[fla_tiger]

The look and feel of the $700 million Margaritaville Casino will come from Buffett's memories of time spent on the Coast. He was born in Pascagoula and began performing professionally in Biloxi, and he has creative control of the property Harrah's Entertainment is building on the beach in Biloxi.

Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant will be the centerpiece of at least 60 shops and restaurants. There will be a total of 250,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Construction begins this summer. The resort will feature a new 420-room hotel plus restoration of 378 rooms at the former Casino Magic Biloxi. There will be 100,000 square feet of casino space, 66,000 square feet of convention space, a pool and spa.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/fla_tiger/NO-MS/697-0516BIZ1cMARGARITAVILLE1-736_sl.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/fla_tiger/NO-MS/524-0516BIZ1cMARGARITAVILLE3_slides.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/fla_tiger/NO-MS/898-0516BIZ1cMARGARITAVILLE2_slides.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/fla_tiger/NO-MS/540-0516BIZ1cMARGARITAVILLE5_slides.jpg
http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/66097.html

[Brown Duckz]

When did New Orleans annex Biloxi?

[CottonCity251]

^^^ After Mobile did!:haha:

[Red UM Rebel]

I am from the Gulf Coast, we will not be annexed by either! Also WE are the third largest gaming market in the nation, and with the opening of the hard rock this summer and that in 2010, it will pull in a whole new market sector that the Gulf Coast hasn't tapped

[pkp]

I think the reply is referencing the way all these MS Coast project threads have New Orleans in the title.

I think the casinos ruined Biloxi, but at this point, the more the better.

[Red UM Rebel]

I think the casinos ruined Biloxi, but at this point, the more the better.

Why in the world would you think that?

[pkp]

Biloxi used to be a charming, nice town. Now its full of casinos and pawn shops. Since that is the direction that the city has taken, I guess they should try to get more, even nicer casinos to make it a better destination.

Are you from Biloxi?

[Brown Duckz]

I think the reply is referencing the way all these MS Coast project threads have New Orleans in the title.Thanks for noticing, I just find it funny that someone in New Orleans would consider a project in a different state there own, and not even mention that state OR the city of the development in the title. Seems as if it's closer to Mobile anyways.

[Red UM Rebel]

Are you from Biloxi?


I am from Biloxi, and I was there before and after casinos. The charming sweet town must have been back long before I was there because when I arrived in Biloxi it was a town facing bankruptcy from Hurricane Camille, a low rating school district, and a large unemployment rate.

I understand the social problems with casinos, and starting out Biloxi only had some dingy riverboat looking casinos that did give the market a cheap/pawnshop feeling. With mega-resorts (not mega in comparison to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or Macau, but mega in the region) like Beau Rivage, the IP, Bacaran Bay (www.bacaranbay.com), and now the Margaritaville Casino, it has significantly improved the region and allowed the city and school district to really upgrade their services and facilities.

I respect your opinion and agree that some of the small town charm of Biloxi is now gone, but the good the casinos have done (which is rarely recognized in any place with or considering casinos) far outweighs the bad.

[pkp]

Thanks for noticing, I just find it funny that someone in New Orleans would consider a project in a different state there own, and not even mention that state OR the city of the development in the title. Seems as if it's closer to Mobile anyways.

It would be too far away from either to be considered a integral part of NOLA or Mobile. Its about 60 miles from Mobile and 90 from NOLA, but there are huge gaps of nothing in between in both directions.

[pkp]

I am from Biloxi, and I was there before and after casinos. The charming sweet town must have been back long before I was there because when I arrived in Biloxi it was a town facing bankruptcy from Hurricane Camille, a low rating school district, and a large unemployment rate.

I understand the social problems with casinos, and starting out Biloxi only had some dingy riverboat looking casinos that did give the market a cheap/pawnshop feeling. With mega-resorts (not mega in comparison to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or Macau, but mega in the region) like Beau Rivage, the IP, Bacaran Bay (www.bacaranbay.com), and now the Margaritaville Casino, it has significantly improved the region and allowed the city and school district to really upgrade their services and facilities.

I respect your opinion and agree that some of the small town charm of Biloxi is now gone, but the good the casinos have done (which is rarely recognized in any place with or considering casinos) far outweighs the bad.

I don't disagree with the issues that faced Biloxi (I am too young to know what it was like right after Camille, but my Mom lived there when it hit). Even in the 80's, with some of the problems you mentioned, it was still a nice town with great local flare, loveley homes, etc... I know what the additional revenue means for the area, but I just think the city lost, or maybe just changed its identity when the boats came. Gambling was huge on the MS Coast before it was legalized, so the element has always been there - maybe they just capitalized on it. God knows people in Mobile help to keep the place full - I can't imagine what percentage of the boat's visitors are from Mobile and Baldwin County, but I guess its a decent number.

[Red UM Rebel]

I can't imagine what percentage of the boat's visitors are from Mobile and Baldwin County, but I guess its a decent number.


There was a ton of Baldwin County tags when I lived down there, and it seems like there are even more now.

One more point, the toursit/gaming industry is helping Biloxi come back stronger than ever, because after Katrina I, like many others, was worried that Biloxi would be a ghost town.

[pkp]

I agree with that - they are driving the rebuilding for sure.

[Red UM Rebel]

Which brings us back to the topic of this blog. With Harrah's putting such a significant investment into Biloxi. (Even though 700 million is small potatoes compared to the CityCenter Project or anything else going on out in Las Vegas) And the project being so unique. It will bring people from places that never thought about visiting the coast because of their love for Buffett. If this project is done right, which I doubt Jimmy will let it be done any other way, it could help Biloxi not only firmly set itself as the third largest gaming market but also help it transform into a Top Tier destination.

[pkp]

Biloxi is already unique because it does have some high quality gaming/shows/dining in the casinos, plus it is on the water and is a short drive to NOLA, on a "beach" and offers a totally different expierence than Vegas. I think it is a casino market that probably gets many more actual "visitors" than most others. Shreveport, Tunica, Atlantic City, etc... are really just people commuting from a large city - Dallas, Memphis, NYC, etc.... Where as Vegas is a true diestination. I think Biloxi is a little of both - supported by both "local" patrons, and plenty of out of market visitors.

[Red UM Rebel]

I totally agree. What was funny though is that before the hurricane some casinos were known for where the locals play and some, like the Beau Rivage, were strictly for visitors. With the IP's incredible upgrades and even Treasure Bay trying to totally redo itself, it seems like that is no longer the case. I think that is further sign that Biloxi is readying itself to become in the next 5-8 years a top tier destination.

[DruidCity]

I stayed last night at the Island View in Gulfport & just got back home.
I love visiting the Gulf Coast.

I also remember Biloxi "pre-casino," and think the casinos have had a net positive on the area.

With the IP's incredible upgrades...

Man, their Brazilian steakhouse kicks ass. I'd put it on the level of the restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip.

[fla_tiger]

My bad.....

All I have been doing in my 1500 or so posts has been to support and highlight the POSITIVES of the New Orleans and the adjacent Mississippi Gulf Coast region in their efforts to rebuild and repopulate after the WORST natural disaster this nation has ever seen.

The two areas, besides being close geographically, have always been tied together historically and culturally. Remember the Republic of West Florida originally stretched from Baton Rouge over to Tallahassee. Thousands of New Orleans think of the nearby coast as their own with many owning weekend homes or businesses there. The two markets are commercially interchangable with businesses in each airing commercials in the other.

I often take the short, easy drive to the coast for an enjoyable day trip, yes to play the slots or the tables. In fact, I even enjoy drives over to Alabama (yes, as unbelievable as that may seem to some of you, for someone from La) to take in the sites and senses of one of my favorite cities, Mobile.

[SlidellWx]

I live in Slidell and travel to both the coast and NOLA all of the time. It all just seems like one big city to me when I'm driving around. If you drove 90 before the storm the only break in development was in the Pearl River Basin and the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. Everything else was developed with homes and businesses. Both areas are tied together economically and socially, and both areas got absolutely decimated by Katrina. I think it's fine that FlaTiger combines both regions together.

As far as the casinos go, it has been a fantastic thing for the MS Coast, and a driver in the growth of the area over the last decade. I'm glad to see the casinos coming back bigger and better. I recommend the buffet at the Silver Slipper in Waveland. There are more locals there, and it's got great food. :tup:

BTW...got to drive across the new Bay Bridge, and it's fantastic. It's so nice having that bridge back between the Bay and the Pass for my trips to the coast.

[DruidCity]

I recommend the buffet at the Silver Slipper in Waveland. :tup:

I haven't been to the Silver Slipper yet, but here's a BOGO lunch coupon:
http://www.gulfcoast.org/coupons/index.cfm?action=showCoupon&couponID=94

Speaking of buffets, I found a great deal at the Palace Resort in Biloxi.
If you buy a lunch buffet for $9.99 , take the receipt to the Players Club & they'll give you $10 gaming credit.

[montysano]

I also remember Biloxi "pre-casino," and think the casinos have had a net positive on the area.


One of the segments of our business provides equipment to the Gulf Coast casinos. Some years, it's a significant portion of our total revenue. That being said, I've always been conflicted about casinos. That doesn't stop me, of course; we cash the checks and smile.

Are the casinos a net positive of net negative? I certainly don't know. Much of what I perceive as the negative impact of gambling are intangibles; it just does something to the "feel" of the place, and IMHO, it's not good. The positives are more tangible and quantifiable.

I dunno........ I know that, unless you're talking about murderers or drug dealers, a business can't afford to pick and choose. I'm equally conflicted about dealing with churches, which are a huge segment of our business. We're in the process of finishing a big church, and the sound/light/video budget was around $1M. Would Jesus approve? Again, I don't know, and again, we cashed the check.

[DruidCity]

Are the casinos a net positive of net negative? I certainly don't know. Much of what I perceive as the negative impact of gambling are intangibles; it just does something to the "feel" of the place, and IMHO, it's not good. The positives are more tangible and quantifiable.

I see where you're coming from, but in Mississippi's case, where the economy was so poor for so long, I think it's a net positive. Admittedly, I don't live there, though, so someone who does might feel differently.

From the outside looking in, the two of Mississippi's three coastal counties that do have casinos "look" like they're doing better than the one county that doesn't.

[thebestdillweed]

my family is from Ocean Springs and even though they don't have any casinos in that town, it seems that the tourist do flood into the towns shops and festivals, also after Katrina the casinos were one of the first to bring large amonts of tax revenue into that area, so i think they have had a positive impact on the coast