Hotel a possibility at Plainridge

Hotel a possibility at Plainridge"

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/hotel-a-possibility-at-plainridge/article_ca3e5fc1-908a-53f9-a8a2-57cd3a1b0d63.html
Here we go... Why would Penn National need to build a hotel for a slots parlor? The VAST majority of people who will be coming to the slots-in-a-box will be from 10 - 30 miles away (even according to our gaming consultant).

So, why the hotel? BECAUSE THEY INTEND FOR THIS TO BECOME A CASINO WITH SLOTS AND TABLE GAMES IN NO TIME AT ALL! They'll be whining that they can't compete with Twin River, and the legislature and the MGC will bend over backward to give them anything they want.

And why do you suppose that PNG kept this to themselves until after the vote? Why do you suppose they kept saying that they were going to do "almost exactly what was proposed by Plainridge" until after they had sealed the deal? Let the lies begin…

And… In the "Do the Math" department:

Only about 18% of the residents of Plainville voted Yes on slots.
The number of registered voters in Plainville is 5,427, which is 65% of the 8,264 residents of Plainville. Of that, only 28% of ALL registered voters in Plainville voted for slots at the track (76% of the 37% of registered voters who cast a ballot). So, only about 18% of the people in Plainville voted Yes on slots.

 

Unfortunately, 100% of us will pay...

Hotel a possibility at Plainridge

Posted: Wednesday, September 11, 2013

PLAINVILLE - Penn National Gaming would consider adding a hotel to its plans for Plainridge Racecourse if it were a good fit with the area and if it made its application for a slot machine license more competitive.

A company executive said today that Penn National intends to largely stick with the plans for a slot machine facility developed by the current Plainridge owners, but a hotel is a possibility.

“While we are still considering the possibility of a hotel as a long- range master plan concept, we are planning to adopt the building plans, design concepts and traffic plan that have already been developed by Plainridge,” Eric Schippers, senior vice president for public affairs, said.

He said the only other changes being contemplated at this time are interior arrangements and the types of restaurants that would be brought in if it got the slots license.

Penn National is one of three firms competing for the license before the state Gaming Commission.

It took over the Plainridge bid for slots after the track’s owners were disqualified by the commission. Voters approved of bringing slots to the track by a 3-1 margin Tuesday.

Penn National Senior Vice President Steven Synder said earlier that if adding a hotel to the proposal for Plainridge would make the bid more competitive, the firm would consider it.

He said there is enough room on the 89-acre site for a “modest” hotel of about 150 rooms.

Schippers also said Penn National would talk to others to see if a hotel would be desirable.

During a presentation to voters last week, the company said it keeps community businesses in mind when developing a site.

The firm delayed building a hotel for its facility in Ohio because occupancy at area hotels was so low. They said they agreed to wait until the rate improved at other hotels before building.

The companies competing with Penn National in Massachusetts have not yet detailed any plans for a hotel.

George Carney of Raynham, who has formed a partnership with Greenwood Racing, has said he could add a hotel, bowling alley and retail space to his proposal to create more jobs at his former dog track. But, he has not released any plans.

Cordish Companies of Maryland, which wants to build in Leominster, said it intends to bring in restaurants and live entertainment, but has not commented on a hotel.

Plainville Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes said he has never talked to Penn National or anyone else about a hotel at the site.

But, he said, he always assumed any extra land at the track, especially the land fronting Route 1, would eventually be developed because it is such a good location.

The track is only a few hundred feet from Interstate 495.

“I wouldn’t be surprised by that,” he said of the hotel idea. “Something is going to go in there some day.”

Fernandes said a company would have to get a special permit from the town to build a hotel.

The next step for Penn National is a decision by the state Gaming Commission on its suitability as a gaming applicant.

The suitability determination is what tripped up the owners of Plainridge Racecourse.

They were applying for the slots license themselves until a commission investigation discovered then President Gary Piontkowski had taken $1.4 million in cash from the track over a period of years.

As a result, the commission ruled Plainridge owners were unsuitable and Penn National bought an option to purchase the track.

Penn National said it expects no trouble with the commission in regard to suitability.

Its executives note the company operates in 18 different states across the country and has never been found unsuitable.

Elaine Driscoll, a spokeswoman for the commission, said a decision on suitability is expected by the end of the month.

Then Penn National faces an Oct. 1 deadline for applying for a racing license to continue harness meets next year.

A formal application for a slot license is due three days later on Oct. 4.

The commission’s current timetable calls for the license to be awarded in December.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/hotel-a-possibility-at-plainridge/article_ca3e5fc1-908a-53f9-a8a2-57cd3a1b0d63.html