N.Y. Mets says purchase of Syracuse Chiefs is a bit of a “homecoming”

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SYRACUSE — In their inaugural year of baseball in 1962, the New York Mets had the Syracuse Chiefs as their Triple-A affiliate. “So this is somewhat of a homecoming again for the Mets,” Jeff Wilpon, COO of the New York Mets, said in his remarks at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse on Oct. 10. The […]

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SYRACUSE — In their inaugural year of baseball in 1962, the New York Mets had the Syracuse Chiefs as their Triple-A affiliate.

“So this is somewhat of a homecoming again for the Mets,” Jeff Wilpon, COO of the New York Mets, said in his remarks at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse on Oct. 10.

The Mets have closed on a deal to purchase the Syracuse Chiefs, with plans to move their Triple-A affiliate to Syracuse in 2019.

The deal means the Washington Nationals will have to move their Triple-A team from their current home in Syracuse after the 2018 season.

The agreement, with negotiation support from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, ensures that the baseball team will continue to play at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse through at least 2025, Cuomo’s office said in a news release issued Oct. 10.

“We’ve given our word that we’re going to be here. There’s some things in the agreement that I can’t go into, but we plan to be here long term. We’re going to bring some capital to the ball park,” Wilpon told a group of reporters after the ceremony.

Besides seven years of playing time at NBT Bank Stadium, Cuomo’s release didn’t provide other details of the purchase agreement.

Cuomo that same day spoke at NBT Bank Stadium.

“The Mets have announced the agreement with the board of the Community Baseball Club of Central New York, which has kept baseball here in Syracuse since 1961,” Cuomo said in his remarks.

He spoke to the seated audience and media members gathered around home plate on the field on a sun-soaked afternoon.

The Community Baseball Club of Central New York stockholders; professional baseball; and Onondaga County, which holds the lease to the stadium, must approve the transaction, Cuomo’s office said.

Active stockholders will “shortly” receive a voting proxy in the mail with details on the proposed transaction and instructions on how to vote by Nov. 17.

“We expect that very soon, we will have new ownership here,” Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney said during the ceremony. “We’ve made a commitment to baseball and the best option we have for long-term security to have this level of baseball in Syracuse is with the Mets.”

Besides Cuomo, Wilpon, and Mahoney, those attending the announcement included Sandy Alderson, general manager of the New York Mets; John Ricco, assistant general manager of the Mets; Jason Smorol, general manager of the Syracuse Chiefs; Bob Julian, chairman of the board of directors of the Community Baseball Club of Central New York Inc.; and Mets pitcher Matt Harvey.

Closer to NYC

For the past five seasons, the Mets have anchored their top affiliate in Las Vegas, in part because of a lack of available Triple-A teams close to New York City,

That changes with the franchise’s purchase of Syracuse, which plays its home games only, about 260 miles from Citi Field.

The Mets currently have the longest travel distance in baseball between their big league and Triple-A parks, but will fall to the middle of the pack once they move.

The Mets’ Double-A affiliate is located nearby in Binghamton, and one of their Class A affiliates is in Brooklyn.

Before moving to Las Vegas, the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate was located in Buffalo. But the Bisons switched allegiances to the Toronto Blue Jays after the 2012 season, leaving the Mets without an obvious home.

City Electric Company moves headquarters in Syracuse

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SYRACUSE — City Electric Company, Inc. announced it has relocated its sales counter and corporate headquarters in Syracuse to 450 Tracy St. This facility is just a few blocks away from its prior home on West Genesee St. and will nearly double the available warehouse space in Syracuse to help better serve the firm’s growing

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Imperium3 New York to set up lithium-ion battery giga-factory in Endicott

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ENDICOTT — A consortium of businesses, led by three Southern Tier companies, plans to establish research and development and production operations at the Huron Campus in Endicott. The group, called Imperium3 New York, Inc. (Imperium3NY), will spend more than $130 million and create at least 230 new jobs over the next five years, the office

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ENDICOTT — A consortium of businesses, led by three Southern Tier companies, plans to establish research and development and production operations at the Huron Campus in Endicott.

The group, called Imperium3 New York, Inc. (Imperium3NY), will spend more than $130 million and create at least 230 new jobs over the next five years, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release issued Oct. 4. Cuomo visited Endicott to make the announcement.

Imperium3 New York plans to launch a lithium-ion battery production giga-plant, “ultimately ramping to 15 giga-watts of production and hundreds more jobs,” Cuomo’s office said.

To encourage this effort, Empire State Development has offered performance-based incentives totaling $7.5 million, including a $4 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative grant and $3.5 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.

Additionally, Imperium3NY is expected to qualify for an estimated $5.75 million in New York investment tax credits.

“This consortium of local businesses is choosing to stay and invest their next generation technology right here in the Southern Tier, breathing new life into vacant facilities and creating hundreds of good jobs for New Yorkers,” Cuomo said in the news release. “Our investments to improve the business climate and spur economic development across Upstate New York are paying off, and this innovative project is yet another example of how the Southern Tier is soaring.”

The work, those involved

Imperium3NY will commercialize a technology for making “more efficient and less expensive” lithium-ion batteries while operating the state’s first giga-factory. It’ll make lithium-ion batteries, producing three gigawatts of batteries by the fourth quarter of 2019 and growing to 15 gigawatts.

Nearly 10 companies formed the Imperium3NY consortium, which includes three Southern Tier companies that serve “as its backbone.”

Those firms include C4V of Binghamton, which will provide the core intellectual property; C&D Assembly of Groton, which is supplying electronic board assembly and battery testing; and Primet Precision Materials of Ithaca, which is offering advanced processing of materials

Other New York state companies involved include Rochester–based Kodak (NYSE: KODK) and the Binghamton location of Chateauguay, Quebec–based CMP Advanced Mechanical Solutions.

The general market for lithium-ion batteries “continues to grow daily” and serves multiple industries, including renewable-energy projects, electric-vehicle manufacturers, cell phone and other electronic-product makers, among many others. Industry experts consider C4V’s batteries to be “more efficient and less costly” than other lithium-ion batteries on the market today, according to Cuomo’s office.

C4V in 2016 won $500,000 in New York State’s first 76West clean-energy competition, recognized for its “innovative” battery-storage technology. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, 76West is “one of the largest” competitions in the country that focuses on “supporting and growing” clean-energy businesses and expanding “innovative” entrepreneurship in the Southern Tier, as described in the news release.

Additional consortium participants include Magnis Resources, Ltd., a publicly traded Australian company. It will provide anode materials needed for the consortium to make the lithium-ion batteries.

Boston Energy and Innovation, another Australian business specializing in clean energy, will provide international sales and marketing opportunities.

More than 20 international companies have been qualified by C4V as “strategic suppliers of high-quality” lithium, electrolyte, separator, and other “critical” raw ingredients to Imperium3 New York.

del Lago generates more than $100 million in gross gaming revenue since opening

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TYRE — Del Lago Resort & Casino has generated $100.4 million in gross gaming revenue since opening on Feb. 1, according to the latest numbers posted by the New York State Gaming Commission. The $440 million casino, located just off exit 41 (Waterloo–Clyde exit) of the New York State Thruway in the town of Tyre

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TYRE — Del Lago Resort & Casino has generated $100.4 million in gross gaming revenue since opening on Feb. 1, according to the latest numbers posted by the New York State Gaming Commission.

The $440 million casino, located just off exit 41 (Waterloo–Clyde exit) of the New York State Thruway in the town of Tyre in Seneca County, has been steadily producing $12 million to $13.5 million in gross gaming revenue in seven of its first eight months — the only exception was June with $11.1 million in gaming revenue.

The casino — which has 1,956 slot machines and 99 gaming tables, including 14 poker tables — has paid more than $30 million in gaming taxes to New York State and local governments since opening, according to the Gaming Commission.

Del Lago Resort & Casino opened its 205-room hotel and the Spa del Lago on July 1. The hotel and spa opened two weeks ahead of schedule.

The resort says its strategy from the start has been to position itself as “a gateway to the Finger Lakes region.” That includes partnering with area wineries, breweries, cheesemakers, and local shops in the region. To that end, del Lago announced in September that it was “celebrating the fall grape harvest” by buying 3,000 bottles of wine (250 cases) each from Thirsty Owl Wine Company on Cayuga Lake and Glenora Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake. The purchases are the largest single sales that the wineries have received, according to a del Lago news release. It said that the it gave the wine as “gifts” to the resort and casino’s “top guests” that month.

“The sale of 250 cases of Lot 99 to del Lago Resort & Casino is the single largest one time drop we have made to one single account in the history of Thirsty Owl Wine Company,” Jon Cupp, president, said in the release. “We look forward to the synergies between Finger Lakes wineries and del Lago Resort & Casino as we believe it will drive many more visitors to our region.”

Rochester–based Wilmorite, Inc. owns and operates del Lago Resort & Casino.

Trade group touts gaming industry’s impact on small-business job growth

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The casino-gaming industry supports 50,000 small-business jobs nationwide and “thousands” of them are in New York, the Washington, D.C.–based American Gaming Association (AGA) said during a recent appearance at the Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady as part of the American Gaming small-business jobs tour. The event was part of AGA’s “Get to Know Gaming” tour, which

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The event was part of AGA’s “Get to Know Gaming” tour, which aims to educate communities about gaming’s role as a “community partner” in 40 states across the country, AGA said in a news release issued Sept. 19.

“Casino gaming is a strong community partner in New York and across the country where hundreds of thousands of small-business jobs are supported,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of AGA, said. “We are particularly proud of our support for minority and women-owned businesses and the unique opportunities that our industry makes possible.”

The casino industry is a $240 billion-a-year industry that supports 1.7 million jobs nationwide, according to the AGA. In New York, gaming employs 14,000 people, supports $827 million in wages and generates $3.6 billion in economic impact, the trade group said.

“Rivers Casino has fast become an important part of our community,” Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said in the release. “Not only does the casino provide jobs, but the entire facility enhances the hard work we’ve put in to making downtown Schenectady a fun place to be and a great place to do business.

Report on small-business impact

Gaming’s “widespread” impact is felt in markets across the country, but has larger impacts in small- to mid-sized communities where local businesses work to “integrate” into gaming operations.

That’s according to a report that the AGA released in February.

In the report, entitled “The Gaming Industry’s Impact on Small Business Development in the United States,” researchers examined nearly a dozen U.S. gaming markets and assessed casino gaming’s direct and indirect impact on local, small businesses.

None of the markets were in New York, and the closest was in Plainville, Massachusetts.

Nationwide, the report concluded that the casino-gaming industry generates $52 billion in annual revenues for American small businesses and supports $13 billion in small-business employee wages.

In addition, $52 billion in annual small-business revenues target real estate, finance, health care, STEM, manufacturing, information technology, and other industries. STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The AGA says its members include commercial and tribal-casino operators, suppliers, and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry.

Oneida Nation training table-game dealers for Point Place Casino in Sullivan

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SULLIVAN — Central New Yorkers interested in training to be among the first table-game dealers at the upcoming Point Place Casino were scheduled to begin training on Oct. 16. Those interested signed up for the Professional Casino Dealer School, a 16-week course set scheduled in the Bridgeport area of Sullivan, the Oneida Nation said in

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Tioga Downs prepares for new hotel opening in November

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NICHOLS — The owner of Tioga Downs says he plans to open the 161-room hotel that’s under construction in early November. The venue will open Nov. 3 “most likely for just our … top customers,” says Jeff Gural, chairman of American Racing and Entertainment. “And then we’ll probably begin taking reservations … a few days

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Turning Stone, Syracuse Crunch renew marketing partnership for 3 seasons

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SYRACUSE — Turning Stone Resort Casino has returned as the “official resort casino” of the Syracuse Crunch through the 2019-20 season, the organizations recently announced. They didn’t release terms of the three-year marketing partnership. The pact kicked off with the annual “Welcome to Town” event on Oct. 4 in the atrium of Turning Stone’s Exit

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St. Joseph’s Health Foundation’s annual golf classic at Turning Stone nets more than $187,000

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VERONA, N.Y. — St. Joseph’s Health Foundation announced that it netted more than $187,000 at its 25th annual golf classic, held Sept. 8 on three golf courses at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona. Proceeds from this year’s event will help fund the St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Center of Excellence. Since its inception, the foundation’s

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Cortland, Watertown win $10M in state funding in downtown revitalization initiative

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New York has awarded both the cities of Cortland and Watertown $10 million in funding and investments in the second round of the downtown revitalization initiative (DRI). Cortland was chosen as the second-round winner in the Central New York region, and Watertown earned the same distinction for the North Country region. Cortland and Watertown will

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New York has awarded both the cities of Cortland and Watertown $10 million in funding and investments in the second round of the downtown revitalization initiative (DRI).

Cortland was chosen as the second-round winner in the Central New York region, and Watertown earned the same distinction for the North Country region.

Cortland and Watertown will use their $10 million in state funding and investments to “revitalize” their downtown neighborhoods and “generate new opportunities for long-term growth,” the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in separate news releases about each city’s award.

Cuomo on Oct. 4 visited the Watertown Masonic Temple to announce the funding and announced the Cortland award two days later at Cortland Repertory Theatre.

Watertown now joins the City of Plattsburgh as a DRI award winner. Plattsburgh was the North Country region’s winner in the first DRI round.

“Watertown’s $10 million downtown-revitalization initiative award is a great step forward in our efforts to continue the North Country’s economic resurgence,” Cuomo said. “Investing in this local community will attract jobs, private investment and future development to transform downtown Watertown into an economic engine for the entire region.”

Cortland now joins the City of Oswego as a DRI award winner in the Central New York region. Oswego was the region’s winner in the first DRI round.

“New York continues to invest in our communities to attract the next generation of leaders and spur businesses development in downtowns across the state,” Cuomo said. “This funding will bring new life to downtown Cortland and [assist] in its transformation into an economic engine for the entire region.”

Developing a plan

Cortland and Watertown will now begin the process of developing a strategic-investment plan to revitalize their downtown areas with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant.

A local planning committee in each community made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort. A team of private sector experts and state planners will support the work, Cuomo’s office said.

The strategic-investment plans for the Cortland and Watertown downtown areas will examine local assets and opportunities and identify economic development, transportation, housing, and community projects that align with the community’s vision for downtown revitalization and that are “poised for implementation.”

The “strategic” investment plan for the downtown areas of both communities will “guide the investment” of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that will “advance” each community’s vision for its downtown and that can “leverage and expand” upon the state’s $10 million investment, Cuomo’s office said.

Plans for DRI’s second round for both Cortland and Watertown will be complete in early 2018.

Selection process

As in the first round of the DRI, the state will select one municipality from each of the state’s 10 regional economic-development regions as a $10 million winner.

The state is awarding a total of $100 million in DRI funding and investments to help communities identify “catalytic downtown projects to boost the local economy,” Cuomo’s office said.

Both the Central New York and the North Country regional economic-development councils went through a “competitive” review process of proposals from communities throughout the region and considered eight criteria before recommending Cortland and Watertown as their respective nominees for the DRI funding award.

The criteria included the stipulation that the downtown area should be “compact, with well-defined boundaries,” according to the state. In addition, the municipality should be of “sufficient size to support a vibrant, year-round downtown.”

The criteria also require that the downtown area can “capitalize on prior or catalyze future” private and public investment in the neighborhood and its surrounding areas. The municipality should have identified “transformative” projects that will be ready for implementation with an infusion of DRI funds within the first one to two years, Cuomo’s office noted.

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