Great question. I think in FL the best site to have a chance at
turning a profit would be to try to acquire the Tampa permit and
build there. I believe the permits can be sold, but are specific
to a certain area (city or county) where they are valid. I've
said before that I really think there should be a "use it
or lose it" policy on the permits. It is not right that places
can sit on unused permits while new ones cannot be obtained. How
is that good for the pari-mutuel industry? And of course most
locations sit on unused permits only to keep the competition out.
I think they should be taxed heavily on unused permits. After
all, they are preventing job growth in the industry, etc. Then
after 2-3 years of no activity you lose it. Of course that makes
WAY too much sense for anyone in the Division of Pari-Mutual wagering
to grab onto this idea and see how it would be beneficial for
the industry they are SUPPOSED to support....so I don't hold my
breath waiting for them to do anything new and creative.
Now for the spot that would be less likely to be profitable but
probably the most fun........Key West. Okay on the distance rules
in FL. Small population but draws a tourist crowd, of mostly adults.
To quite Happy Gilmore - a "a large and very economically
diverse crowd" - to say the least! I think a very small fronton
with poker could possibly work. But you'd have to build other
things like bars/restaurants and try to appeal to the tourist
crowd as an activity to do after the beach and before going out
and hitting the Duval street bar. If you partner with the right
community contacts and run the right dates with a good marketing
plan...and build a small but hip location then I think you get
get a few hundred a night. I would say make it like the Seminole
Hard Rock but on a MUCH smaller scale and with no hotel. You could
have the fronton area for gaming, then attached to it different
food/drink options to appeal to all types of visitors.
