Genting Plan For NYC Convention Center Fails, Cuomo Says.

[KeystoneRegional]

Bloomberg.com - "Plans for Genting Bhd. (GENT) to build a $4 billion convention center in New York City have failed, Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

The 3.8 million-square-foot convention center, which was to be built at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens by the Kuala Lumpur- based company, was a centerpiece to Cuomo’s job-creating plans announced in January. It would have been the biggest in the U.S. Cuomo, a 54-year-old Democrat, said today on New York’s WOR-AM that discussions with Genting fell through.

“We had those conversations going on for a few weeks,” Cuomo said in an interview with the host, former governor David Paterson. “Those conversations haven’t worked out.”

The broken deal is at least the second time this year that U.S. plans by Asia’s second-biggest casino operator by market value have failed. In February, its $3 billion hotel and casino project in Miami stalled when a Florida House of Representatives committee postponed a vote on a bill to expand casino gambling.

A Genting spokesman, Stefan Friedman, said the company may still bid on a convention center project in the city.

The failed proposal would have replaced the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan as Genting expanded the casino it opened with electronic games in October at Aqueduct, nearJohn F. Kennedy International Airport.

Competition Planned

Cuomo said he’s now discussing building a convention center and casino with other companies. He said he plans a competition next year after the Legislature sends to voters a constitutional amendment that would allow Las Vegas-style casinos in the third- most-populous state.

“We now look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and participating in any competition for a convention center/casino project that the governor designs,” Friedman said by e-mail. In the failed negotiations, he said, “the uncertainties and difficulties regarding the constitutional amendment, competitive landscape, tax rate and infrastructure support made any decision difficult.”

Mark LaVorgna, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, declined to comment on the Genting news. The mayor is founder and majority owner of Bloomberg News parent Bloomberg LP."

Source Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-02/genting-plan-for-nyc-convention-center-fails-cuomo-says.html

[Grand Concourse]

Well looks like the hopes for the expanded service and/or Rockaway ROW talks are now null. Better luck next year. Perhaps they should focus on just expanding the existing Javits Convention center instead? Otherwise, what the hell is the point of sending the there? [partly rhetorical, do not give me the 'residential' line.]

[KeystoneRegional]

Yeah, one of the project's main selling point is because of the Jacob Javits Convention Center. I think the spot for the Genting Convention Center in Queens is a terrible location since day 1, the only spot good is by the East River in LIC or perhaps in Greenpoint Brooklyn. At the end, I think the best way to move forward is perhaps expand the Javits Convention Center over the LIRR West Side Yards on the West side of 11th Ave. and make the Center more appealing and modern by renovating and realigning the interior floor plans and designs. And perhaps a small mall, like the "PATH" in Toronto might work well in the basement. This'll enhance the area greatly!

[Grand Concourse]

The only good thing about that convention would be the easier access to the airport as it is nearby, and of course more space to expand. But then what's the point? If it's not near the 'heart' of NYC-Manhattan, then why bother having a convention in NYC when it would probably be more expensive to hold here than somewhere else with the existing space and won't even stand out?

 

I do agree with converting the LIRR yard to add to the convention space. I also like the idea of having an LIRR stop below. The main problem with the previous idea was to have it turned into a mixed use facility with the Jets as the tenant and the insane idea for bidding on the 2012 Olympics.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

What exactly is wrong with the Javits Center as it is currently??

[Shortline Bus]

What exactly is wrong with the Javits Center as it is currently??

 

 

VG8 and others it's because the Javitz is the smallest major convention center of a major US City. Places like Vegas and orlando with huge convention centers(also nice weather/international entertainment centers)are the busiest in the country and those critics point it out to expand Javitz.

[lilbluefoxie]

VG8 and others it's because the Javitz is the smallest major convention center of a major US City. Places like Vegas and orlando with huge convention centers(also nice weather/international entertainment centers)are the busiest in the country and those critics point it out to expand Javitz.

 

 

didnt they expand the Javits center recently? I know during the car show, General Motors is in this new area off at teh north end of the center.

[Grand Concourse]

That's a tiny expansion considering the plan to build the Jets Stadium years ago over the rail yard. But like SL said, the Javits center is very small and why the major conventions heads elsewhere.

 

As I said before, this new convention for Queens would've made the Javits obsolete and making the extension pointless. Rather than to build it at Aqueduct, they should concentrate on building a bigger convention building on the west side.

[lilbluefoxie]

That's a tiny expansion considering the plan to build the Jets Stadium years ago over the rail yard. But like SL said, the Javits center is very small and why the major conventions heads elsewhere.

 

As I said before, this new convention for Queens would've made the Javits obsolete and making the extension pointless. Rather than to build it at Aqueduct, they should concentrate on building a bigger convention building on the west side.

 

The other problem with having conventions in Manhattan is, the high cost of hotels in the surrounding area and the lack of parking. They should make a big convention center in the area by Nassau Coliseum, that would bring lotsa good stuff out here to the island.

[Grand Concourse]

But the whole point of having a convention center in NYC is because of the sites around in Manhattan. If it was in Queens or LI, then it doesn't make it stand out anymore than having the convention in some other place. Imo, it has to be in Manhattan.

 

I wonder, what is the maximum height (how many stories up) that a person is willing to go to, if they can only build where the Javits is? 4/5 stories? Because with Manhattan, you can't really build much horizontally, it has to be vertical.

[Tokkemon]

But conventions have to be horizontal. That's their nature.

[Grand Concourse]

I know, but NYC doesn't have the luxury of land like every other place if it is to be in Manhattan. It has to be stacked up it it is to stay in that place. The only other option would be to build a brand new convention annex over the rail yard and sacrifice on the developing rights of the new residential/commercial space.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I know, but NYC doesn't have the luxury of land like every other place if it is to be in Manhattan. It has to be stacked up it it is to stay in that place. The only other option would be to build a brand new convention annex over the rail yard and sacrifice on the developing rights of the new residential/commercial space.

 

 

There's enough space on the West Side where the Javits Center is. Perhaps you haven't seen Quill depot over there.

[Shortline Bus]

The other problem with having conventions in Manhattan is, the high cost of hotels in the surrounding area and the lack of parking. They should make a big convention center in the area by Nassau Coliseum, that would bring lotsa good stuff out here to the island.

 

 

Foxie if the Islanders leave the Nassau Coliseum(and LI as a whole)i am sure that a possible option of replacing it with a convention center.

[KeystoneRegional]

Well, the thing is, Nassau County has traffic access problems, I would expect a Convention Center at the Meadowlands over Nassau Coliseum Metro by a 1,000 miles, even Newark by 500 miles! So in Nassau County hardly people will feature stuff unless if the county finds a developer to rebuild the Coliseum and include Convention space, however I still won't expect NYIAS to go to Nassau County.

[lilbluefoxie]

Well, the thing is, Nassau County has traffic access problems, I would expect a Convention Center at the Meadowlands over Nassau Coliseum Metro by a 1,000 miles, even Newark by 500 miles! So in Nassau County hardly people will feature stuff unless if the county finds a developer to rebuild the Coliseum and include Convention space, however I still won't expect NYIAS to go to Nassau County.

 

 

as if the Meadowlands doesnt have traffic access problems? Have you ever seen the traffic getting out of there after a football game?

[Grand Concourse]

But the point of having a convention in NYC is so it is close to NYC or in it. I don't see how Nassau would be better than Queens or the Meadowlands which are closer to Manhattan.

[lilbluefoxie]

But the point of having a convention in NYC is so it is close to NYC or in it. I don't see how Nassau would be better than Queens or the Meadowlands which are closer to Manhattan.

 

 

It'll be a good destination for Long Island, since its not Manhattan it would be cheaper to host events there, theres some hotels in teh area, loads of parking. The mall is nearby. The primary beneficiaries would be Long Islanders and some Westchester people. Could it host the megaconventions? If its build big and attractive enough, probably. It cant be any worse than Aqueduct which has no direct access to the Belt Parkway, at least the coliseum area you are right up the by Route 24 and the Meadowbrook Parkway. And if you dont think people drive to the Javits center, check out the lines for those parking lots around 10th and 11th avenues during something big like the Auto Show.

 

You should see the nice and modern convention centers cities like the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area have. It puts the Javits to shame. The big issue with Jersey is the tolls for people coming form Long Island and Westchester. At least the tolls on the Throgs Neck Bridge are more manageable.

 

Its an opportunity for Long Islanders to get something big, to make us a big destination for something besides the Hamptons, which honestly is overrated.

[Cait Sith]

It'll be a good destination for Long Island, since its not Manhattan it would be cheaper to host events there, theres some hotels in teh area, loads of parking. The mall is nearby. The primary beneficiaries would be Long Islanders and some Westchester people. Could it host the megaconventions? If its build big and attractive enough, probably. It cant be any worse than Aqueduct which has no direct access to the Belt Parkway, at least the coliseum area you are right up the by Route 24 and the Meadowbrook Parkway. And if you dont think people drive to the Javits center, check out the lines for those parking lots around 10th and 11th avenues during something big like the Auto Show.

 

You should see the nice and modern convention centers cities like the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area have. It puts the Javits to shame. The big issue with Jersey is the tolls for people coming form Long Island and Westchester. At least the tolls on the Throgs Neck Bridge are more manageable.

 

Its an opportunity for Long Islanders to get something big, to make us a big destination for something besides the Hamptons, which honestly is overrated.

 

 

While it's not "direct", you have Lefferts Blvd, Cross Bay Blvd & the Van Wyck to get on/off the Belt. Also since Rockaway Blvd is the main road to get there, you have alternatives, Lefferts Blvd being the closest. But here is the thing, its direct by public transit with a ton of alternatives to get around whereas the coliseum doesn't really have much at all to serve the purpose of getting to and from NYC.

 

I gotta side with GC on this because the point of having a convention in NYC is to be close to or in NYC. Plus NYC is a showcase of a lot of things, many major sporting & entertainment events, all sorts of shows and so-on. Plus its to attract tourists of all kinds into the city. While I do kinda agree that Long Island needs a little something other than the Nassau Coliseum, the area is not exactly a tourist destination even with the mall nearby especially since its so far out....so there is not much of a benefit from that IMO.....

 

Meadowlands succeeds because it has different types of transportation, buses, rails and cars. Newark succeeds for the same thing and the ways of getting to those areas is more simplistic compared to getting to the Nassau Coliseum. But whats the major similarity between the two? They are both marginally close to the city with a ton of alternatives to boot. Transportation to the coliseum is not that good by rail or even by bus and not everyone drives.

 

If better transportation was provided by LIRR and Veolia, then there could be a chance that it would happen, other than that, public transportation to the coliseum absolutely sucks and that is a BIG deal when it comes to making a convention center or anything major to attract people and that is why Newark (Prudental Center), The Meadowlands and any other major stadium or similar close to NYC is very successful. Traffic issues don't really matter because every major event at every major stadium, coliseum, convention center and whatever gets slammed with traffic so that point is moot (towards whoever made up that point).

 

While it may benefit Long Island a lot in terms of attractions and such, NYC is the showcase of all things marginally big and is tourist central. Costs of hotels and such may be high, but people do pay so-and-so amounts of money to stay in said hotels and go to events or just chill around in the city. If hotel costs were really scaring people, we'd have NO tourism at all and that is a big sticking point!

[Grand Concourse]

Exactly. The convention is 'meaningless' if it's far from Manhattan were 'everything is' as far as the tourists are concerned with. If it's in Nassau, then it's just 'NY' in name only. It would then make the convention somewhat pointless if someone has to travel to the city via train or the road. for all that trouble, they may as well hold their events in other cities where the main 'action' is nearby.

 

The only good point of the Genting plan would be the close proximity to the airport and perhaps the train to Manhattan, but even that is a far distance from Manhattan. The best plan would be the expansion of the Javits center and keep things there.

[KeystoneRegional]

Why I mentioned Meadowlands is because it's a major site for Concerts and Sporting Events, a Convention Center would be great in the area, also accessible via the Turnpike, Parkway, 1-9 and many bus and rail routes. Nassau Coliseum lands would have accessibility problems for people who do not live on geographical Long Island because the LIRR is not as close as you may think, bus system is not good in Nassau. For Aqueduct, it shares common concerns with the Nassau Coliseum, except bus and some rail transit. The best option overall is to continue looking at a Jacob Javits Convention Center expansion, perhaps a hotel could be built beside the convention center with affordable rates for guests and showcasers.

 

Back to the meadowlands But the only bad is that it's not within a CBD or Commercial Business District which Convention Centers are commonly situated in major cities like New York, San Francisco and Seattle.