Deal reached with arts organizations over proposed East Greenbush casino

PHOTOGRAPHER: Haley Viccaro

The Palace Theatre and the Times Union Center in Albany have reached agreements with Saratoga Casino and Raceway and Churchill Downs on a proposed casino in East Greenbush.

The Capital View Casino & Resort, which is being pitched by the operators on Thompson Hill in East Greenbush, is looking to promote the Albany entertainment venues if the project receives a casino license from the state.

“We’re thrilled to be able to partner with the local arts and entertainment community to strengthen existing venues and provide our visitors a range of entertainment options when they come to the region,” said Rita Cox, spokeswoman for Saratoga Casino.

The agreements with the Palace Theatre, Times Union Center and Park Playhouse ensure that the East Greenbush casino limits any entertainment venue it builds on site to 1,000 seats or less.

The casino would also develop multiyear sponsorships and work to collaborate on booking performances for the area venues. Additional agreements are expected “in the coming days.”

“This is an exciting collaboration with Capital View Casino & Resort, which will help us reach new customers and ensure we are here to entertain the Capital Region for years to come,” said Holly Brown, executive director of the Palace Theatre.

Brown said the Palace’s agreement with the would-be operators of the East Greenbush casino is a non-exclusive partnership. She is also in discussions with other operators looking to build a casino in the region.

The news comes shortly after Angelo Mazzone announced his plans to open a new restaurant at the casino if the site is awarded a license to move forward with the project. Mazzone Hospitality is looking to build a steakhouse, or something similar, to cater to the casino’s visitors.

“Capital View Casino & Resort has worked to create partnerships with local businesses in order to make sure our bid has the greatest impact on the entire Capital Region,” Cox said.

The proposed $300 million project includes a 100,000-square-foot casino and an eight-story hotel with 150 rooms. The casino would be a Dutch Colonial-styled building with ponds and streams and herb and vegetable gardens.

Backers of other sites for a casino in the region including Cobleskill, Rensselaer, Schenectady and possibly Amsterdam, are working to submit their applications to the state Gaming Commission by June 30. Sites will be chosen this fall.