We should have seen this coming when Phil Ruffin appeared briefly on “The Apprentice: Los Angeles” — a possible Wichita casino involving The Donald, who partners with Ruffin in several Las Vegas ventures. The gambling expansion that passed the Kansas Legislature would seem to prohibit Ruffin from being involved in any area casino because he owns Wichita Greyhound Park, where he plans to add slot machines and a Gilley’s. Still, Ruffin told The Eagle he’s thinking about some kind of downtown casino involving both his famously coiffed partner and his property at Broadway and Douglas. It’s way too early to name a front-runner in the local casino sweepstakes (voters have to approve the idea first). But a Wichita high-rise casino bearing the Trump name and opulence certainly would attract regional attention and, presumably, gamblers. Just don’t expect Rosie O’Donnell to perform opening night.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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45 Comments
I’m not sure I would want a casino in downtown.. It would definitely, in the short term, bring some attention.
If we want to have casinos, we need to do it in our own way, not Vegas style in the “Main strip” or “Downtown”.
As long as it is a capitalist putting up his own money I like the idea. I just don’t want another communist scheme like WaterWalk, Arena …
The problem I have with that location is that it’s across the street from my office. Success would likely cause the rental to skyrocket…
I posted this on the corresponding story a little while ago.
“I knew this was coming… I called it a few weeks ago after seeing Ruffin on The Apprentice (my one reality show fixation)! IF Wichita is going to have a casino, it needs to be done right and that means someone such as Trump coming in and taking charge of it. Having come from a location where there are many casinos, you want it done right or not only will it not earn any money but it will cause problems all around. That having been said, it doesn’t even sound like he’s talked to Trump about this and I highly doubt that Trump would take it on so I would suggest that everyone just calm down…”
I posted this on the corresponding story a little while ago.
“I knew this was coming… I called it a few weeks ago after seeing Ruffin on The Apprentice (my one reality show fixation)! IF Wichita is going to have a casino, it needs to be done right and that means someone such as Trump coming in and taking charge of it. Having come from a location where there are many casinos, you want it done right or not only will it not earn any money but it will cause problems all around. That having been said, it doesn’t even sound like he’s talked to Trump about this and I highly doubt that Trump would take it on so I would suggest that everyone just calm down…”
oops, sorry, double post…
Trump’s casinos in Atlantic City are chronically on the verge of bankruptcy. I’m not so sure it is a good idea to have him in charge of anything. Ruffin yes, the Donald, hell no.
Wow and maybe Apprentice: Wichita (or even better Park City)
Actually, Dennis, if I remember correctly (and I could be completely wrong about this) but his casinos in NJ are not controlled by him anymore.
As far as the Apprentice: Wichita, that would be quite hilarious! Maybe they could sell burgers at Spangles and make an advertising campaign for Spirit:)
I’m disappointed in that location for Ruffin’s casino idea. He owns property there, but a tower casino isn’t what Wichita needs.
We need a more spread out casino, like the plan that Canadian group has for the Century II area.
I like that idea, entrance to the Casino on the river front. Everybody walks in that way.
Someone has to buy Hyatt from the City, they shouldn’t continue to own it.
The Library building sold in that plan too.
The building rotting on corner of Douglas and Main as well.
Canadian group doesn’t know if the City would agree with that plan, but I’m sure they will, gladly.
Forget Park City location, that’s not happening. Sumner County, too bad, Sedgwick County gets to vote first and its going to be approved.
Downtown Casino’s surely get first consideration.
I’ve never watched the Apprentice, or “believe” in Trump Casino’s, he’s a real estate tycoon, the excessive rents and lifestyle that way. Not a good business record with Trump Casino’s.
No, he shouldn’t run a Casino in Wichita. He’s got better things to do.
Does Wichita need that kind of “brand” name Casino, some might think so. Trump demands his name means quality. That’s debatable.
“The Donald” lends his name to other casinos as well. The Morongo tribe in Coachella Valley (just east of Palm Springs) has a Trump casino. It is fairly glitzy from the outside, but isn’t 30 stories tall, isn’t Vegas style, etc. Not sure of his active involvement..he was there for the grand opening and that appears to be about it.
Putting his name on something does certainly increase the recognition factor…
Putting his name on something does certainly increase the recognition factor…
Posted by: raptor | April 30, 2007 at 03:47 PM
And give me a solid reason to never go into the joint.
As AFN points out, he wasn’t even competent enough to run the casinos he did have.
Could the Donald’s hair stand Wichita winds? Perhaps the casino roofline would be modeled after the infamous hairline . . .
And for goodness sake; can’t someone that rich get a decent haircut????
Downtown casinos are alright. It works for Shreveport.
I’d hate to see something like what they did in Newkirk.
“Forget Park City location, that’s not happening. Sumner County, too bad, Sedgwick County gets to vote first and its going to be approved.
Downtown Casino’s surely get first consideration.”
Don’t count on it Mrage. Park City has been laying the groundwork for some time while Wichita has been chasing its Communist ideal for economic development.
While I tend to prefer a downtown location (largely to take some white elephant property off our hands) I recognize that there are some real advantages to Park City. That loaction will be much more accessable for out-of-town visitors which is one of the stated reasons for a “Destination casino”
GMC - maybe he should ask John Edwards to recommend a barber.
Ben,
I’ll use your words…Park City keep dreaming.
Is Century II a communist idea? I don’t get why you keep labeling city projects that way.
Especially those we vote for.
Park City has open fields, big deal. West Wichita has open fields, along Kellogg, why not out there near Goddard? Closer to the airport too.
The open fields are equal.
If the Casino is outside of Wichita city limits, how does the city benefit? It won’t. The City and County are now in biz together, because of the Arena.
How best to help the Arena, Casino downtown.
The highway’s can be discussed as valuable transportion roads.
Not more valuable than walking distance to other venues. If downtown Casino’s can have enough parking, those are the best locations.
Casino’s are near hotels. Best hotels in this county are downtown. Best locations for future hotels, if ever built.
If Ruffin isn’t thinking about his casino idea near the dog track, why would it be reasonable for any other casino?
Bob Knight’s Tribal Casino is a much longer decision than other plans. A federal decision that’s really iffy.
Bob Knight saying he might consider the Coliseum location doesn’t mean anything. Doesn’t make his plan more viable politically.
Once the Casino question is approved by voters, I’m guessing the govs will choose what plan works best.
Who has the deposit ready. Who has the Casino construction dollars ready to spend?
Whoever has that, the County and City would suggest to the state.
One plan goes to Topeka as our best idea for a “destination casino”.
Wasn’t Ruffin a singer in the Temptations?
I’m afraid that a downtown casino with the Downtown arena, Douglas may look like Fremont Street (without the hi - tech light show)
I think it would also kill the “quiet” ambience that exists around C II and the water walk — but thats probably the goal of downtown developers, loud and crowded?
ken,
If a lot of people are walking around downtown, that’s the goal. Downtown sidewalks filled with people on weekend nights. From the river to Old Town. From Douglas to Kellogg.
WaterWalk quiet? I haven’t read that goal for the project. Quiet now, because its a “useless” area.People don’t use sidewalks by the river enough. People aren’t on the sidewalks downtown most of the time.
Mrage - actually I was referring more to WaterWalk. “Government ownership of the means of production.” Classic; right out of Das Kapital.
As I said, I tend to favor downtown too. However I also recognize the value of being on I-135. That highway is much better than putting it on Kallogg way out west past the traffic lights (driven to Goddard lately?).
The problem with downtown is access. Sure “The highway’s can be discussed as valuable transportion roads” but that won’t improve traffic flow downtown. Driven THERE lately? Remember - DESTINATION means people from out of town will drive there.
As for “If the Casino is outside of Wichita city limits, how does the city benefit?” the City will benefit because the County will collect revenues; revenues that can be used to subsidize the 15,000 seat Arena.
We will see! As the editorial board pointed out. It hasn’t passed in Sedgwick County yet.
I’m sure it will. And I’m also betting downtown Wichita gets the casino and not Park City.
Park City has the dog track and slots. Their own version of a casino. But just wondering what kind of communist scheme Park City will come up with. They are famous for decade tax abatements.
Joe! I hope you are right. I’d like to see it downtown. I’m simply noting that it is not a done deal.
As for Park City I doubt that they will offer to build it for them.
Downtown is not supposed to be “quiet”. It is supposed to be brightly lit and full of people and life 24 hours a day. I remember as a kid when Wichita was like that. During the day, offices and stores were filled with workers and shoppers and at night there were clubs, theatres and eating places all over downtown. It was an exciting place to go.
If Park City needed more tourist, they should have made the BTK residence into a museum.
Kev - I agree; downtown should be lively and, to a significant extent loud. In Wichita’s case I would try to keep the area right along the river a bit subdued but the streets bright and lively.
One thing that I find rather funny is people complain that it gets “cold” in the winter. In Chicago I see people out and about dusing the Christmas season. It gets a tad bit cooler there than here.
Hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, etc from vendors. Just something about it …
“As AFN points out, he wasn’t even competent enough to run the casinos he did have.”
Actually, that is the complete opposite of what I was trying to say… I’m not saying is some brilliant business god but for the most part he’s pretty good at what he does.
Ben,
If it was necessary to place a Casino along Kellogg, far west or east, that would preferable than allowing Park City to get it.
The County is allowing vote on the Casino idea. City surely has much influence where the Casino will be located.
City selling property they own really matters! What other project could they sell those things? The Hyatt and Library area.
If someone buys the Watkins Steel lot and develops that area. Improvements to downtown.
I hope events keep the downtown arena going, County doesn’t have to funnel money from the Casino.
It’s a non profit building, but it has to stay busy. County has to afford bills and they will.
Corporate advertising hasn’t be sold and that pays bills. If ever TV money for events too. ESPN 2 is better than no TV at all.
The downtown arena must have as many college basketball games possible on TV.
I hate the incredible imagination on a Casino yet the same people are accepting the small arena?
I’m sticking with what we have today. Make sure the arena is worth having long term. That’s the key asset.
I didn’t like the Eagle writer imagining Lawrence-Dumont as a casino location. We need the baseball field and it has to be improved.
Then he also considered place where WaterWalk wants to put a Condo building up, just east of the Ice Rink.
I imagine more parking west of Lawrence-Dumont, that doesn’t exist today for my project.
People might be able to park west of the River and walk across the bridges. My project hasn’t been agreed to either, but I’m planning.
Out of towners will find parking downtown, hopefully. Be able to get out of there. Kellogg will be a heavily used entrance and release road from downtown.
People coming from 96 or the Bypass have to get off on surface streets somewhere. Downtown will still have some one way streets that go north and south.
I don’t fear gridlock downtown like some people do.
“If it was necessary to place a Casino along Kellogg, far west or east, that would preferable than allowing Park City to get it.” WHY?
A point about Park City - easy access to the Turnpike via K-196.
That said, I also prefer downtown. Just not counting out Park City.
By the way - far west or far east would be OUTSIDE Wichita city limits. Go check your maps for Goddard and Andover.
Ben,
Just like your Goddard school in Wichita city limits, a Casino on CITY PROPERTY could be in Andover or Goddard City limits, if desperately needed land was needed that way.
I only use Kellogg as a access road than going to Park City because of the Airport.
For flying out of towner’s, that’s the close highway.
City at all costs, wants the Casino on their property. It’s not going to be a County property Casino.
Mrage - if it is in Goddard or Andover it is highl unlikely it would be on Wichita property. On the other hand, the City of Wichita can, if it wants, purchase land in Park City. Or, for that matter, in New York or Chicago. That does NOT place it in Wichita.
Just as you clearly did not understand the relationships between USDs and Cities in Kansas so you also do not seem to understand the situation with current city boundaries. Goddard extends approximately to 167th St right now. So, ‘way out west’ would be in Goddard.
As for East, you get into Andover. And, it is timewise further from the airport than Park City is.
What parcel of land on west Kellogg might you be looking at?
One thing you can bet on is that people hate walking after they park. If Ruffin and Trump want to shoot craps on a casino, fair enough, but gamblers like luxury and they don’t want a workout on arrival. I know I don’t. You will have some grumpy contestants at the table if they walk in sweaty with dust in their eyes. The wild west is only fun at the movies. In real life, you want easy access to the goodies and flowing air conditioning, just like Bugsy said in the Beatty picture. Go ahead and build the arena and build the casino, but good gracious, get the parking figured out. And make sure you have a pizza stand outside. A slice of pepperoni is essential, especially if you lost it at the table.
Very true TRT. I think the parking CAN be figured out; however I have not seen anything to give me confidence that those in charge can do it. These guys are the same ones that seemed surprised to belatedly admit that they would have to improve the roads for their Arena. AFTER having been fully informed LONG before.
Ben,
Just west of Colwich Road. South side of Kellogg, what’s there?
Some parcels of land out west exist. Closer to the airport, if it was absolutely necessary, than going east.
Some high rollers do fly in. I’m sure Cessna jets provided by the Casino will be used that way. Accommodate high rollers with short limo drives!
If its not too far from the west side city limits, Wichita still might annex some land.
It doesn’t matter, downtown has the places for a Casino that are preferable than being in Park City.
What’s in the way of a casino, doesn’t actually matter.
Motivated casino group will buy any property if its the right location and they have the only casino license in this county.
The exclusive idea, a lot of casino money is going to be thrown around. No Casino idea is going to stick at the minimum $220 Million investment.
It’s going to be $300 Million, maybe the highest priced casino, gets the bid. Not the cheapest Casino picked at all.
Since a lot of cash is being offered, the city has property to sell that’s more valuable than what Park City has.
More valuable for long term growth of the Casino as an investment.
People and business sometimes do buy expensive land, because its the right location. What they build increases value of that expensive land. Immediately the structure is worth more than the constructed costs.
West of Colwich Rd. GODDARD. Have you spoken to anyone in Goddard about your plans for THEIR City? If Wichita tries to annex it I will personally enjoy seeing them squashed. IT IS GODDARD! Goddard is a City!
I agree with you about downtown. However, with all the problems Wichita has had with their WaterWalk don’t count out Park City.
By the way - just why do you hate the other cities and USDs so much?
And - why would a ‘high roller’ fly into Wichita instead of Vegas?
Ben,
High rollers go where they have never gone before, right?
Wouldn’t odds be a little better at a brand new casino, in smaller city like Wichita, than in Vegas?
Go where the Comp is, free trip, room and board, to gamble.
I don’t expect movie stars in Wichita, for their gambling. Some do come here and bring their jets for service at Cessna or Learjet.
When they are here, gamble downtown. “Normal” high rollers, business owners or investors flown in.
I don’t know how often Casino will fly people in. It should happen.
—–
I like to see Wichita grow, regardless of boundaries. I see more cooperation of city services between communities, than obstruction in the future.
I don’t see the need to value a different school system. Every child in this county should be learning the same things. The same teaching procedures, especially in public schools.
Is this the right way to grow our communities, with all the lines?
There too many Counties in Kansas, some say. Too many close cities with different governments, what’s the point.
“Wasn’t Ruffin a singer in the Temptations?”
No, he was a graduate of Wichita North High School in 1952. His first job was that of a Repo man. He tells a hillarious story about how two kids chased him down the street begging him to “please don’t take our monkey”…
Mrage - I have learned from a Goddard resident that the City would fight like Hell if you tries to carve up their city. Perhaps you should discuss your proposal with some of their city officials before you make such plans.
By the way, there are schools and a large catholic Church in that area. It is generally designated residential and support in the Goddard plans.
Why don’t you suggest that Wichita annex Park City? Makes about as much sense as carving up Goddard. I haven’t spoken to anyone in Park City about that idea but I suspect they will be about as receptive as my contacts in Goddard.
By the way, rest assured that the Mayor will be informed that the idea of carving up Goddard for a casino is being floated.
Mrage - just heard back from my Goddard contact. A casino out there ain’t gonna happen. And I don’t think you want to pick a fight with the mayor - she can be pretty tough when it comes to threats to her city.
Casino Wichita downtown would be a more ideal location, you can see downtown Wichita clearly from Mid-Continent.I have worked at the Mid-Continent airport years ago and you would be surprise on how many celebrities and important people stop in Wichita from between California and New York.I have met Ed McMahon every year during Thanksgivings Day Macy’s parade and we have a few other regular visitors of the celebrity status every year, most recently was Harrison Ford.
Please, someone tell me that Phil is just a sidenote, Have you ever been to one of his properties? Opulence? Someone is giving way to much credit.
Case in point, Town and Country convenience stores. Gosh I wonder why they are no longer in business. They were so clean and well staffed
Have you ever been to his “casino” in Vegas? Talk about slumlord. I have the pics to prove it. Lets talk about amenities at the dog track. It was built when.. and it has been updated when?
Yes, Phil has roots, connections and money. If we want to do this right lets judge him on what he has accomplished, what he has given back to the community. Hmmm, sorry I can’t seem to recall the last part of that statement. Gee I even looked on his website, nothing there either.
Cmon Phil, we all love the fact that you are home grown, but you need to make us some “political promises” Here let me help.
I promise if me and the Don have the opportunity to build a casino, I will provide ample parking. I promise that I won’t just count my money, but I will invest it into the community. I will not let it fall into a state of disrepair, I will do this not for my own personal gain (although I will enrich my wealth.) I want to give back to the community that has helped me attain all I have achieved.
Feel free to tweak it.
BR
Calling Mrage…
Hello Mrage…
did you go and crawl back under your rock?
Come on. I want to hear you answer Ben’s questions.
why wouldn’t we want a downtown casino. it would cause our downtown to flourish. the waterwalk, the arena, all of the clubs and museums, would greatly benefit from a downtown casino. More people would be downtown, we would have more visitors and the downtown would become a destination. Plus they plan to build a high rise building which will make our downtown look more appealing. I sure would appreciate if people stop thinking like small town folk. A casino will help this city grow on a national level.