Isle of Capri revisiting plans for Miss. properties
The Isle of Capri is reevaluating its expansion plans in Biloxi and for its proposed Pine Hills Casino in western Harrison County, said chief operating officer Virginia McDowell.
McDowell said Friday that the company is beginning to develop new master plans for the land it owns in Biloxi and for Pine Hills, just off Interstate 10 in Harrison County.
“We want to develop and implement a master plan for the company’s Biloxi property,” McDowell said, “which will help ensure that our product will remain competitive in the market.”
McDowell said it isn’t the cost of insurance but the competitive landscape and new management in Biloxi that prompted the Isle to review the expansion plans. Much of the $435 million the company plans to spend on capital projects for the fiscal year is tied to rebuilding the Biloxi casino and moving forward with the West Harrison project, she said.
Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. reported a 1.7 percent increase in net revenues Thursday, to $278.5 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year, from $274 million for the same period last year.
Last month, McDowell succeeded Timothy Hinkley as COO, She said she has visited each of the Isle properties in the U.S. She came to the company’s first casino, the Isle of Capri Biloxi, for its 15th anniversary celebration in August.
The company’s three Mississippi casinos earned 20.1 percent of its net revenue in the first fiscal quarter, which was down from 24.3 percent in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.
Bob Griffin, senior vice president of operations, said the Isle is having to spend more in the aggressive Biloxi market to advertise the casino, which is temporarily at the end of a cul-de-sac on U.S. Highway 90. He said that expense could change once the Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge reopens.
Source: AP
BILOXI — The Broadwater Casino could be back on the table in the next few weeks.
Michael Cox, representing the Broadwater Development property owners, told the Biloxi Planning Commission Thursday they hope to soon have an agreement signed with an international entertainment corporation to develop the entire property.
The Planning Commission approved an 18-month extension of the preliminary site plans for a billion-dollar project on 261 acres. The original plans include two casinos, condotels, entertainment areas, a golf course and homes.
In a marathon of cases and decisions, the Planning Commission voted for an enlarged South Beach Condominiums, for allowing a group of property owners to have their land next to Palace Casino collectively rezoned waterfront and for 21-unit Briarfield Beach Cottage Condominiums on 1.07 acres. Gulf Coast Investment Developers, the applicant for a mixed-use project at 2490 Beach Blvd., asked to postpone its hearing until the Sept. 20 meeting.
The board voted against Clark’s Service Station rebuilding on the sand beach after hearing from Chevis Swetman, representing the Gulf Coast Business Council, and General Clark Griffith, who chaired the Reviving the Renaissance Committee.
The proposal was for a 3,825-square-foot convenience store made of brick, stucco and block and 12 gas pumps with a yellow-metal weather canopy. All gas stations in the city are required to be reviewed by the Planning Commission and the gas station owners agreed to meet the city requirements.
Swetman said the Business Council is concerned that corridor areas, including U.S. 90, not develop into “a hodgepodge of poor land choices.” The Biloxi Coast is one of the last stretches of open beachfront in America, he said, where the view isn’t blocked by a wall of concrete buildings.
“Since Katrina we talked about what we should have done after Camille in 1969,” said Swetman.
Griffin echoed Gov. Haley Barbour’s comments that if U.S. 90 once again becomes lined with gas stations, pawn shops and billboards, “we have failed.”
Allowing the gas station on the sand beach also poses a significant environmental hazard, Swetman said. He told the Planning Commission the Department of Marine Resources is interested in purchasing the land with Coastal Impact Assistance Program funds for open space.
After the vote, Commissioner Jamey Hunt said he doesn’t want gas stations, fast-food restaurants or billboards on the beach, and “I don’t want condos all up and down the beach, either.” Commissioner August Parker suggested creating a scenic or historic corridor on 90, and the board decided to consider that at the October 18 meeting.
All the cases now go before the Biloxi City Council for approval or denial.
Source: Mary Perez of Sun Herald
NEW YORK — Former undisputed welterweight and two-time junior welterweight champion Zab Judah returns on Friday night, September 7 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Fighting for the first time since his 11th-round TKO loss to WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto in June, Judah (34-5, 25 KOs) will meet Edwin Vazquez (22-10-2, 8KOs) in a 10-round welterweight fight.
“I am a three-time world champion,” Judah said in a recent statement. “I’m want a fourth title, I am the best out there, I have fought the best in the world, I’ve had a few diversions along the way but that’s boxing, when I am in top form no one can beat me. My camp has been very productive, I feel good.”
Judah has had one of the most storied careers in boxing. Judah has won every major title between 140 and 147 pounds. The WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO championships have all belonged to Judah. The southpaw from Brooklyn has a lot of speed and his power is underrated.
However, Judah has had a number of setbacks that many people remember more so rather than what he has accomplished. Judah underwent more than 18 months of suspensions and fines.
After squandering the welterweight championship in an upset loss to Carlos Baldomir in January 2006, Judah was suspended for one year and fined $250,000 for repeatedly fouling Floyd Mayweather that led to a melee in the 10th round.
Although Judah proved that he is a professional and force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division, he has lost three of his last four bouts with one no-contest. Judah hasn’t won a fight in more than two years since he stopped Cosume Rivera (TKO 3) in May 2005.
No one should count Judah out. The 29 year-old gave Cotto one of the toughest fights of his career on one of the biggest stages in boxing — Madison Square Garden — on the eve of the Puerto Rican day parade in New York City.
“Judah hurt Cotto in the first and third rounds and dropped Mayweather, although the ref declared it a slip. A win puts him squarely back in the game,” said Russ Young of Prize Fight Promotions.
Judah is obviously in a must-win situation, but should beat Vazquez, an unthreatening opponent who is not expected to have an answer for Judah’s speed and power. Whenever Judah has been pressured into a must-win situation, he’s usually focused and difficult to deal with.
