Suffolk Downs

City Council may try to raise stakes in Filene's Hole battle

adamg — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:55:30 +0000

The Herald reports the City Council has formed a special committee on gambling. Part of its role will be to figure out if everybody in Boston should vote on allowing a casino at Suffolk Downs, but it may also attempt to leverage Vornado Realty Trust's 20% ownership of Suffolk Downs into getting it to do something about the Hole, of which it is the majority owner.

The mayor vs. the Krafts

adamg — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:54:31 +0000

The Herald reports on the looming battle royale between Tom Menino, who wants a casino at Suffolk Downs, and Robert Kraft, who wants a casino next to his football stadium/mall in Foxboro.

Should entire city get to vote on casino in East Boston?

adamg — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:38:57 +0000

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz wants to extend a referendum provision of the proposed state gambling bill from the area immediately around a casino to an entire municipality. The Dorchester Reporter explains why everybody in Boston should have a say in whether Suffolk Downs becomes a casino.

The connection between the Hole and a casino at Suffolk Downs

adamg — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:01:43 +0000

Could the BRA's sudden kissie-kissie with evil Hole overlord Vornado have anything to do with Vornado's part ownership of the group that wants to build a casino at Suffolk Downs - the one the mayor is betting on? Jason Schwartz assumes 2+2=4.

Place your bets: East Boston vs. Milford

adamg — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:27:20 +0000

The Herald reports the mayor continues to back plans for a resort casino at Suffolk Downs, but that he'll have to fight off Milford, which is also expected to put in a bid for a gambling emporium.

Ed. question: The Herald actually says the racetrack's owners want to build a "resort-style casino." How is that different from a plain old "resort casino?"

What are the odds of a casino at Suffolk Downs?

adamg — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:41:00 +0000

House overwhelmingly passes casino bill.

Developer can't find money to fill Filene's Memorial Hole, but has more than enough to help build Suffolk Downs casino

adamg — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:46:21 +0000

Why, hello, Vornado Realty Trust! Blue Mass Group reports.

Looks like a fortress with pretty pennants

adamg — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:18:51 +0000

Jim considers drawing of the proposed resort casino at Suffolk Downs, notes something is decidedly lacking:

[E]lderly folks with oxygen tanks and children left in cars are missing from the attractive drawing.

The paper that shills for Suffolk Downs

adamg — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:22:09 +0000

Jim wonders when the East Boston Times will dedicate some space to a real discussion of an issue that is of huge importance to this neighborhood instead of just shilling for the racetrack and its effort to get a slice of that whole gambling thing.

DeLeo: We don't give a fig what the public thinks about gambling plan

adamg — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:12:30 +0000

Released yesterday, ready for a vote next week. Includes a provision for slots at Suffolk Downs.

The Outraged Liberal wonders:

... Is the racino proposal really so shaky it cannot stand a public discussion? Or because the bill's new provisions really only affect your own district and a couple of others, do you think no one else need bother themselves with the details? ...

Jim, who lives in East Boston, isn't too happy with the Speaker, either:

... There are many legitimate arguments against casinos and slots, and not allowing for an open and fact-based discussion is clearly undemocratic. ...

How gambling could ruin theaters, concert venues in Massachusetts

adamg — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:26:14 +0000

Joel Brown discusses another gambling report that came out this week, which rather than bewailing how much money we spend in Connecticut, looks at the effect of gambling facilities on cultural venues:

... If Foxwoods can pay, say, Alicia Keys 50 percent more than the Hanover Theater in Worcester can pay her, she's going to sing at Foxwoods. And often contractual clauses will prevent her from playing the Hanover next, even if she wanted to. This is very bad for the Hanover's bottom line, says a good WBUR report on the topic.

Now build yourself an imaginary Foxwoods at, say, the Suffolk Downs site, and imagine what effect it would have on venues like the Opera House, the Wang and even the House of Blues. All together now: Eeeek! ...

At-large candidates generally support gambling at Suffolk Downs, but with caveats

adamg — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:12:43 +0000

At a candidate forum sponsored by the Brighton Allston Improvement Association tonight, moderator Michael Pahre asked the candidates for the four open at-large City Council seats how they felt about putting a casino or slot machines at the Suffolk Downs racetrack - an idea pushed by Mayor Menino. Their answers follow (see their answers to questions on other issues).

East Boston Chamber of Commerce loves it some casino action; East Boston blogger, not so much

adamg — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:57:59 +0000

Build a casino at Suffolk Downs now, and be snappy about it, the East Boston Chamber of Commerce says. Jim begs to differ:

... It seems to me that the expected benefits will be outweighed by the negative consequences of situating such an operation so close to an urban residential neighborhood; that the state revenue number quoted is almost certainly overblown; that Suffolk's recent philanthropy is clearly part of a strategy to enlist local support (Why not spend thousands in order to make millions?); and that [owner Richard] Fields' "pledge" [to buy local] will likely be discarded the first time he can save a penny per item on something that he needs in quantity. ...

Suffolk Downs: Not just for cigar-chomping codgers

adamg — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:25:19 +0000

HubTrotter proclaims the racetrack excellent value for your entertainment dollar:

... [E]ven if you're not a gambler, Boston sports fans will be hard-pressed to beat the $2 admission price for a day at the races. ...

Horsing around

adamg — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:46:38 +0000

WBUR photographed Frank Amonte, a 72-year-old jockey, at Suffolk Downs.