RALLY KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN FOR GAMBLING

The senior vice president of Boyd Gaming Corp. said Friday night that his company's commitment to invest $38.5 million in downtown Cape Girardeau to develop a riverboat gaming entertainment complex still stands.

"The commitment we made in June still stands. We very much want to be a part of this community and want to make an investment for a premiere riverboat gaming operation," Jim Hippler told a crowd of people attending a rally to formally kick off the campaign to win local approval.

"We believe this is a tremendous opportunity for our company and that we will fit in well with the citizens of Cape Girardeau. As you prepare to vote on the issue in November, we want you to know that we are still committed to building a quality development in Cape. We are ready to invest in this community and work together to make Cape Girardeau a complete tourist destination," said Hippler.

In June, voters in the city narrowly rejected a ballot issue that would have made it legal for a gambling boat to dock in Cape Girardeau. That campaign was financed exclusively by The Boyd Group, a Las Vegas-based company that owns and operates four casino and resort hotels in Las Vegas.

The company is also developing gaming operations in Kansas City and New Orleans.

After the issue was defeated in June, a group of local citizens formed the Yes Group and secured petitions from 3,700 registered voters asking the city council to put the measure back on the ballot. Most of the funding for this campaign will be raised locally.

Friday's kickoff event at the Show Me Center, attended by 1,534, featured three bands, dozens of door prizes, refreshments, and a bountiful supply of red "YES" buttons and other campaign materials.

Chuck McGinty, a member of the campaign committee and a downtown merchant, said riverboat gambling will provide an economic boost.

Said McGinty: "We believe in free enterprise. We should welcome a new business that creates jobs, entertainment and other new businesses for Cape Girardeau."

Peter Gordon, a marketing professor at Southeast Missouri State University, pointed out that the four biggest objections to having a gaming operation here could also have been applied to Wal-Mart and West Park Mall when they first located in the city.

Arguments against gambling are that it could increase crime; appeal to compulsive personalities, that could lead people to squander their money; provides profits for out of town interests; and that in 10 years the out-of-town business owners will be gone.

"The negatives that are raised apply to any business that comes to town -- not just riverboat gambling," said Gordon.

Tom Mogelnicki, treasurer of the Yes Group, said the boat offered an opportunity for long-term economic growth.

"We need progress ... it is a golden opportunity for this town," said Mogelnicki. "We really need it for the young people in our town."

Chris Myers, president of a University group known as Students for Progress, outlined efforts to get students registered who would support the issue on Nov. 2.

"One of our main goals is to get students out and registered to vote. Students are a big part of the community," said Myers. He noted that 300 students had been registered since Monday and that the goal is to register 1,000 by the Oct. 6 deadline.

David Knight, another member of the Yes committee, said he sensed strong grassroots support for the issue this time. He pointed out that 3,700 signatures -- 1,300 more than necessary to put the matter on the ballot -- were gathered in just over a week to put the issue back on the ballot.

Knight also explained that the Boyd Group would make a major investment in town, spending $13.5 million on a boat; $15 million on a the land based development; $6 million on equipment and $3 million on supplies.

Jerry Lynn, a native of Cape Girardeau who has been working since January as the restaurant supervisor for the Players Riverboat in Metropolis, was one of those attending the rally.

Lynn said that no matter which company gets a license to operate a boat, they will hire a lot of local people.

"It is going to bring more jobs and will revitalize the downtown area in Cape as it has in Metropolis," said Lynn. Since the boat began operating in March, the city of Metropolis has added four restaurants and other businesses are making improvements and seeing increased customers.

Lynn also noted that Metropolis has not had increased crime since the boat has been operating.

Evelyn Boardman, one of the Yes Group organizers, said the rally was a big success. Some people stayed the entire evening, others stayed for an hour or so, she said.

"We were just really thrilled with our turnout," said Boardman.

A contest to name the boat drew several hundred name ideas, she added.

If citizens authorize riverboat gambling, it will be up to the city council to decide which company to give a license to. Under state law, only one company will be allowed to dock a boat in cities the size of Cape Girardeau.

Hippler said Boyd Gaming would build a three-deck boat, 254 feet long and 78 feet wide, for Cape Girardeau. The boat will resemble vessels from the steamboat era of the 1800s and carry 1,350 passengers. In addition to the casino, food and beverage service will be available on the boat. The land-based development will include retail space, food service areas, offices, an 800 space parking garage, and a 900 space parking lot.

Hippler stressed that Boyd Gaming would employ more than 800 people, with a $22 million annual payroll. The boat would bring more than one million visitors to Cape Girardeau each year, who would spend more than $36 million in the area, according to proponents.

The first-year economic impact on the Cape area, including construction, would be $120 million, Hippler said.

"This company does not go into an area short term. We don't operate that way," stressed Hippler. "We expect to be part of the community -- to be your neighbor. It would be our goal to help the community grow."