Do Casinos Have Theatres?

ROCHESTER - Do casinos have theatres? Hmm, the obvious answer is yes. 'Why do you ask?' you may be thinking. Well, because we have a large scale project that wants a theatre but doesn't have one. We have an arts community that is telling us (and not at all showing us) we need one. This reminded me of the fact that in the not too distant past there was quite a bit of clamoring for a downtown casino. Call it Niagara Falls envy if you will, but a casino can be an economic driver if done properly. Oh, and just maybe the builders would see fit to add a theatre space somewhere among the buffet tables and the craps tables because, you know, sometimes casinos like to have shows.

Renaissance Square is a worthy project as a transportation hub and an MCC campus. We need both of those things. We don't need a theatre. Boo hoo arts community, but if you can't convince private folks to raise the money, I don't want my tax dollars subsidizing it. Unlike our County leaders, I believe in market capitalism. I will keep attending Eastman and the Auditorium in the mean time. When we get so smug and cultured that we need another artistic outlet, I am certain some enterprising folks will develop a space for us.

Casinos are not exactly cultured, but they don't have to be seedy, either. There is a huge difference between the run down gambling halls and the entertainment center casinos. Sure, they both lend themselves to the enabling of gambling addicts. So does the State of New York and its lottery. But, casinos can also represent an entertainment venue that goes beyond nickel slots and all you can eat crab legs. Some of the best chefs in the world maintain restaurants in casinos. Some of the most popular shows in the world are on stage in casinos.

I propose that we allow a downtown casino to be built. The beauty is that this project would be funded privately, not by a government. We would also snag a downtown theatre out of it, assuming the builders follow the blueprint of every other casino in the world. It would add two entertainment options to our downtown, provide construction and best of all, keep the public from funding a theatre the market can't support.