Attend a block party for the Richmond casino advocates, featuring The Isley Brothers as the headline act.
Last weekend, supporters of the Richmond casino referendum held a block party, attracting thousands of people. The headliner was The Isley Brothers, who performed a free concert.
In the upcoming November 7 election, Richmond citizens will vote on whether to approve a $562 million project, named the Richmond Grand Resort & Casino. During the previous election in November 2020, voters turned down a similar proposal with a 51-49% majority.
Urban One, a media firm with a focus on Black communities, aims to enter the gambling industry. The Richmond City Council supports Urban One and selected it as the preferred casino developer if voters decide to support a gambling venture.
Urban One has teamed up with Churchill Downs for its 2023 proposal. Their goal is to obtain voter approval to construct a resort spanning 97 acres near the Philip Morris headquarters on the city's southern side, adjacent to Interstate 95.
The Richmond Grand Resort & Casino plans to include a 250-room luxury hotel with resort-style amenities, including a spa, fitness center, an outdoor pool, cabanas, walking trails, pickleball courts, and a 55-acre park for farmers markets and community events. The casino spans 90,000 square feet and would have about 1,800 slot machines, 100 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook.
Churchill Downs and Urban One allocated an $8 million fund for promotional efforts. Some of these funds were utilized for the weekend party, which featured free food and a concert by The Isley Brothers, famous for the 1961 rendition of Twist and Shout. Another popular track by the rhythm-and-blues group is Who's That Lady?
Despite the party's age restriction of 21 and over, it quickly sold out, with a maximum of 6,000 tickets available for the event that started at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
In addition to the party, Urban One and Churchill Downs have been distributing free Uber rides and meal vouchers to locals. They encourage residents to use the goodies to help them vote early or on Election Day.
The casino project has faced opposition due to a second referendum for voters who rejected a gambling initiative in 2020. However, recent developments suggest a victory for Urban One and Churchill Downs.
This past week, more than a dozen area faith leaders lent their support to the Richmond Grand Resort & Casino. A letter was signed by 13 pastors from various areas of the city, stating:
"We believe that the proposed Richmond Grand will provide more Richmonders with the opportunity for a good job, deliver tangible investment in communities typically neglected, and help make our city more robust and secure. The Richmond Grand could create 1,300 well-paying union jobs with benefits, along with thousands of jobs during construction. The revenue generated by the Richmond Grand would allow our city to better serve its residents, particularly our children, without increasing taxes."
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Source: www.casino.org
