The NHL Panthers have "taken several Las Vegas casino operators on tours of the Sunrise property and discussed the possibility of building a destination resort casino on the land surrounding the arena if Florida legislators approve an expansion of casino gambling," according to a front-page piece by Elaine Walker of the MIAMI HERALD. The plan is "similar to one being explored by" the Dolphins. Representatives from Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts Int'l "confirmed they have looked at the property." Wynn Resorts has "also visited the site." BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise sits on 130 acres "owned by Broward County; the Panthers hold a long-term lease on the property." Panthers President & COO Michael Yormark said "about 90 acres of that land is undeveloped and largely used for surface parking lots." In addition to available land, the arena site is "easily accessed by major highways, with roads already built to withstand large crowds." It is also near Sawgrass Mills shopping complex, the state’s "second-largest tourist attraction that draws about 30 million visitors per year." The Panthers said they "have already cleared the concept with the NHL." Yormark: "The league has given us the green light if we choose to pursue this opportunity." Legislative bills proposed by state Rep. Erick Fresen and state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff "would allow for up to two destination casino resorts in Miami-Dade and one in Broward" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/15).
GENERATING MONEY: A representative of Patriots Owner Robert Kraft said yesterday that a casino "envisioned by Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn would generate at least $10 million annually in municipal taxes for Foxborough, a sum that would equal nearly one-third of the current local tax levy." In Boston, Mark Arsenault notes Kraft’s company "issued the estimate in a statement last evening as part of its continued effort to win local support, but did not explain how the figure was calculated." The figure does "not include potential mitigation payments or infrastructure improvements the town could ask Wynn to provide on top of the annual local tax payments, if the town decides to negotiate an agreement to host the project" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/15).
