After trying for years to bring another NHL squad to Toronto, Graeme Roustan is looking into another effort, one that involves a casino.
Roustan has tried off and on to lure a second NHL franchise to the Toronto area, having previously focused his efforts on Markham. In 2012, Roustan and his company GTA Sports and Entertainment announced a 20,000-seat arena in the city that would be funded through a private/public partnership. Though it gathered some momentum, the project ultimately hit a roadblock when the city decided to put it aside in 2013, citing cost concerns.
Now Roustan is reportedly trying to attach his proposal to another plan, which is for a major casino to set up operations in the Toronto area. Several major operators–including Caesars Entertainment–are believed to be vying for the market, and Roustan is believed to be reviving his NHL efforts by proposing an arena that would be attached to the casino. More from the New York Post:
Toronto venture capitalist Graeme Roustan, who has been working for years to bring a second NHL team to the Toronto market, has been meeting with casino operators about partnering on his adjoining arena, sources said.
Roustan’s plan, one of about six, would have a casino operator bankrolling much of the cost of his arena, sources said.
If anything comes to fruition, it will take time before it becomes public knowledge. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. will not announce the casino operator until next summer.
