Nassau rolls dice on Coliseum casino plans

Las Vegas developer with

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

It could be one of the largest private endeavors in Nassau County’s history — and already one of its most controversial.

The Las Vegas Sands resort company wants to develop the 80 acres of vacant land surrounding the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum — an investment that could well exceed $1 billion. While some have championed a new commercial center complete with a hotel, celebrity chef restaurants, a convention center and a live performance venue, it’s the casino element some aren’t sure is worth the gamble.

Like Hofstra University president Susan Poser.

“So many people in our community are expressing the idea that this is already a done deal, and therefore not understanding that we are at the beginning of a competitive and quite lengthy process,” Poser told the hundreds of people who packed her school’s Monroe Lecture Hall on Saturday.

Poser has made her opposition to the casino project no secret, writing in one published opinion piece that it was a “very bad idea.”

The New York Gaming Facility Location Board opened the window last month for the bidding of three downstate casino licenses. Four licenses are already available upstate. To be successful, a bidder must win approval from a local community advisory committee made up of appointees by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, state Sen. Kevin Thomas, Assemblyman Edward Ra and Hempstead town supervisor Don Clavin.

Joe Harrison, for one, hopes a casino project at the Hub moves forward.

“For economic growth, it’s going to be a great thing for the area,” said Harrison, vice president for Local One Elevator Constructors. “We’re looking for families to stay and earn living wages.”

The gaming location board explained to those attending the forum how the application process would work. Las Vegas Sands, for example, would have to demonstrate positives in several categories that include local impact, workforce enhancement, and how it will ensure diversity.

Most of the attention, however, will be on economic activity and development. Anyone developing through one of these licenses must work to provide as much tax revenue for state and local governments as possible, and must prove the benefits of the specific site they want to develop. They must also already have expertise in developing and operating a quality gaming facility, as well