Albany Upgrades Bidding Stakes For Proposed Aqueduct Casino
03 Novembro 2009 - 7:55PM
Dow Jones News
New York Gov. David Paterson is raising the ante for bidders
vying to turn a dilapidated horse-racing track in Queens County
into New York City's first casino-type destination.
Paterson's office recently notified six bidders, including
gambling heavyweights Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN), MGM Mirage (MGM)
and Penn National Gaming Inc. (PENN) that the state wants a $200
million minimum upfront payment for the licensing fee. The
interested parties have until Friday to respond and also to provide
documentation that they have the funds on hand.
It's another twist in the bidding process for the 115-year old
Aqueduct Race Track in Jamaica, N.Y. Some bidders privately
expressed frustration that it is taking so long for the state to
select a winner and said they received indications from Albany, the
state capital, that a decision would be made by Labor Day.
Nonetheless, about half of the bidders are on board with the new
terms, including Penn National which already pledged $250 million
upfront, the highest so far, as part of its initial proposal.
Morgan Hook, a spokesman for Patterson, would only confirm that
a letter was sent to the bidders Friday and said a timetable for a
decision was never established. The governor, speaker of the
assembly and senate president must unanimously agree on the winning
bidder.
The bidders are aiming to renovate Aqueduct with thousands of
video slot machines and other entertainment and dining fare. The
racino--a horse track which has a casino--stands to generate up to
$1 million a day in revenue for the state.
"We have no problem meeting the terms outlined in the letter
regarding a minimum upfront payment," said William Bissett,
president of Delaware North Companies' Gaming & Entertainment
subsidiary. Delaware North is leading the bid for Aqueduct Gaming
LLC. The company, which originally proposed a $100 million upfront
payment, actually won the Aqueduct contract last year, but failed
to secure the necessary financing amid the credit crunch.
Don Peebles, a Washington D.C-based real estate developer and
hotel owner who is spearheading a bid with MGM Mirage and Harbinger
Capital, said his group will increase its minimum upfront and has
already submitted the requested documentation.
He said the big question is what happens once the winner is
announced.
"What assurances will the state provide that the process will
move more expeditiously than it has so far?," he asked.
-By A.D. Pruitt, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2197;
angela.pruitt@dowjones.com
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