NY Arts & Entertainment Venues Announce Progress on Leveling Playing Field Within Proposed Casino Expansion

ALBANY, NY (10/22/2013)(readMedia)-- Premier arts and entertainment venues from Upstate New York today announced progress made by a coalition formed to help educate the public on the potential negative effects of casino expansion on local entertainment ecosystems and to create a level playing field for all entertainment venues seeking to bring talent to their communities.

Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game, formed as a result of this November's referendum to authorize casino expansion in New York State, is asking that language be added to the New York Casino Gambling Amendment that would establish long-term limits on expansion of those facilities, limit the capacity of casino-based entertainment venues to 1,000 seats, and require casino bidders to reach partnership agreements with each facility within close proximity to establish exclusivity terms.

"Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game was formed to consider and publicize the potential impacts on our downtown arts and entertainment facilities if proposed gaming casinos were to include entertainment venues without restrictions," said Proctors CEO Philip Morris and Chair of Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game. "Governor Andrew Cuomo, through the New York State Gaming Commission, has heartily endorsed our requested limits for fairness and the health of our communities. We are both grateful and fully prepared to participate in all steps of the process for this to be successful."

The idea of mid-size arts and entertainment venues facing serious challenges in the wake of casino-based entertainment offerings is nothing new. While the Massachusetts Gaming Commission worked with their arts facilities to seek solutions, arts and entertainment venue peers in Connecticut and Rhode Island have lost 25% of their events in the last several years because of inaction.

The Coalition – which represents nearly $100 million dollars in aggregate budgets, over 600 full-time employees and generates over $4 million dollars for New York in state taxes – wants to ensure the irreversible, negative effects that have happened in other states do not happen to the cultural institutions of New York.

"The direct economic impact of our venues is profound with nearly $100 million in aggregate budgets and full-time employment for more than 600 New Yorkers at stake," said Marcia J. White, SPAC's President & Executive Director and Co-Chair of Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game. "Indirectly, the impact is exponentially higher. Yet, far harder to calculate are the cultural, social and educational benefits our venues provide for the people in our communities. We simply cannot risk losing or diminishing these vital resources which define our quality of life."

The business community is also weighing in about the impact of casinos on local cultural ecosystems.

"Our downtown communities, from Saratoga to Schenectady, Albany, Troy, Poughkeepsie to Ithaca, Elmira and throughout the state have rebuilt themselves around arts, theaters and entertainment. Restaurants, housing, pubs and the like depend on these facilities to attract people and events," Mark Eagan, President and CEO of Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce. "Our Chambers of Commerce support the economic activity that casinos will bring to the state. At the same time, that activity cannot be at the expense of the very facilities that have turned around many of our downtowns. We have been proud to support the work of Fair Game and are pleased to hear of the support of the Governor and the New York State Gaming Commission. This is what can lead to durable continuing development of our upstate cities."

The Coalition remains committed to working with appropriate policymakers to ensure communities across New York State retain their cultural identities.

"We are not anti-gambling," added Morris. "We are about establishing protections needed to help keep our landmark institutes open and downtowns vibrant."

ABOUT FAIR GAME

Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game is a coalition of Upstate New York arts and entertainment venues with a vested economic interest in local communities. The mission of the Coalition is to create a level playing field for all entertainment venues seeking to bring talent to New York State. The Coalition is comprised of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, The Clemens Center, Landmark Theatre, Palace Theatre, Proctors, Saratoga City Center, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Shea's Performing Arts Center, Stanley Center for the Arts, State Theatre of Ithaca, Times Union Center and Ulster Performing Arts Center.

Additional information about Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game can be found here: www.afairgame.org

Follow and participate in the social conversation with #FairGameNY.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:

Proctors & Chair of Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game

Philip Morris, President and CEO 518-382-3884 x 11

SPAC & Co-Chair of Upstate Theaters for a Fair Game

Marcia White, President and Executive Director 518-584-9330 ext. 119

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Darlene Fedun, CEO 845-295-2420

The Clemens Center

Thomas Weidemann, Executive Director 607-733-8639

Landmark Theatre

Thomas T. Kazmierczak, Executive Director 315-475-7980

Palace Theatre

Holly Brown, Executive Director 518-465-3335

Saratoga City Center

Mark Baker, President 518-584-0027

Shea's Performing Arts Center

Anthony Conte, President 716-847-1410

State Theatre of Ithaca

Jerry Kraus, Executive Director 315-724-1113

Ulster Performing Arts Center

Chris Silva, Executive Director 845-473-5288