A casino in the Hartford area could be built at Bradley International Airport or on dormant tobacco fields along Route 20 in Windsor Locks if the town is chosen to host the gambling venue.
The operators of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun said Thursday they have narrowed their choices in Windsor Locks to the two sites. The leaders of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes will meet with residents on Thursday to explain their vision for the casino.
The tribes, which formed a joint venture to pursue a Hartford-area casino, are now considering a casino in just two locations — Windsor Locks and East Windsor. East Hartford, Hartford and South Windsor were eliminated from the running earlier this month.
A satellite casino in north-central Connecticut is being pushed by supporters as part of a strategy to compete with a $950 million casino and entertainment complex under construction in Springfield. The idea is to retain jobs in Connecticut tied to the gambling industry and preserve funds the state gets monthly from slot revenue at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.
Any site and the expansion of casino gambling off tribal lands in Connecticut will need approval from the legislature.
A specific site at Bradley has not been chosen, a spokesman for the joint venture said.
Two prime sites at the airport — the new transportation center and the site of the now-demolished Terminal B — are now no longer in contention. Planning for the sites had to get underway, and the tribes had not made a decision where they wanted to locate the casino.
Kevin Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said Thursday the airport has 300 acres where a casino could be located.
"We haven't gotten to a point of talking about a specific location," Dillon said.
The other possible site in Windsor Locks is more than 70 acres of tobacco fields owned by the Thrall family that is near the I-91 interchange. The site was previously considered as a location for the Simon retail shopping outlets. Those plans have now been scrapped.
In East Windsor, the tribes are evaluating the long-vacant, 27-acre Showcase Cinemas property along I-91.
The meeting in Windsor Locks will be held at Windsor Locks High School, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday.
"As we evaluate this opportunity, it is important that the citizens of Windsor Locks have access to detailed and accurate information," Windsor Locks First Selectman Chris Kervick said. "This meeting will provide all of us with an opportunity to become better informed and I appreciate willingness of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes to share their vision with the people of Windsor Locks."
Windsor Locks has pledged to hold a townwide referendum. East Windsor officials say the Showcase site does not require a referendum as did an earlier, now-defunct proposal for 33 acres at Wagner Lane and Route 5.
A lawmaker from Windsor Locks has proposed requiring a referendum for any town or city that wants to host a casino.
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