TORONTO – As Toronto’s casino debate heats up, MGM and Cadillac Fairview have unveiled their vision for a casino resort on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds.
Their plan includes a casino, a 1200-room hotel, 10 lake-view restaurants, 800 to 900-seat theatre to permanently house Cirque de Soleil, a large shopping centre, 12,000 underground parking spaces. They also plan on sprucing up the trails at Ontario Place.
“The way to fix Ontario Place is to have an economic catalyst which will have tremendous economic spinoff benefits,” Cadillac Fairview VP Wayne Barwise explained.
“The look, the feel, the configuration becomes much newer, much fresher, frankly I think much more inviting,” MGM’S Alan Feldman said.
All of the existing buildings on the Ex grounds would remain along with space for the Midway.
MGM and Cadillac Fairview said they would underwrite the CNE losses related to shutting down the Ex’s already-existing casino.
The plan also includes adding a floor to the Direct Energy Centre to create more convention space.
It would take three years to build the resort and the plan would cost between $3-billion and $4-billion.
Feldman said nothing is fixed in stone. It’s just an example of the potential that exists.
The companies unveiled a website last month to sell their push to build on the city-owned Exhibition grounds.
Las Vegas Sands and Caesar’s Entertainment have also expressed interest in building a casino complex in Toronto. Both companies want to build at the Metro Convention Centre.
The city held public consultations on a proposed casino in January and the city manager is expected to report back on that feedback this month. Council is expected to debate the issue in April.
Mayor Rob Ford has said he approves of a casino and said he’d like to see one built in the Port Lands or at Exhibition Place.
“I don’t know how people can refuse $150-million or $200-million of revenue and 10,000 good-paying jobs. I don’t see how they can say no to that,” he said last month.
“I just wouldn’t want to lose it to Vaughan or Mississauga.”
Toronto’s Board of Health last month reaffirmed its position against building a casino in Toronto.
A Toronto casino was pitched as part of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) modernization plan.
Gas Prices
680News Android App
Weather Guarantee
Advertiser Directory
Yes, but you have to admit, Toronto only caters to one class of people, and that is rich people.
MGM = make greed money !!!!!!!!!! Vancouver said NO, so should Toronto.
Another playground and ivory towers for the rich. What about more subways? And do the words “Affordable Housing” even exist anymore?
Ridiculous!
The CNE is sitting doing nothing most of the time..this is a huge project for Toronto.
All major cities have them & this has great access with the Go Train.
If you don’t like it, don’t go.
It certainly will not affect people who are not interested & give pleasure to those who are.
There’s been a big beautiful casino in Montreal for years & the city has not gone crazy.
Look what the casino did for a previously almost-done Niagara Falls! It gave it life again!
Good Luck to all!
After Casino is the prostitution building plan, are you going to live there to make your money with no TAX??? who pay your healthy use??? body guard use??? your kids protect use???
Ridiculous supporter!!! please get far away from this society,people here need clean culture, need community but not spiritual drug and dirty money just for ROD FORD government to get more revenue without PAY TAX!!!
Are you married? do you have kids?? Are you a normal employee living the normal life??? which percetage population you present for????
“If you dont like it dont go” is a very selfish and narrow minded view. The proposed casino effects the entire society, not just you. You clearly don’t understand the negative impact this will have on the infrastructure, as many people have already noted. Comparing Niagara Falls with Toronto is laughable. It’s still pretty sketchy and not exactly on the top 10 best places to live. Would you live in Niagara Falls? We LIVE here, remember? Its not just about visiting a casino, but actually living with it and all the negative side effects that will last for years to come.
Go Train access is terrific! I do hope they have access by taxi as well, is the only
recommendation I can make to them…the temporary casinos at the CNE were not
possible to reach if one is handicapped.
Or, ideally, a shuttle bus from Go Train would work great! (obviously will need a few:)
Worst Idea EVER. The last thing this city needs is a place like that. Why dont we take care of the ‘small’ transit issue we have first? I live near to this area and more people is the LAST thing this area needs. It makes me sick every time I think about it. What has happened to this city:(
Does this mean free Parking if you gamble at the casino? HAHAHAH yeah right Welcome to TORONTO the city that will nickle and dime you….. It sounds like a $35 parking fee coming our way and more taxes to pay for new sidewalks ,new reno to the GO etc… to keep things up going for all the new traffic coming through.
So does this mean Toronto FC will be moving?
FYI how big is the parking lot falls casino?
cheers peeps
if the stupidity prevails than the casino will be built, there really is no value of casino of being built in downtown core nor it will increase “tourism revenue”, the only thing it will do is cannibalize existing industry and doesn’t create new money. You don’t hear world class city clamouring to build casino to increase tourism revenue.
I wonder how much money Paul Godfrey will get under the table
I’m all for it! I’d rather see a condo, hotel, and convention center built than another condo building!!! However, I’m guessing the Metro Convention Center doesn’t feel the same way lol
I think by building this shopping/hotel/convention center it would help develop Toronto’s waterfront.
10,000 parking spaces seems quite excessive. I can only imagine the gridlock
This is the love of money…greed, greed, greed at the expense of a society. Just because there will be money coming in doesn’t justify the means. If this goes through, and you think things are bad now…just wait. You aint seen nothin yet.
I have lived in casino cities. I have traveled and spent extensive time in casino cities. I can tell you that there absolutely is a H-U-G-E social toll taken on the host city and especially the host neighbourhoods. You think Parkdale is bad now? You just wait until this goes in. (we all know it will go in, probably another one downtown as well) Damn shame they are taking a very nice urban park like the EX and are willing to let it go,all in the name of the almighty $$. Citizens be damned.
Awesome!!!