It’s time to get some questions answered from the spokesman for Rosie’s.
I was able to get some time to talk to Mark Hubbard, spokesman for the Colonial Downs Group. CDG is the company that operates all of the Rosie’s locations.
1) Why did you pick Danville as the next Rosie’s location?
We are incredibly heartened by the reception we have received in Danville. The feedback from local economic development and elected leaders has been very positive. We believe Danville offers what we are looking for: an exciting, dynamic area that is on the rise and on the move, and it is located near large population centers in North Carolina that we know would provide a very large customer base for Rosie’s and tax revenues for Danville.
2) What would be the timeframe for the opening of a Rosie’s in Danville?
If we are successful on November 5th, we will get to work immediately on determining the best location for a Danville Rosie’s. But we will only open when we can finalize a plan the works for the city’s objectives as well as our own.
3) Regarding the “150 jobs”, what types of jobs do they entail?
20% of our workforce is dedicated to safety and security. Additional job opportunities will include gaming ambassadors to assist customers on the floor, technology support for the games, restaurant and bar cooks and servers, cashiers, custodians and management/supervisory positions across all areas. We provide complete on the job training and the average package of salary and benefits will be $47,000 annually.
4) Do you have an estimated tax revenue for the city of Danville?
Tax revenues would ultimately be based on the number of games located in Danville. For comparison purposes, Vinton has 150 games and is on track to collect approximately $600,000 in tax revenue annually while Richmond has 700 games and is on track to collect approximately $2 million in tax revenues annually.
5) What does Rosie’s do in “giving back to the community”?
Rosie’s has a points program for players, Rosie’s Rewards. What differentiates us from other gaming operators is that we partner with community businesses so that our players can redeem their points at other locations, as well as at Rosie’s. We want our customers to also visit other local businesses and spend their dollars supporting them. Additionally, Rosie’s makes regular direct contributions to community organizations including schools, veterans groups and non-profits that assist the disadvantaged.
6) Have you had any problems with increased crime rates?
To the contrary, Rosie’s has helped curb criminal elements in areas where we have located because of the increased lighting, surveillance cameras and police department partnerships we establish. Our customers will not come to a location unless it is safe, so we make security and surveillance a priority.
7) How can local businesses partner with the Rosie’s Rewards program?
Rosie’s has an employee dedicated to community relations in every locality where we operate. As we hold job fairs to engage the community with job opportunities when opening a new location we also reach out to local businesses to encourage their participation in Rosie’s Rewards.
8) How does Rosie’s address problem gambling issues?
Our gaming ambassadors receive training to observe and recognize the very small percentage of players who may have challenges with gambling. These ambassadors are also trained on how to approach players and provide them with resources where they can get help with their challenges. We bring a lively and fun form of entertainment to local communities. For the majority of our customers an evening at Rosie’s is like an evening at dinner and the movies and the average spend is $50 – $75.
And there you go. I hope these questions and answers will help you make your decision on the November 5th referendum.
Leave a Reply