Are the casinos in the United States desperate enough to pin their hopes on a derelict ocean liner? Well according to the murmurings coming out of Harrah’s and Foxwoods they aren’t, but it isn’t stopping campaigners for the SS United States fighting its corner as if an ailing championship fighter ala Audley Harrison.
Monday saw supporters of the ocean liner backing a proposal for the ship to be incorporated into the Foxwoods waterfront casino venue, the 990-foot liner becoming part of the 16-acre site. The development would be a unique one for Southern Philadelphia and a truly iconic part of the city, but the partnership between Harrah’s and Foxwoods aren’t buying it.
We can see their point of view though. This ship is over 50 years old and as such is likely to be in quite the dilapidated state. Now people attending a glitzy new casino aren’t going to want to being stepping aboard a vessel that may go the way of the Titanic any minute.
The partnership now has until Dec 10 to present their plans and prove to the Philadelphia Gaming Control Board that they have the finance to fund the $275 million casino complex.
Overall, if you went onto the cruise ship it could be a drunken nightmare for you. Waking up on a cruise liner thinking you somehow won the grand prize in the casino, but then it dawning on you that you’re in the cold, wind-bitten South of Philadelphia, with nothing but a Will Smith billboard and a cheese steak to keep you company.
