Doesn't matter who uses it. It's tired and reeks of desperation. The more I hear it in relation to building this city, the less I think anything about Toronto is world class.
Fine.. I disagree with those who say a hotel, casino, amusement park, restaurant, or mall cannot be world class. But I agree that that phrase has been overused.
However, staying on topic, my point is this resort/casino-complex needs to be iconic. That has been over used also, but I'm talking truly iconic.
The CN Tower is Iconic, as is the Sky Dome. This needs to be iconic, and I believe it will.
The single fact that it is a $6 billion dollar project does not mean it will be iconic, or even nice, but it provides the opportunity for it to be.
Think about it this way: if MGM announced they wanted to build a $600 million entertainment complex with a casino, we would not expect anything spectacular. In fact, it would be evident that the project would in no way be magnificent. However, six billion dollars is a lot of money! No other similar project in Toronto, if not Canada, is this big. That budget really allows us to make something great.
If there was no competition, public vote, or livable city here, then a 6 billion dollar project could still be something bad. However, the fact that so many companies are interested in this project means that they will all strive to provide the best design with the best impact, because they all want the job. The companies know that the public will vote on this, so they have to wow them. Toronto is not a city like Vegas. Any project must be suitable for the city. It can be bold and striking, but it must fit in with the existing city. The companies know that. MGM has already commented on the skyline and transit, meaning they are taking that into consideration.
This could be a great addition to our city and waterfront. An entertainment complex on the waterfront could actually improve the waterfront greatly if done right.
The OLG is changing its business model.
Casino developers expressing an interest in Toronto include MGM, MLSE’s Larry Tanenbaum, Caesars Entertainment, Canada’s own Onex Corp. and Las Vegas Sands Corp.
A project this large is estimated to bring $100 million a year to the city. There is expected to be a study on a casino in Toronto sometimes soon.
Two recent studies produced by two “major Canadian universities†that found no correlation between casinos and crime.
A project of this scale could employ up to 10,000 people directly and 20,000 jobs in other industries, due to the multiplier effect.
Those against casinos for the casino have no solid argument. Pretty much every other major city in Canada has a casino. That alone is not a reason to build on here, but the fact that they have one and are not "trashy" cities shows that the "terrible effects" caused by casinos are not as terrible as one might want us to think. Toronto has a casino during there summer at the CNE, and we do not see a spike in crime. Look at the Crown Melbourne or Marina Bay Sands, both of them effect their city's in a positive way and are similar to what we might get here.
Even if you think a casino is a terrible thing, the GTA will get one no matter what. Do you not think it is better to get as much money and jobs as possible if this must be built?
We are lucky enough to have a once in a lifetime chance to build an entertainment complex that can be enjoyed by millions of people in all age groups. It could even spark more tourism/entertainment developments in our city.
This kind of project is not going to make Toronto into Las Vegas or Atlantic City, because those are completely different situations in general.
but I hope you get my point 
