Homecoming Week vs South Dakota

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I should expand further on a few points… I listened to the Casino GM speak at a dinner last Thursday he’s worked all over the country for different casino “brands” most recently Caesars. A couple really neat tidbits:

- The will hire around 200 total dealers and on dealer night where they train, evaluate and hire dealers they had 1,000 dealers show up and shut it down because of so much interest. Said they were thrilled with the excitement and turnout.

- This will be the flagship casino for Churchill Downs so far for one of the fastest growing gaming companies in the world that is not in the top 5 to 10 in the world largest gaming companies. This is the largest initial investment they’ve made in a casino to date.

- The amenities in the hotel and the finishings are on par with what you’d get at a JW Marriott in Indianapolis. They did not skimp on the details in this facility.

- they initially did not plan on having live poker, but had so much interest from the general public that they added to the floor.

- if things just go surprisingly well, they have plenty a room for expansion in the future.

- biggest challenge no surprise here local housing!! he said a lot of people that are coming in from out of town applying for these jobs are really having a hard time finding housing. On this note I am personally going to be on a local committee has been formed to help address this challenge. Again with the casino, ENTEK, Wabash Valley Resources and expansion at Heartland Steel and and Saturn Pet the need for housing is both a massive problem and big opportunity. Would help if interest rates weren’t through the rough for potential builders/investors. A couple local builders working hard to address the concern and meet the need. We have some time - but not a lot. If anyone reading this has capital might be a nice opportunity for you!

- targeting an April 1, 2024 grand opening. Will have some live entertainment, small solo acts and what not on the main floor but really not going to have a lot of live music ask that’s not the goal here with this facility.

* I only bring this up because it’s on topic here - well not the topic of the thread but what the thread had turned into. The casino had to go through referendum and faced a lot of adversity. I’m not sure how the project will turn out long-term. We’ve got a lot of time to figure that out and debate that I’m sure! But damn - the place looks amazing, the excitement is real and I can’t imagine if we let some negativity and distractions inhibit our ability as a community to see this through!
 
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IndyTreeFan said:
I know you are a very community minded person, meistro, and that you aren't for throwing around money willy-nilly. However, I have never been convinced that projects like this ever pan out the way they're advertised. Grand Park in Westfield is a great example. From what I understand, they have tried to sell it off to private investors since it's costing the municipality so much money. I hope it works out differently for Terre Haute, but if I lived there, I'd be a hard pass on this project until someone can show me that there is one out there that isn't a drain on community finances. Taxes will eventually be raised to pay for upkeep, or it will fall into disrepair or be sold. If it's such a great idea that will generate so much revenue, why hasn't some business done it?

I could be wrong, and if I am, I will gladly eat crow. I've just seen a lot of these types of "wonder weapons" for tourism that never seem to pan out. Here's your chance to tell everyone that I'm wrong and why. I will gladly concede to you with just a little bit of evidence!!! (y)
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This will be on a smaller scale, but first class. The study we had commissioned shows the fieldhouse and outdoor complex a money maker. The water park/pool not so much. That's why they are looking at expanding the Deming pool to include a lazy river, zero entry pool and water slides. The water park is mostly a quality of life project for the community. The sports complex would be for tourism to go along with the casino, convention center etc. It's not a silver bullet, just another tool to make the community a destination and a more desirable place for all of us.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
It’s had really good early momentum. The Indiana Fire Fighter Convention was here this past year and I believe it’s an annual location at this point could be wrong. Next year the Indiana Airport Association annual convention will be here. The facility has hosted countless events like the Chamber Annual Dinner, the United Way Annual Dinner. So it’s defiantly bringing more people and attention to downtown - you’ve got a new hotel that is supposed to be coming soon, you’ve got a couple newer restaurants downtown you’ve got the Bird Museum.

Honestly… Had we listened to some of the people in Terre Haute afraid to take a chance we’d have none of this because they didn’t want the Terre Haute House demolished. We wouldn’t have a state-of-the-art healthcare facility on the north end of town because we can’t close world-famous north 7th street.

Everyone always has a reason to mouth breathe and object to these sorts of projects - they are rarely on the right side of history!
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Once we get the soon to be announced hotels downtown, the convention center should really take off. There simply aren't enough hotel rooms in Terre Haute.
 
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Sycamorefan96 said:
So profitable that the county government has to build it, and they will gradually raise everyone's taxes in VC to pay for it. At least when Marion County paid $720M for Lucas Oil Stadium it actually draws in people for NFL Football, B1G Football, and Final 4's. Youth sports doesn't draw anything other than parents. As for the water park, what would be an improvement is if Terre Haute could actually keep their city pools open consistently.
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Youth sports is a tremendous draw. Parents spend crazy amounts of money on hotels, food, shopping, etc.
 

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meistro said:
This will be on a smaller scale, but first class. The study we had commissioned shows the fieldhouse and outdoor complex a money maker. The water park/pool not so much. That's why they are looking at expanding the Deming pool to include a lazy river, zero entry pool and water slides. The water park is mostly a quality of life project for the community. The sports complex would be for tourism to go along with the casino, convention center etc. It's not a silver bullet, just another tool to make the community a destination and a more desirable place for all of us.
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And that's what I've been wanting to hear - a piece of a larger, more comprehensive vision. In that context, I would be far more likely to support this project if I lived over there. Nicely done! Thanks for your response!!!
 
I'm just going to leave this here as I get ready to go to bed. I think we all appreciate trying to make the community a better place, but spending whatever amount on "build it and they will come projects" is just not smart. There's barely over 100K people in Vigo County which means that each person would be on the hook for around $2000 for this project alone. Oh sure, the county will get some grants, but the taxpayers will still be on the hook. Not to turn this into a political thing, but two out of three commissioners in this county are Republican which would have been unheard of not too long ago, and I promise that most of the people that voted R didn't do so because they wanted the county to blow money and hike taxes. Let's be honest with each other, if the people of VC wanted the county to blow money on unnecessary projects and ultimately raise their taxes they would have happily voted for the property tax hike for the schools, which failed miserably. Also it should be strongly noted that "our children" attend those schools while this sports park would be mostly used by "out of town children".
 
Sycamorefan96 said:
I'm just going to leave this here as I get ready to go to bed. I think we all appreciate trying to make the community a better place, but spending whatever amount on "build it and they will come projects" is just not smart. There's barely over 100K people in Vigo County which means that each person would be on the hook for around $2000 for this project alone. Oh sure, the county will get some grants, but the taxpayers will still be on the hook. Not to turn this into a political thing, but two out of three commissioners in this county are Republican which would have been unheard of not too long ago, and I promise that most of the people that voted R didn't do so because they wanted the county to blow money and hike taxes. Let's be honest with each other, if the people of VC wanted the county to blow money on unnecessary projects and ultimately raise their taxes they would have happily voted for the property tax hike for the schools, which failed miserably. Also it should be strongly noted that "our children" attend those schools while this sports park would be mostly used by "out of town children".
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I only voted against the school referendum because the previous referendum they gave the teachers a “raise” that was peanuts while the top 10 highest paid school employees got thousands in raises.
 

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Sycamorefan96 said:
I'm just going to leave this here as I get ready to go to bed. I think we all appreciate trying to make the community a better place, but spending whatever amount on "build it and they will come projects" is just not smart. There's barely over 100K people in Vigo County which means that each person would be on the hook for around $2000 for this project alone. Oh sure, the county will get some grants, but the taxpayers will still be on the hook. Not to turn this into a political thing, but two out of three commissioners in this county are Republican which would have been unheard of not too long ago, and I promise that most of the people that voted R didn't do so because they wanted the county to blow money and hike taxes. Let's be honest with each other, if the people of VC wanted the county to blow money on unnecessary projects and ultimately raise their taxes they would have happily voted for the property tax hike for the schools, which failed miserably. Also it should be strongly noted that "our children" attend those schools while this sports park would be mostly used by "out of town children".
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All 3 are Republican. Once again you have no idea what you are talking about. I love that you have opinions on these issues and that’s great but for whatever reason you just always do this thing here… Now all the sudden you are for “our children”. We know you stand for raising taxes and you don’t want to pay to make this place better - we established that. And yet you’re willing to complain about Greg Gibson and what you view as corruption who has been willing to pay to make Terre Haute better. Also you don’t support his efforts. So you’re pretty much against everything that resembles progress or an attempt at that in the face of “this is what Republicans are supposed to stand for” so I’m going to die on that hill. Good for you! 👏
 
Sycamorefan96 said:
I'm just going to leave this here as I get ready to go to bed. I think we all appreciate trying to make the community a better place, but spending whatever amount on "build it and they will come projects" is just not smart. There's barely over 100K people in Vigo County which means that each person would be on the hook for around $2000 for this project alone. Oh sure, the county will get some grants, but the taxpayers will still be on the hook. Not to turn this into a political thing, but two out of three commissioners in this county are Republican which would have been unheard of not too long ago, and I promise that most of the people that voted R didn't do so because they wanted the county to blow money and hike taxes. Let's be honest with each other, if the people of VC wanted the county to blow money on unnecessary projects and ultimately raise their taxes they would have happily voted for the property tax hike for the schools, which failed miserably. Also it should be strongly noted that "our children" attend those schools while this sports park would be mostly used by "out of town children".
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So you would rather prop up a football mess that draws 3k people 4 times a year that the majority DONT buy hotel rooms or eat out cause they are local instead a facility who cans average 6-10k every week of the year that most eat out and hotel rooms. Dude that makes zero sense!!!
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
All 3 are Republican. Once again you have no idea what you are talking about. I love that you have opinions on these issues and that’s great but for whatever reason you just always do this thing here… Now all the sudden you are for “our children”. We know you stand for raising taxes and you don’t want to pay to make this place better - we established that. And yet you’re willing to complain about Greg Gibson and what you view as corruption who has been willing to pay to make Terre Haute better. Also you don’t support his efforts. So you’re pretty much against everything that resembles progress or an attempt at that in the face of “this is what Republicans are supposed to stand for” so I’m going to die on that hill. Good for you! 👏
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Must've struck a nerve. I know you're probably buddies with the commissioners, since you act like you know everyone, and I think you said your wife is a teacher, so that likely explains it.

I happen to strongly believe in fiscal responsibility. Saying that if I don't support every single idea that the city/county government or Greg Gibson comes up with means that I'm against "progress" is just nonsense. 200 million dollars isn't exactly chump change. Pretty sure INDOT built all of 641 for 250 million.
 
EvilleSycamore said:
So you would rather prop up a football mess that draws 3k people 4 times a year that the majority DONT buy hotel rooms or eat out cause they are local instead a facility who cans average 6-10k every week of the year that most eat out and hotel rooms. Dude that makes zero sense!!!
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It's called sarcasm dude. I would be against the county funding either one. I kind of doubt youth sports draws 6-10K every week. About the only people that care are the parents. During the school year (Spring and Fall Only for outdoors) I'm sure they mostly only play on weekends if they're traveling. School is only out for barely over 2 months in the summer.
 

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Sycamorefan96 said:
It's called sarcasm dude. I would be against the county funding either one. I kind of doubt youth sports draws 6-10K every week. About the only people that care are the parents. During the school year (Spring and Fall Only for outdoors) I'm sure they mostly only play on weekends if they're traveling. School is only out for barely over 2 months in the summer.
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I am not saying your dumb or stupid or anything of the nature, but it appears you don't understand how big of a deal this youth travel/aau stuff has become. I actually don't like the way youth sports have become this huge expensive thing because it feels like it takes the fun/being a kid part out of it. However, it is where youth sports have gone and if we can use that to our city/county's advantage, I say go for it. We are centrally located between many big cities and would provide a closer place for many to play. If been upset over some of our spending, but this one seems like a good investment, IMO.
 
My daughter is playing in a huge soccer tournament this weekend in Indy. It’s going to be a $7-800 weekend for us easily. Gas, hotel for 2 nights, food, entertainment, concessions….This is such a big tournament it’s being held at multiple venues so your talking probably 100 teams
 
I knew a guy a few years ago who took out a $25,000 loan to travel around and watch his kid play AAU sports. It's stupid, it's ruining sports (killing high school sports), but it is where our corrupt, bankrupt culture has gone. Someone is going to get all that money, and if Terre Haute can get some of it, more power to them if they can at least break even on the facility, because it will mean more money circulating around the community.
 
Sycamorefan96 said:
Must've struck a nerve. I know you're probably buddies with the commissioners, since you act like you know everyone, and I think you said your wife is a teacher, so that likely explains it.

I happen to strongly believe in fiscal responsibility. Saying that if I don't support every single idea that the city/county government or Greg Gibson comes up with means that I'm against "progress" is just nonsense. 200 million dollars isn't exactly chump change. Pretty sure INDOT built all of 641 for 250 million.
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$250M for 6.2 miles of road? Seems a bit steep; land acquisition shouldn't have been a large bill...

Guessing there were some "heavy thumbs" when the concrete was weighed
 
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