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Chris20 · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:41 am Post subject:

hahahahaa.....holyoke has always been a curious omission on the hard rock roster.....it just fits right in.

BostonBert · Senior Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 1229

Haha, Has anybody from the Hard Rock actually visited Holyoke?

Something tells me they just went to the town website and watched the pictures scroll at the top: http://www.holyoke.org/
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TheInsider · Hall of Fame Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 2065

I think it's because the new mayor is a complete idiot. He just sat there with a blank stare and had no question? Even if He doesn't want it it's not up to him. It's up for vote. So what if the people vote it in. Wouldn't you think he should be prepared? Guess that's what they get for voting for a college kid thats never had a job.. If you read the massive article people from hard rock met with him, laid out the proposal saying the city will get 7m a year. It said Morse sat there and said nothing, then had no questions for them and then the meeting was over. The only thing this guy cares about is his career and the people up by mt Tom. You know the ones with jobs and money.

LooneyGoon · Senior Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 969

^
Casinos = -EV. BIGTIME.
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econalum · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:04 am Post subject:

Holyoke - left behind a century ago. "Think small, be small." That could be their city motto - known for little except for their St. Paddy's parade.

BTW - he WORST SALSA I ever had was in the Stockholm Hard Rock cafe. Ketchup with some black pepper. Inedible.

The arc from about Gardener, west to near Adams, and south toward Connecticut - essentially West Central and Western MASS, with the exception of the area dependent, or near, UMASS, and that near Tanglewood - remains an economic backwater. It is a mini-version of the Far Western states, that are losing jobs and population, to the coasts.

The de-industrialization of Western Mass is a shame, a fact, and it seems that almost nothing has been done to address it for 5 or 6 governors.

Inside 495 is/will be fine, perhaps extending to Worcester, with little state involvement due to technology and proximity to Boston. Every other time I drive to UMASS, I take Rte 9 or 20, and experience the slow disintegration of many towns. Sad.
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UMass02 · Hall of Fame Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 2144

TheInsider · Hall of Fame Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 2065

Morse talks about the computing center a lot. Problem is, there really aren't any jobs to go along with it. Your totally right about ward 7. It makes me wonder if Morse really doesn't want a casino or doesnt care. I think he saw a chance to win. Casino wants to go into ward 7. Ward 7 is the largest ward, and I think he thought that this was his best chance to win. Pluta made a mistake by not going to that ward to let them know the casino was up to the people and not the mayor. Pluta vetoed the tax rate because I believe it would raise taxes on the citizens by more than 10%. I guess Morse had no problem doing that.

UMass02 · Hall of Fame Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 2144

^
Agreed. I don't see the computing center attracting many jobs. It's designed to be accessed over the Internet by users at UMass, BU, MIT, etc. It would be great to see spinoff business pop up down by the canals, but it would require a significant amount of cleanup.

I also agree about your comment with Morse and the casino.

sleepy sheep · Senior Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 939 Location: Boston

Please don't take it the wrong way because I love Amherst and the rest of WMass, but I wonder if WMass should be marketed like a sunbelt of sorts.

Low cost of living, good infrastructure, educated workers, many universities.

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 12:28 pm Post subject:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/02/22/casino_developers_contend_with_traffic_concerns/http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/02/22/casino_developers_contend_with_traffic_concerns/

http://www.boston.com/business/gallery/casinorenderings/
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TheInsider · Hall of Fame Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 2065

Milford and Palmer/brim field aren't very far away from each other.

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:18 am Post subject:

35 or so minutes to Brimfield, 40-45 minutes to Palmer.

But I'm not sure what your point is. Mohegan and Foxwoods are 5 minutes away from each other.
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Chris20 · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:51 am Post subject:

So save me some research.....anyone that's following the casino stuff closely, are there strong "favorites" as to where these casinos end up? If you had to bet, where will there be casinos in MA in 10 years?

InnervisionsUMASS · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:09 am Post subject:

Palmer, to me, is the only clear cut favorite. In the south region you have a good battle between Middleborough and Fall River... I'm not really sure who the favorite there is. In the east region, it's pretty much Suffolk Downs, Foxborough and Milford, which I think Milford is the favorite due to less hurdles (and a "willingness to listen" community). Out west, there is talk about Springfield and Holyoke as well, but it looks like Palmer is already set up to go and has been for many years now.

So, I'd say Palmer and Milford for sure... no idea about down towards the Cape, though.

Keep in mind, there will be one slot parlor somewhere as well, so look for Suffolk Downs or the Middleborough tribe locations to vie for that if they don't get a full casino, as well as possibly the old dog track in Mansfield taking a shot at it.
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Stop waiting for UMass to do something big and help UMass do something big. - Shades

UMass02 · Hall of Fame Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 2144

Out in western Mass, Palmer looks like the clear-cut favorite. The land all around the Palmer exit has been optioned. Seems most people in Palmer are in favor of the casino.

Other WMass candidates include

1. Springfield. The plan is to put the casino right smack-dab in the middle of the city with NO easy highway access to the site.

2. Holyoke. Steadfast opposition from the mayor and most of the City Council. It is doubtful a binding vote would pass the electorate since the casino is planned for a neighborhood where EVERYBODY votes.

3. Chicopee. Picked up the scent of a casino after Holyoke's opposition was made known. A longshot.

4. Brimfield. Owner of Palmer Paving owns a large tract of land adjacent to the turnpike on the Brimfield-Warren town line. The orginal plan was to build an exit directly off the turnpike into the casino; looks like the exit may now need to be built on a town road in Warren. No water or sewer services exist in Brimfield.