Recently, when talking to fellow Mohegan Tribal Members, one person came up with the thought that we needed a casino in Palmer, Massachusetts, to get business from the Boston, Massachusetts area. I thought that an interesting idea. Here are the results of my investigation into the idea.
Palmer, Massachusetts to Uncasville, Connecticut, (Mohegan Sun casino)........55 miles
Palmer Massachusetts to Springfield, Massachusetts (city pop. 154,000)........21 miles
Uncasville, Connecticut (Mohegan Sun) to Springfield, Massachusetts.............67 miles
Palmer, Massachusetts to Worchester, Massachusetts........................................38 miles
Worchester, Massachusetts to Uncasville, Connecticut (Mohegan Sun)............66 miles
Palmer, Massachusetts to Boston, Massachusetts ...............................................75 miles
Boston, Massachusetts to Uncasville, Connecticut (Mohegan Sun)..................105 miles
Palmer, Massachusetts to Hartford, Connecticut..................................................51 miles
Hartford, Connecticut to Uncasville, Connecticut (Mohegan Sun)....................43 miles
Palmer, Massachusetts to Albany, New York.......................................................99 miles
Albany, New York to Turning Stones Casino, Oneida, New York.....................115 miles
Look at the distances, (other than Albany, New York and Hartford, Connecticut). Driving from all the locations to the Mohegan Sun should be accomplished within one half hour longer in driving time, than going to Palmer, Massachusetts. Does this justify opening a casino at an estimated cost of how many millions? How much is the lease on the property? How long is the lease? Will Palmer be a slot parlor or a casino resort, with a hotel?
Brokenwing Editorials estimates that about 20% of the Mohegan Sun Casino's business comes from Massachusetts. If you look at the population of Massachusetts, you come away thinking that the vast majority of the people living in the state live from around New Bedford (located in the south east corner of the state) to just above Boston (north east corner of state). In other words the largest percentage of business from Massachusetts that the Mohegan Sun Casino receives probably comes from this area.
That leads to the conclusion that only a very small percentage of business comes from the proposed Palmer, Massachusetts area.
If you lived in Albany, New York, would you travel 99 miles to Palmer, Massachusetts, or would you travel 115 miles to Turning Stone Casino, Oneida, New York?
It has been reported that Massachusetts plans for at least three (3) casinos in the state. One is supposedly planned for the Boston area (north east corner of state). The Mashapee Wampanoags are planning a casino in the south eastern part of the state. That leaves one opening which is where Palmer, Massachusetts comes in (western part of state),
Can an area with about 500,000 people around it, pay for this casino? Is this another Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs? Would you travel from Boston, Worchester, Albany, or Hartford to go to the proposed casino in Palmer, Massachusetts? What do you think?.
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1 comment:
The milage reference was given to indicate the relevant market in the eyes of those pursuing expansion. Not to say that opening a casino in Mass. is a good idea.
If you read the entire commentary, then you know that there was absolutely no support for off reservation expansion. You chose not to post it.
Under your "about me" section it says "there is no censorship." If that is true, why didn't you post the comment?
I thought that all the 0 comments under your blogs were because people were just not interested in responding. Are you censoring comments that you don't agree with? If so, this site is no better than the Wuskuso.
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