Hard Rock Casino Expansion News - Page 3

Jersey Boy · April 7th, 2007, 12:38 AM

I would love to see what the proposed new tower is going to look like. Has anyone seen anything?

Jasonhouse · April 7th, 2007, 06:42 AM

^Good luck with that.

FloridaFuture · April 7th, 2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersey Boy

I would love to see what the proposed new tower is going to look like. Has anyone seen anything?

Supposidly, only the higher-up management knows about the additions and it is being kept behind locked-doors.

Maxim98 · April 7th, 2007, 06:08 PM

Expect another white block....

Jasonhouse · April 7th, 2007, 09:14 PM

Meh, it they get the Class 3 gaming like the Governor is inclined to grant them, I would be shocked if they didn't make the next tower a 3-4 star hotel, not a 2-3 star like they have now.

Man, it is REALLY a shame that they couldn't have built downtown... DT would have become a totally legit tourist destination, which would have made other things much easier to achieve (like rail transit)...

John F · April 7th, 2007, 10:41 PM

Channelside is a "totally legit tourist destination" now.

It would have been a LARGER one if the hotel was downtown... But at the same time, which current developments and which developers wouldn't have built anything downtown if the casino was there?

Maxim98 · April 7th, 2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

Meh, it they get the Class 3 gaming like the Governor is inclined to grant them, I would be shocked if they didn't make the next tower a 3-4 star hotel, not a 2-3 star like they have now.

Man, it is REALLY a shame that they couldn't have built downtown... DT would have become a totally legit tourist destination, which would have made other things much easier to achieve (like rail transit)...

I don't have a great understanding of how the Seminole deal with the state works.... can they buy land outright and develop as they see fit as a psuedo-sovereign operation, or are they limited to "reservation" land that has been handed to them by the government?

I'm actually reserved about the idea of a casino downtown (not that it will happen).... I'm not sure something elegant enough could be conceived, to be honest. I'm not the biggest fan of the designs of their Hard Rock locations... even if the interiors are generally nice places to visit... They're so plain.

Who knows - maybe one day there will be rail connecting Tampa and Orlando with a stop at the Hard Rock to please you, Jason.

Yea, I pretty much have no idea what I'm talking to with regards to how the state deals with the Seminole Tribe and what to actually expect.

Maxim98 · April 7th, 2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John F

Channelside is a "totally legit tourist destination" now.

It would have been a LARGER one if the hotel was downtown... But at the same time, which current developments and which developers wouldn't have built anything downtown if the casino was there?

Yeah, that's true. Casinos can be extremely classy (if you haven't seen the Wynn Las Vegas, you're missing out on a really unique and luxurious experience, imo), but they aren't always. Channelside is having to fight its own demons right now, with those pesky night club owners trying to lease space and all

....

LuvHighrisers · April 8th, 2007, 06:09 AM

No the Seminoles cannot just buy land and make it a reservation. The land that they have now in East Tampa was actually given to them in the late 1970's in a special deal that the city worked out with them because when the city was just starting to rejuvenate and redevelop downtown (namely the Quad Block – i.e. One City Center, the Hyatt, etc) about 1/2 dozen Native American tombs were found which could have stopped any construction down there. So the city worked out a deal (in fact those bodies were moved out there to East Tampa to the new "reservation") and were given a Reservation in Hillsborough County. If it weren’t for those bodies being discovered, there would be no Seminole gaming palace in the Tampa Bay area. This was a good deal for the Seminoles as it gave them an “in” in a major metropolitan area. The Seminole Wars successively pushed the Seminoles further and further south (fyi - at the beginning of the 19th Century they were in North Florida). Also, as I’m sure most of you know…the city, county, and for the most part have no jurisdiction on reservations (even those that no Seminoles live on as is the case with the East Tampa property). There is even some branch of the federal marshals who are responsible for law enforcement. If the Seminoles could just buy up land, it would create a major problem for state and local government because that land would be taken off the tax roles and be developed independent of zoning ordinances.

cwat212 · April 8th, 2007, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxim98

Yeah, that's true. Casinos can be extremely classy (if you haven't seen the Wynn Las Vegas, you're missing out on a really unique and luxurious experience, imo), but they aren't always. Channelside is having to fight its own demons right now, with those pesky night club owners trying to lease space and all

....

Cartman!! is that you!!!

No...those injuns just can't buy land..dammit....j/k....

The city at one point was considering exchanging land in Ybor or DT with the Seminole Tribe.. Obviously did not happen.

JGJ2010 · April 8th, 2007, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

Meh, it they get the Class 3 gaming like the Governor is inclined to grant them, I would be shocked if they didn't make the next tower a 3-4 star hotel, not a 2-3 star like they have now.

Man, it is REALLY a shame that they couldn't have built downtown... DT would have become a totally legit tourist destination, which would have made other things much easier to achieve (like rail transit)...

Actually, Seminole Hard Rock is one of a very few 4-star hotel in Tampa Bay area according to AAA.
I think Mobil has them at 4 star too.

I do agree, businesswise the Hard Rock would have been perfect in downtown Tampa.

JGJ2010 · April 8th, 2007, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxim98

I don't have a great understanding of how the Seminole deal with the state works.... can they buy land outright and develop as they see fit as a psuedo-sovereign operation, or are they limited to "reservation" land that has been handed to them by the government?

I'm actually reserved about the idea of a casino downtown (not that it will happen).... I'm not sure something elegant enough could be conceived, to be honest. I'm not the biggest fan of the designs of their Hard Rock locations... even if the interiors are generally nice places to visit... They're so plain.

Who knows - maybe one day there will be rail connecting Tampa and Orlando with a stop at the Hard Rock to please you, Jason.

Yea, I pretty much have no idea what I'm talking to with regards to how the state deals with the Seminole Tribe and what to actually expect.

Actually, the Seminoles could own & operate a casino off their territory. Tribes have started doing just that. There are at least three casinos "off tribe" currently. That is the big controversy lately-that tribes keep expanding, raking in dough, and expanding.
In 2006, Congress introduced legislation to amend the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to restrict land avail. for gaming. I think the bill is bogged down for now.
More info:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-2078

JGJ2010 · April 8th, 2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvHighrisers

No the Seminoles cannot just buy land and make it a reservation. The land that they have now in East Tampa was actually given to them in the late 1970's in a special deal that the city worked out with them because when the city was just starting to rejuvenate and redevelop downtown (namely the Quad Block – i.e. One City Center, the Hyatt, etc) about 1/2 dozen Native American tombs were found which could have stopped any construction down there. So the city worked out a deal (in fact those bodies were moved out there to East Tampa to the new "reservation") and were given a Reservation in Hillsborough County. If it weren’t for those bodies being discovered, there would be no Seminole gaming palace in the Tampa Bay area. This was a good deal for the Seminoles as it gave them an “in” in a major metropolitan area. The Seminole Wars successively pushed the Seminoles further and further south (fyi - at the beginning of the 19th Century they were in North Florida). Also, as I’m sure most of you know…the city, county, and for the most part have no jurisdiction on reservations (even those that no Seminoles live on as is the case with the East Tampa property). There is even some branch of the federal marshals who are responsible for law enforcement. If the Seminoles could just buy up land, it would create a major problem for state and local government because that land would be taken off the tax roles and be developed independent of zoning ordinances.

Some of your info. is incorrect. Please see my previous post.
As for law enforcement on casinos, jurisdiction goes to the F.B.I. and federal laws.
So, don't get arrested in there or you'll be handed over to the FEDS.

Jasonhouse · April 8th, 2007, 09:50 AM

wow... I had no idea that the Hard Rock was rated that high... I have never stayed there, but heard from a reputable relative that it wasn't all that.

In any case, I think folks see the point I'm getting at... Class 3 gaming dramatically increases the pool of money flowing through the casino, so it's logical to provide another level of quality and service.

Catmendue2 · April 9th, 2007, 10:12 PM

Me living in Madeira Beach, I just can't wait. Bout time something fun gets built around here for adult folks and seniors to do.

Getting tired of driving to the Gulf coast casinos.

Jersey Boy · April 16th, 2007, 12:04 AM

I was at the HR today. The addition has now begun on the back of the building as well. Inside the ball room has been completely converted to just slots. Quite a few different new style slot machines, but not Level III. The side entrance/exit has not been completely closed up and a sheetrocked wall has gone up in it's place. It amazes me how bad the entire entrance, lobby and casino floors stinks like cigarette smoke. I am a smoker and even I was complaining on how bad it was. In all my trips to vegas and atlantic city i don't ever recall any hotel smelling as bad as the tampa HR.

Any other updates from anyone else?

Jasonhouse · April 16th, 2007, 08:39 AM

^lol... That's funny about the smoke... You would think that they would have the proper filtration installed, even though they probably don't have to follow the laws on such things. (which they should imo when it comes to fda, epa, osha type stuff)

Jersey Boy · April 21st, 2007, 04:16 AM

Heres the latest....

Crist, tribe set to start talks on gamlbing options at Seminole casinos

By Jon Burstein and Linda Kleindienst
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted April 13 2007

Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida are poised to begin negotiations over what gambling options the tribe can offer at its casinos.

An attorney for the Seminoles met Wednesday with Crist's chief of staff to discuss possible dates and places where the two sides can meet to start work on a possible compact, an agreement governing tribal casinos.

LocalLinks

"It was a good meeting and we hope to have more to report soon," said Erin Isaac, Crist's spokesperson.

A compact could mean bigger profits for the Seminoles, with a share going to state government. It would allow the Seminoles to install Las Vegas-style slot machines, in place of their bingo-style slot machines, and possibly table games at their seven casinos. Currently, the state doesn't get a cut of the tribe's gambling revenue.

Compact negotiations have taken on a new urgency the past few months since Broward County's pari-mutuels started opening their casinos with Las Vegas-style slots. Under federal law, Indian tribes are entitled to operate gambling at the level permitted elsewhere in the state.

The Seminoles have filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to force the U.S. Department of Interior to let them have Las Vegas-style slots without a state compact. If the Seminoles win that lawsuit, the state would get no cut of the gambling revenue.

While in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Crist met with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne.

"I want to do what is best for the people of the state, and that's why I wanted to speak to the secretary of the Interior to assure him that we want to negotiate and do what's right for the citizens of Florida," Crist said Thursday. "We believe there are revenues available to our state that should stay here."

Barry Richard, an attorney for the tribe, said he's optimistic about compact negotiations, but the tribe plans to continue moving forward with its federal lawsuit. No dates have been set for the meetings

Jersey Boy · April 26th, 2007, 09:57 PM

Does anyone have any pictures of the construction going on at the Hard Rock?

Any new updates?

stormyguy · April 26th, 2007, 10:04 PM

I went by there last night and the outside continues to progress rather quickly. It looks like all the large iron frame work is in place and they are beginning work on closing it in. When your up close to it on the west side it is looks like quiet large. I would guess that the addition is around 50 percent of the space of the current casino. Also, on the inside the sports bar is gone. It's been completely walled off.

April 7th, 2007, 10:41 PM	#46
John F Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 2,214 Likes (Received): 0	Channelside is a "totally legit tourist destination" now. It would have been a LARGER one if the hotel was downtown... But at the same time, which current developments and which developers wouldn't have built anything downtown if the casino was there? __________________ Raw Charge - Tampa Bay Lightning hockey

April 9th, 2007, 10:12 PM	#55
Catmendue2 City Beautiful Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 54 Likes (Received): 0	Great Day Me living in Madeira Beach, I just can't wait. Bout time something fun gets built around here for adult folks and seniors to do. Getting tired of driving to the Gulf coast casinos. Last edited by Catmendue2; April 9th, 2007 at 10:18 PM.

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April 7th, 2007, 12:38 AM	#41
Jersey Boy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 24 Likes (Received): 0	I would love to see what the proposed new tower is going to look like. Has anyone seen anything?

April 7th, 2007, 06:42 AM	#42
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,274 Likes (Received): 8	^Good luck with that.

April 7th, 2007, 06:08 PM	#44
Maxim98 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA / London, UK Posts: 1,244 Likes (Received): 0	Expect another white block....

April 7th, 2007, 09:14 PM	#45
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,274 Likes (Received): 8	Meh, it they get the Class 3 gaming like the Governor is inclined to grant them, I would be shocked if they didn't make the next tower a 3-4 star hotel, not a 2-3 star like they have now. Man, it is REALLY a shame that they couldn't have built downtown... DT would have become a totally legit tourist destination, which would have made other things much easier to achieve (like rail transit)...

April 8th, 2007, 06:09 AM	#49
LuvHighrisers Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa Posts: 255 Likes (Received): 0	No the Seminoles cannot just buy land and make it a reservation. The land that they have now in East Tampa was actually given to them in the late 1970's in a special deal that the city worked out with them because when the city was just starting to rejuvenate and redevelop downtown (namely the Quad Block – i.e. One City Center, the Hyatt, etc) about 1/2 dozen Native American tombs were found which could have stopped any construction down there. So the city worked out a deal (in fact those bodies were moved out there to East Tampa to the new "reservation") and were given a Reservation in Hillsborough County. If it weren’t for those bodies being discovered, there would be no Seminole gaming palace in the Tampa Bay area. This was a good deal for the Seminoles as it gave them an “in” in a major metropolitan area. The Seminole Wars successively pushed the Seminoles further and further south (fyi - at the beginning of the 19th Century they were in North Florida). Also, as I’m sure most of you know…the city, county, and for the most part have no jurisdiction on reservations (even those that no Seminoles live on as is the case with the East Tampa property). There is even some branch of the federal marshals who are responsible for law enforcement. If the Seminoles could just buy up land, it would create a major problem for state and local government because that land would be taken off the tax roles and be developed independent of zoning ordinances.

April 8th, 2007, 09:50 AM	#54
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,274 Likes (Received): 8	wow... I had no idea that the Hard Rock was rated that high... I have never stayed there, but heard from a reputable relative that it wasn't all that. In any case, I think folks see the point I'm getting at... Class 3 gaming dramatically increases the pool of money flowing through the casino, so it's logical to provide another level of quality and service.

April 16th, 2007, 12:04 AM	#56
Jersey Boy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 24 Likes (Received): 0	I was at the HR today. The addition has now begun on the back of the building as well. Inside the ball room has been completely converted to just slots. Quite a few different new style slot machines, but not Level III. The side entrance/exit has not been completely closed up and a sheetrocked wall has gone up in it's place. It amazes me how bad the entire entrance, lobby and casino floors stinks like cigarette smoke. I am a smoker and even I was complaining on how bad it was. In all my trips to vegas and atlantic city i don't ever recall any hotel smelling as bad as the tampa HR. Any other updates from anyone else?

April 16th, 2007, 08:39 AM	#57
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,274 Likes (Received): 8	^lol... That's funny about the smoke... You would think that they would have the proper filtration installed, even though they probably don't have to follow the laws on such things. (which they should imo when it comes to fda, epa, osha type stuff)

April 21st, 2007, 04:16 AM	#58
Jersey Boy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 24 Likes (Received): 0	Heres the latest.... Crist, tribe set to start talks on gamlbing options at Seminole casinos By Jon Burstein and Linda Kleindienst South Florida Sun-Sentinel Posted April 13 2007 Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida are poised to begin negotiations over what gambling options the tribe can offer at its casinos. An attorney for the Seminoles met Wednesday with Crist's chief of staff to discuss possible dates and places where the two sides can meet to start work on a possible compact, an agreement governing tribal casinos. LocalLinks "It was a good meeting and we hope to have more to report soon," said Erin Isaac, Crist's spokesperson. A compact could mean bigger profits for the Seminoles, with a share going to state government. It would allow the Seminoles to install Las Vegas-style slot machines, in place of their bingo-style slot machines, and possibly table games at their seven casinos. Currently, the state doesn't get a cut of the tribe's gambling revenue. Compact negotiations have taken on a new urgency the past few months since Broward County's pari-mutuels started opening their casinos with Las Vegas-style slots. Under federal law, Indian tribes are entitled to operate gambling at the level permitted elsewhere in the state. The Seminoles have filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to force the U.S. Department of Interior to let them have Las Vegas-style slots without a state compact. If the Seminoles win that lawsuit, the state would get no cut of the gambling revenue. While in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Crist met with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. "I want to do what is best for the people of the state, and that's why I wanted to speak to the secretary of the Interior to assure him that we want to negotiate and do what's right for the citizens of Florida," Crist said Thursday. "We believe there are revenues available to our state that should stay here." Barry Richard, an attorney for the tribe, said he's optimistic about compact negotiations, but the tribe plans to continue moving forward with its federal lawsuit. No dates have been set for the meetings

April 26th, 2007, 09:57 PM	#59
Jersey Boy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 24 Likes (Received): 0	Does anyone have any pictures of the construction going on at the Hard Rock? Any new updates?

April 26th, 2007, 10:04 PM	#60
stormyguy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampa Posts: 59 Likes (Received): 0	I went by there last night and the outside continues to progress rather quickly. It looks like all the large iron frame work is in place and they are beginning work on closing it in. When your up close to it on the west side it is looks like quiet large. I would guess that the addition is around 50 percent of the space of the current casino. Also, on the inside the sports bar is gone. It's been completely walled off.