Broadway employees will have bridge jobs in between shows at the $5.4 billion casino complex, according to officials involved in the proposed Caesars Palace Times Square development.
This week, Caesars Palace Times Square, a joint proposal from Ticketmaster owner Live Nation Entertainment, Jay-Z's Roc Nation, Manhattan real estate behemoth SL Green, and Caesars Entertainment, announced that it would be open to providing temporary employment to Broadway actors and crew members in between performances.
"Too often, actors and stage managers are forced to piece together work just to survive between productions,” said Al Vincent Jr, executive director of the Actors’ Equity Association. “This collaboration with Caesars Palace Times Square creates new opportunities for our members to support themselves without leaving their professional community. That’s the kind of responsive, community-oriented solution we need.”
Caesars Palace Times Square has partnered with Local 802, a union that represents professional musicians in New York, in addition to the Actors’ Equity Association. Caesars would host monthly job fairs for Broadway union members if its casino ambitions were to make it to the Times Square stage.
“Our musicians are the heartbeat of Broadway, but when a show closes or a tour ends, they’re often left in limbo,” said Robert Suttmann, Local 802 president. “These recurring job fairs will offer meaningful work that respects their skills, schedules, and dignity. We appreciate the Caesars Palace Times Square team’s willingness to meet with us directly and work on programs that directly benefit our members.”
Much of Manhattan is divided over the approval of a multibillion-dollar casino complex in the center of Times Square. That contributes to the wide range of interests in the local neighborhood of 1515 Broadway, which is owned by SL Green and was once the location of Viacom/CBS.
Eight bids are vying for one of the three downstate New York casino licenses up for grabs, including Caesars Palace Times Square. Should the proposal be approved, it will be just the second casino establishment that Caesars Entertainment has decided is deserving of a Caesars Palace marquee.
Not everyone on Broadway believes that the Theater District would benefit from a Caesars casino.
Many Broadway-related organizations, such as the Broadway League, the Shubert Organization, the Entertainment Community Fund (previously the Actors Fund), and Audience Awards, have endorsed the No Times Square Casino Coalition. Additionally opposed are a number of well-known eateries, such as Joe Allen and Sardi's.
With over 3,000 construction jobs, 3,800 permanent jobs, $7 billion in direct tax revenue, and $26.7 billion in local economic activity over the first ten years of operation, the proposed developers of Caesars Palace Times Square assert that the gaming, hospitality, and entertainment destination would benefit the entire region.
“Caesars Palace Times Square creates long-term demand far beyond its own supply — guests are expected to generate excess demand for more than 13 million meals annually at local restaurants, over 2,400 hotel rooms each night in surrounding hotels, and more than $800 million in incremental annual retail purchases,” the developers claim.
Many construction and crafts unions are supporting Caesars Palace Times Square, in addition to the Actors’ Equity Association and Local 802. Historic restaurant partners of the development include Peter Luger, Junior's, and Carmines.
Like the majority of other casino bids in New York City, Caesars Palace is currently being reviewed by its affiliated Community Advisory Committee. Wednesday night was the inaugural meeting of the CAC.
The six-member CAC must vote in favor of Caesars' application by a two-thirds majority in order for the New York Gaming Facility Location Board to consider the bid.
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