March 10, 2007 09:54 AM UTC

Idea for DIA

• 0 Comments
• by: windbourne

DIA is an interesting feature. It helps the whole state, but is owned by Denver. Yet, if United were to go under or to simply pull out of here, the state would be forced to pay it off. So what is needed is a way to pay it off quickly. How to do that?

To cut to the chase, allow casinos to pay off DIA (airport).

DIA is deep in debt and if United collapses it will probably need a bail out from the state. But one idea, is to allow the casinos to bid to go out there set up  a small number of machines on the concourses but not in the main terminal. This means that only those ppl who have airline tickets will be there. So, this will not really be taking from the locals, but from those that are doing short layovers. Then the state’s cut of the money (it is the state) is then split between the airport debt (majority) and tourism promotion.

In addition, I suggest that the casino’s build  concourse D and E (just the first 1 or 2 segments). The airport agrees to not take the D for the first 10 years, and E for the first 20-30 years (with a penalty of the airport having to pay for the new casino concourse). In addition,  When D gets taken, then F can be built (on the casino’s dollar).

This idea has a number of pros and a major con. The big pros are:

1. The airport’s debt could be retired rather quickly from money that is coming from out of state.  Keep in mind that only ticketed passengers could use these. And since the limits and the payouts are the same as at the mountain places, it is not likely that a local would pay 100 for a trashed ticket just to go gamble. It would be cheaper and faster to go the mountains. IOW, it will not take away from the current casino’s. It will be all new casinos.
   
2. The major building (DIA, T-Rex) are now done.. We now have a surplus of construction workers and supplies. But this will allow for about 5-10 more years of big building (combined with a hotel out there).
   
3. The train will need to be extended from the 3 cars train to a 4 or 5 car train. Of course, that would be at the casino’s dollar. In addition, ideally, we would have them build the underground walkway that Webb canceled. At the very least, they should build it between C-D-E.
   
4. D and E will then house multiple casinos. Ideally,  it would also house movie theaters, restaurants, etc that a paying passenger with a small layover can use. In addition, in the ideal setting, they would even rig it for shower for patrons. Useful for those that get stuck overnight (which I have done at OHare and Dallas).
   

There are 2 cons that I came up with.

1. Who to allow to bid on the casinos? While it makes sense that the mountain folks should, it makes sense to me that the Native Americans should be allowed as well. This state seems to frown on that, but I think that we should allow it.
   
2. Of course, the major con is that the anti gamblers (pretty much conservatives ) will hate this. Even if it is pointed out that most of the money will come from out the state, will create a number of construction jobs, will pay off the airport quickly,  they will still fight it. If any pols were directly involved in it, I suspect that it could be used against them.