April 25, 2025 • 7 mins
Bruce Blakeman speaks with Mendte in the Morning about Las Vegas Sands no longer pursuing the development of a casino at the Nassau Coliseum and what he is doing to get the deal back together.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And now let's get to Bruce Blakeman, who is the
NASA County Executive. County Executive, I thank you so much
for being here this morning. I know you Larry, Good
morning to you. Thanks for being here. I know you
have to be a little bit disappointed that the Las
Vegas Sands has pulled out. It seems like maybe you
can correct me on that maybe they haven't pulled all
the way out developing a casino at the Nasau Coliseum.
(00:23):
Tell us what happened and what the future holds.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, so, first of all, I'm not really disappointed, because,
first of all, we knew that there were things going
on that were out of our control, such as the
online gaming that now is so popular and it's taking
a large portion of gaming revenue away from land based
(00:47):
bricks and mortar casinos. And for the last couple of months,
we've been hearing noises that the SAMs was rethinking their
business model for the United States. As you probably know,
they sold all their casinos in Las Vegas, and because
Nasau County was such an attractive site, they wanted to
(01:07):
give it a try here in Nassau County to get
the license. And certainly I thought it was worth a try,
but I always knew that it wasn't a done deal,
and we have a plan B. We've always had a
plan B. SAM still has to develop the site with
a luxury hotel and entertainment center, housing and some other
(01:28):
accouterments to the area. And we also have a number
of gaming entities that are very interesting that are interested
in taking the sands place. So I'm in negotiations with
them now, and we're going to pursue that because the
revenue that it would throw off and the jobs that
(01:49):
would throw off are are so great it would be
malpractice on my part not to consider it. But even
if we don't get a license for a casino, we
have a very ibrine plan for that site. Number one.
Number two. I've gotten a lot of a lot of
interest from various development entities, not only here in the
(02:11):
United States but in other countries, and we're talking about
major investors. So it's a site that's probably right now
the most valuable property in Nassau County. It's something that's
attractive to everybody. We have a very, very prosperous county
with the safest county in America, and we have kept
(02:33):
taxes down which is very attractive to people who want
to live here and people who want to work here.
So I'm not disappointed. Basically, I look at it as
opening other opportunities.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, it might turn out to be a good thing
from what you just said a moment ago, because you
said I noticed you said entities, and that it's more
than one casino that's talking about coming in there. And
then there's people overseas that are interested in the land.
What would you like to see happen? What what is
your preference for the area.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Well, my preference would be a world class hotel, entertainment
center and casino with beautiful restaurants and a world class spa.
Only because not that I not that I favored gaming
over some other use. I'm not a gambler. I don't
understand it. I work too hard for my money. But
(03:33):
basically it would throw off one hundred million dollars a
year in revenue. Excuse me. It would create thousands of
construction jobs, thousands of permanent jobs. I would be foolish
not to entertain a casino at that site. And we've
said all along it's the best site in America for
(03:53):
a casino. It would probably be the highest grossing casino
in the United States. So again, I'm going to continue
to pursue that. But we do We've always had another option,
and either one will be vibrant and exciting in.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
These negotiations you're having right now. How close are you
do you believe this is going to happen?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Well, let me just say this. It has to happen
within the next thirty days because the license process dictates
that there are certain timelines that any new operator would
would have to adhere to him. By the way, if
we did get another operator, they're stepping in the shoes
of the Sands. The Sands is completely cooperating in this effort.
(04:39):
They would like to see somebody step in their shoes.
So basically, we're talking about a situation where there'd be
not there'd be no starting over it. They would be
just stepping into the sands shoes. And the Sands has
made a lot of progress. And again I have no
fault with the Sands. Their business model changed because of
(05:01):
external forces that were out of everybody's control.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I'm sure you were encouraged when Donald Trump got in
the fight to have the man Massapequa of High School
keep its name as the Chief, the Massapeaqua Chiefs Vermont.
I understand in Massapequa, everybody is a chief and they're
proud of it. But the state wants them to get
rid of the name because they consider it an insult
(05:27):
to Indigenous people. That doesn't seem to be the case
in Massapequa. Can you stop this?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Well, we're trying very very hard. We've done a lot
of different things. First of all, we were able to
get President Trump engaged in this fight. He loves massa Peakua,
he loves Nassau County, and he sees as he sees
it as I do, is that as more of a
cancel culture thing that basically is something that would hurt
(05:55):
our Native American heritage here in Nassau County. We're very
proud of our Native American heritage, and we believe that
we are celebrating Native Americans here in Nasau County with
the names chiefs in Massapequa and warriors, and want to
A chiefs to me means a leader. Warrior means to
me someone who is brave and courageous. So I know
(06:17):
there are Native Americans who disagree with our opinion, but
I think that we are entering into a dialogue and
talking about it, and again, I feel very strongly that
Chiefs should remain as the logo and mascot in Massapequa,
and Warriors should remain as the logo and mascot of
(06:37):
Wanta High School. That's what they want, and I'm behind
them on that.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
I think everybody agrees with you. It gets ridiculous, doesn't it,
And so keep fighting the good fight. We're rooting for you.
Next time you come home, we'll talk about you running
for governor. How about that? Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Now let's talk about me running for Reelectionist County executive,
and then.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
We'll talk to you about running for governor. Bruce Blake
mn NASA out of the executive you too. Thanks a lot,
And now let's get to Bruce Blakeman, who is the
NASA County Executive. County Executive, I thank you so much
for being here this morning. I know you Larry, Good
morning to you. Thanks for being here. I know you
have to be a little bit disappointed that the Las
Vegas Sands has pulled out. It seems like maybe you
can correct me on that maybe they haven't pulled all
the way out developing a casino at the Nasau Coliseum.
(00:23):
Tell us what happened and what the future holds.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Yeah, so, first of all, I'm not really disappointed, because,
first of all, we knew that there were things going
on that were out of our control, such as the
online gaming that now is so popular and it's taking
a large portion of gaming revenue away from land based
(00:47):
bricks and mortar casinos. And for the last couple of months,
we've been hearing noises that the SAMs was rethinking their
business model for the United States. As you probably know,
they sold all their casinos in Las Vegas, and because
Nasau County was such an attractive site, they wanted to
(01:07):
give it a try here in Nassau County to get
the license. And certainly I thought it was worth a try,
but I always knew that it wasn't a done deal,
and we have a plan B. We've always had a
plan B. SAM still has to develop the site with
a luxury hotel and entertainment center, housing and some other
(01:28):
accouterments to the area. And we also have a number
of gaming entities that are very interesting that are interested
in taking the sands place. So I'm in negotiations with
them now, and we're going to pursue that because the
revenue that it would throw off and the jobs that
(01:49):
would throw off are are so great it would be
malpractice on my part not to consider it. But even
if we don't get a license for a casino, we
have a very ibrine plan for that site. Number one.
Number two. I've gotten a lot of a lot of
interest from various development entities, not only here in the
(02:11):
United States but in other countries, and we're talking about
major investors. So it's a site that's probably right now
the most valuable property in Nassau County. It's something that's
attractive to everybody. We have a very, very prosperous county
with the safest county in America, and we have kept
(02:33):
taxes down which is very attractive to people who want
to live here and people who want to work here.
So I'm not disappointed. Basically, I look at it as
opening other opportunities.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, it might turn out to be a good thing
from what you just said a moment ago, because you
said I noticed you said entities, and that it's more
than one casino that's talking about coming in there. And
then there's people overseas that are interested in the land.
What would you like to see happen? What what is
your preference for the area.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Well, my preference would be a world class hotel, entertainment
center and casino with beautiful restaurants and a world class spa.
Only because not that I not that I favored gaming
over some other use. I'm not a gambler. I don't
understand it. I work too hard for my money. But
(03:33):
basically it would throw off one hundred million dollars a
year in revenue. Excuse me. It would create thousands of
construction jobs, thousands of permanent jobs. I would be foolish
not to entertain a casino at that site. And we've
said all along it's the best site in America for
(03:53):
a casino. It would probably be the highest grossing casino
in the United States. So again, I'm going to continue
to pursue that. But we do We've always had another option,
and either one will be vibrant and exciting in.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
These negotiations you're having right now. How close are you
do you believe this is going to happen?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Well, let me just say this. It has to happen
within the next thirty days because the license process dictates
that there are certain timelines that any new operator would
would have to adhere to him. By the way, if
we did get another operator, they're stepping in the shoes
of the Sands. The Sands is completely cooperating in this effort.
(04:39):
They would like to see somebody step in their shoes.
So basically, we're talking about a situation where there'd be
not there'd be no starting over it. They would be
just stepping into the sands shoes. And the Sands has
made a lot of progress. And again I have no
fault with the Sands. Their business model changed because of
(05:01):
external forces that were out of everybody's control.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I'm sure you were encouraged when Donald Trump got in
the fight to have the man Massapequa of High School
keep its name as the Chief, the Massapeaqua Chiefs Vermont.
I understand in Massapequa, everybody is a chief and they're
proud of it. But the state wants them to get
rid of the name because they consider it an insult
(05:27):
to Indigenous people. That doesn't seem to be the case
in Massapequa. Can you stop this?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Well, we're trying very very hard. We've done a lot
of different things. First of all, we were able to
get President Trump engaged in this fight. He loves massa Peakua,
he loves Nassau County, and he sees as he sees
it as I do, is that as more of a
cancel culture thing that basically is something that would hurt
(05:55):
our Native American heritage here in Nassau County. We're very
proud of our Native American heritage, and we believe that
we are celebrating Native Americans here in Nasau County with
the names chiefs in Massapequa and warriors, and want to
A chiefs to me means a leader. Warrior means to
me someone who is brave and courageous. So I know
(06:17):
there are Native Americans who disagree with our opinion, but
I think that we are entering into a dialogue and
talking about it, and again, I feel very strongly that
Chiefs should remain as the logo and mascot in Massapequa,
and Warriors should remain as the logo and mascot of
(06:37):
Wanta High School. That's what they want, and I'm behind
them on that.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
I think everybody agrees with you. It gets ridiculous, doesn't it,
And so keep fighting the good fight. We're rooting for you.
Next time you come home, we'll talk about you running
for governor. How about that? Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Now let's talk about me running for Reelectionist County executive,
and then.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
We'll talk to you about running for governor. Bruce Blake
mn NASA out of the executive you too. Thanks a lot,
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