Opposition Group Mad About LVS Outsourcing Nassau Coliseum Obligations

Posted on: September 20, 2024, 04:01h. 

Last updated on: September 20, 2024, 04:01h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.

A group that’s consistently opposed the idea of a casino hotel on Long Island is decrying Las Vegas Sands’ outsourcing of operational duties for events at Nassau Coliseum — the site of the company’s proposed integrated resort.

Sands Long Island
Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. A casino opposition group says Las Vegas Sands should be outsourcing operation of the venue. (Image: LongIsland.com)

The “Say NO to the Casino Civic Association” said it was dismayed to learn that Sands farmed out operational responsibilities of the Coliseum — a venue it leases from Nassau County. ?Say NO to the Casino claims the gaming company sold Long Island residents a bill of goods by claiming workers at the venue would become unemployed unless Sands procured the lease for the former home of the NHL’s New York Islanders.

Last October, Sands paid $241 million to Nassau County for the rights to the Coliseum lease. A lease transfer agreement was reached, but that was held by the New York State Supreme Court which ruled the accord violated state environmental review and open meeting laws. An environmental review is underway and the county has held various meetings this year to give the public opportunity to comment on the casino plan.

Say NO to the Casino argues that with ASM Global running Nassau Coliseum, the county and Sands misled the public.

All Sands Wants Is a Casino, Says Opposition Group

One of the reasons Say NO to the Casino is irked about Sands shifting operational responsibilities of the Coliseum to ASM Global is because that’s a clear sign the gaming company wants nothing more from the venue than to turn it into a casino resort, according to civic organization.

The group also claims that with the county owning the Coliseum and ASM Global operating it, Sands is no more than a middle man and an unnecessary one at that.

The County could’ve easily and directly hired ASM Global, or any of ASM’s competitors, to operate it. There is absolutely no reason LVS is needed as a ‘middle man,’” according to a statement issue by the opposition group.

On Wednesday, the Coliseum hosted a rally for former President Trump’s 2024 bid for the White House and while it’s estimated the Trump campaign paid $300,000 to $500,000 for the event, it’s rumored that neither the county nor Sands will see much, if any, of that money.

Say NO to the Casino Frequent Critic of Sands

At nearly every step of the evolving downstate casino proves, Say NO to the Casino has criticized Las Vegas Sands and Nassau County. It’s the group’s right to do so.

However, condemnation of Sands’ current usage of Nassau Coliseum arguably isn’t fair because operation of large-scale venues isn’t among any gaming company’s core competencies. Additionally, Sands management has been clear in stating that without the casino component, it’s involvement with the Coliseum isn’t likely to be economical.

From that it can be inferred that if it doesn’t win one of the three yet-to-be-awarded New York City-area casino licenses, Sands and the county might need to partner on ways to garner revenue from the property.