southsider2k12 Jan 17 2018, 12:51 PM

It is now open.

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/01/16/indianas-newest-casino-and-first-tribal-casino-now-open-south-bend/1038778001/

QUOTE

Other casinos in Indiana have expressed concerns that this new casino will hurt their businesses. After a Four Winds opened just across the state border in New Buffalo in 2007, the Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa in Michigan City, Ind., lost $58 million in revenue and cut 165 employees in just one year.

Tribal casinos don't have to pay state taxes. The South Bend location is likely to not just drain more business from Blue Chip, but it also could cause Indiana to lose millions in casino tax revenue.

Posted by: outsider Jan 18 2018, 08:27 AM

QUOTE(Southsider2k12 @ Jan 17 2018, 01:51 PM)

It is now open.

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2018/01/16/indianas-newest-casino-and-first-tribal-casino-now-open-south-bend/1038778001/

It will be interesting to see how the South Bend Casino effects Blue Chip. The state only provided approval for a Class II gaming license for South Bend which means no table games. I presume the Pokagons will eventually pursue a Class I license to include such games. Although Four Winds in Michigan does not have a large number of table games.

South Bend local government is excited for the Pokagon site even though there is no tax sharing. Pokagons did pay for some of the street paving, lighting, and sewer costs and will be sharing its revenues with a number of nonprofits in the area once it has a cash flow. The casino is on the southwest side of town which the City has had dormant plans for development for decades - stay tuned for more development around the casino.

Posted by: diggler Jan 19 2018, 08:12 AM

Casinos are popping up in the region like mushrooms. Its a casino economy. So no wonder...with a casino guy in the WH.