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Foxwoods-Harrah’s Mum on Casino Ship Idea

Posted on November 27th, 2010

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Curators, historians and supporters have been pushing the idea that the SS United States should be a good host for the Philadelphia Focwoods casino that still has yet to materialize four years after their license was awarded. However, the current partners, Harrah’s Entertainment and Foxwoods Casino do not seem to show any interest in this idea for their gaming venue. On Monday, supporters of the historic ocean liner, which is close to being in ruins, publicly announced their plans of restoring the majestic ship and including it into a very futuristic casino complex on the Delaware waterfront. The huge vessel, which measures 990 feet, would need to be transferred about ¾ of a mile north from its current location to the 16-acre Foxwoods site according to their plans.

Despite the initial excitement of some sectors regarding the casino ship plan, the lawyers of Harrah’s (now known by its new name Caesar’s Entertainment) and Foxwoods, which have become the makeshift spokespersons of the companies, have not expressed any enthusiasm with the idea. They seem to be projecting the idea that they would rather be focusing on their plans rather than entertaining this new concept for the stalled project. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has given them until December 10 to work out final agreements on financing and managing the casino. During the last meeting during which they were given the new deadline, they were already supposed to present the documents to the board, but the lawyers for both parties asked for an extension.

Citizens Bank, a creditor of the Foxwoods project and Harrah’s would become equity partners in the venture. Harrah’s, in turn, would be the operators in the 60,000-square-foot “Harrah’s Horseshoe” casino. Harrah’s is not allowed to be the full owner of the casino, as it is already the owner of the other casino in the state. A lawyer for the Foxwoods partners, Stephen Cozen, did not issue any comment about proposals of using the SS United States as part of the casino, with this idea only made public last week. He instead said, “We are working hard with Harrah’s and Citizens to finalize our transaction and bring jobs and tax revenues to the city and state.” Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Harrah’s did not return the calls of the press for comment.

Members of the Conservancy for the SS United States Conservancy, however, eagerly pushed the proposal, eagerly talking up the studies they commissioned for the conversion of the liner, which is now 58 years old, into a combined gambling facility and boutique hotel. Supporters of the project centering on the ship have also put up an actual model of what the complex could be once operational.

In the southern length of the ship’s tract, a garage to stand 10 stories is proposed. Meanwhile, a new dock would be cut into the area in the middle, which will enable pedestrians from Columbus Boulevard to have easy and unobstructed access to the ship. On the north side of the lot, residential buildings will be put up. It would be easy to say that this plan would not have been taken seriously if not for billionaire philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, a native of the city. Lenfest has given backing and monetary support into preserving the SS United States. Although he was not at the news conference last Monday when the plans were unveiled, Susan Gibbs, president of the conservancy, said Lenfest’s involvement in the project has a tremendous impact on the plan.

Preservationists have been struggling to come up with ways to give the ship a second life. It was built in 1952 and was retired seventeen years later from the scrap yard. Even now, it is still the holder of the speed record for a westward crossing of the Atlantic, and it was done on its maiden voyage. Last July, Lenfest gave support to the conservancy by giving $5.8 million to cover the amount of purchasing the ship and maintaining it for the next 20 months. Gibbs, whose grandfather was the designer of the vessel, said that with Lenfest’s money, the conservancy was able to use its exclusive option to buy the liner from Norwegian Cruise Lines for a reported $3 million.