The scheduled meeting between Ameristar and Sasrno came as a surprise to councilors, who expressed concerns that they were being shut out of the casino approval process.
A photo illustration, based on a 2010 aerial view of the site, shows the area purchased by Ameristar. Page Boulevard is at the left of the photo. The buildings at the site have since been razed. SPRINGFIELD — Ameristar Casino Inc. officials plan to hold their first meeting next week with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno to discuss the company’s East Springfield casino plan.
Speaking at a City Council public hearing, Ameristar’s vice president Troy Stremming said the Las Vegas-based company will meet with the mayor on Aug. 27. Other casino developers are also scheduled to sit down with Sarno that day, according to Stremming, who did not identify the other companies.
“It’s a little hard for us to give you more details because we are learning more (about the city’s review process) as we go,” Stremming said.
Sarno surprised Ameristar officials last week by announcing that he planned to select one casino proposal and bring it to city voters in a referendum.
The scheduled meeting between Ameristar and Sarno came as a surprise to councilors, who expressed concerns that they were being shut out of the casino approval process.
City Councilor Timothy J. Rooke said the casino will be the largest private development in city history, and the council has as much, if not more, legal authority than the mayor over its approval.
“This isn’t about who’s driving the bus. We need to let everyone know we’re going to work cooperatively,” Rooke said.
Ameristar – which paid $16 million for 41 acres off Interstate 291 and Page Boulevard – has made the only formal casino proposal for Springfield. But as many as three other companies – Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, MGM Resorts and Penn National Gaming – may be planning casinos for the city’s downtown.
City Council President James J. Ferrera III said he learned of the meeting late Monday afternoon, and said city councilors will be invited to meet with the casino developers.
At Monday’s public hearing, Ameristar repeated the broad outlines of a proposal initially unveiled at a public hearing in December.
The project itself will represent an investment of at least $500 million, with 4,000 slot machines,100 table games and 650 hotel rooms, according to Stremming.
The economic benefits will include 2,800 permanent jobs, 2,000 construction jobs and as many as 3,000 jobs in related, spin-off work involving suppliers, cleaners and subcontractors, Stremming said.
Responding to a question from City Councilor Timothy Allen, Stremming said the company’s strongest selling points include sound finances and an unblemished reputation with no history of regulatory trouble with the nine casinos it operates.
“We can fly through the background investigation by the commonwealth,” he said.
Rooke asked the company for more details on annual revenue and number of employees at its other casinos, many of which are located in the mid-west.
Rooke said the council must ratify any agreement between the casino and the city, and will have authority over zone changes, permits and land transfers.