Pictured, on the right, Senator Tom Libous talks to Tioga Downs’ owner Jeff Gural, center, and Traditions’ partner Pete Walsh, left, during a press conference held Tuesday at Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, N.Y. that announced that Traditions at the Glen would drop their proposed casino plans and partner to assist Tioga Downs in gaining the fourth gaming license that was pulled from the table last Wednesday by the Gaming Site Selection Committee in Albany; and support them for a re-bid for the license in the ‘true’ Southern Tier area. Standing in the background, on the left, is Stephen Donnelly, president of Dynamic Innovations Group who served as a spokesperson for the Traditions Resort and Casino project. (Photos by Wendy Post)
Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs, addresses the media during a press conference held Tuesday at Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, N.Y. that announced that they (Traditions at the Glen) would drop their proposed casino plans and partner to assist Tioga Downs in getting the fourth gaming license that was pulled from the table last Wednesday by the Gaming Site Selection Committee in Albany; and support them for a re-bid for the license in the ‘true’ Southern Tier area. Standing on the left is Pete Walsh, partner in the Traditions Resort and Casino project.
Donna Lupardo, Assemblywoman from New York State’s 123rd District, addresses the media during a press conference held Tuesday at Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, N.Y. that announced that Traditions at the Glen would drop their proposed casino plans and partner to assist Tioga Downs in getting the fourth gaming license that was pulled from the table last Wednesday by the Gaming Site Selection Committee in Albany; and support them for a re-bid for the fourth license in the ‘true’ Southern Tier area.
As former rivals in the Southern Tier regarding the competition of one of four full gaming licenses to be awarded within New York State, one time rivals, Traditions Resort and Casino and Tioga Downs united for an announcement at Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, N.Y. on Tuesday that will hopefully bring much needed economic relief to the region.
Delivered by Pete Walsh, a partner at Traditions at the Glen, which was the proposed site for Traditions Resort and Casino, an announcement was rendered that they (Traditions) will withdraw their application for a build, and instead support Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. in efforts to gain the fourth gaming license that was originally slated to be awarded when Proposition One, which authorized casino style gaming in New York, was approved.
“It has been a tough pill to swallow,” said Walsh, “but our main goal is to help revitalize the ‘true’ Southern Tier.”
Joining Tioga Downs’ owner Jeff Gural and Walsh were dignitaries from both Tioga and Broome counties to include State Senator Tom Libous (R-52), Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo from New York State’s 123rd District, and others.
Speaking briefly, Senator Libous, who held a press conference last Friday in Binghamton, N.Y. to announce he would be calling on New York State’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, stated, “We have unified to fight for the Southern Tier. There is no more division, and this partnership will maximize the benefit to the entire region.”
Gural, who spoke at Tuesday’s conference stated, “We reached an agreement here,” and noted that they are the only region in the state that was not awarded a gaming license, adding that Tyre, N.Y. is not considered the “true” Southern Tier.
Gural spoke further, stating that the closest casino to Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. is over 100 miles away, and that the Lago Resort and Casino is “risky business” with one casino four miles away, and several others in close proximity.
“They made a mistake (the gaming site selection board),” added Gural, “and we elected our Governor, so he needs to fix it.”
Gural announced plans to write to New York’s Gaming Commission, and noted that it would not cost New York State one penny to award them a license.
“We can be running in a couple of months,” Gural added.
Senator Libous reiterated that he has had conversations with Governor Cuomo, and that he will be contacting him again.
“I expressed my disappointment,” said Libous, “and the way to make things good would be to start with a fourth license. What we are asking for is a re-bid for the fourth license in the Southern Tier.”
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, who also spoke briefly at the conference, stated that the full gaming license is essential for the economy.
“We tried to keep politics out,” added Lupardo, “but we can guarantee we will give this one hundred percent.”
Assemblyman Clifford Crouch of the 122nd Assembly District also spoke briefly, stating that he was happy that the Walsh family (Traditions) and Gural (Tioga Downs) are coming together.
Senator Tom Libous, during his comments, also commended the Walsh family, and noted that Jeff Gural has certainly made significant investments, as well, to the entire process through his own investments.
“The odds are good that we will be successful in gaining a re-bid for the ‘true’ Southern Tier to obtain a full gaming license,” added Libous.
When asked by a member of the media what the odds would be, Libous felt comfortable stating that there would be a 50-50 chance on making it happen.
Gural once again addressed the media and dignitaries present to offer insight as to why he felt the gaming site selection committee had made a mistake.
Gural stated, “When I saw a map of where all the casinos are located along the thruway corridor, I couldn’t believe it.”
As far as the Indian Nation Territory, where casinos such as Turning Stone are located, Gural mentioned that after years of trying to negotiate with the tribal nations, that they finally agreed to pay a $50 million annual fee to remain exempt from any applications being rendered within their territory for a full gaming license.
But the Indian Nation, as well as members of the Southern Tier Region, was also duped as Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, N.Y. is expected to pull at least 30 percent of the business from Turning Stone Casino, and another 20 percent from the Finger Lakes Casino.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Gural as he addressed the media on Tuesday. He also noted the withdrawal of a fourth license award as unconstitutional, as it was recorded in the original parameters set forth for Proposition One.
In Orange County, Gural stated that a potential applicant offered $500 million for a build, but was told, by Governor Cuomo, that they would rather inject the revenues projected from gaming to be placed in areas that are suffering, economically.
In fact, and according to Gural, Governor Andrew Cuomo made a visit to the Southern Tier on Nov. 6, 2013, just one day following the passage of Proposition One, to praise its passage.
“The Southern Tier was short changed,” said Libous in his earlier address to media, adding, “The Governor must have had a reason for coming here.”
As far as votes on Proposition One back on Nov. 5, 2013, the Southern Tier passed it by a margin of approximately 70 Yes votes, and 30 No votes. In Tyre, N.Y., Gural stated, the vote on Proposition One was defeated, and even protested during the Southern Tier’s public hearing hosted by the commission’s siting committee in the fall.
Tyre, N.Y. has a high population of Amish residents, and 40 of them arrived at the Southern Tier hearing in Ithaca, N.Y., which is uncommon, according to Gural.
As for Pete Walsh and the Walsh family from Traditions at the Glen, the sacrifice to let go of their plans for their own resort and casino was huge.
“Outside of the money,” stated Walsh of the $1 million dollar initial application fee, “you spend time and energy.”
“We had to swallow hard,” said Walsh, “but our commitment has always been to do what is best for the community.
