* WREX TV…
Rockford business leaders are using a new strategy to reach lawmakers in Springfield about bringing a casino to Rockford.
“I would say this is the deepest dive we’ve ever done,” Einar Forsman, the President and CEO of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce says.
Part of the new strategy includes targeted social media advertisements. The Chamber says those ads are designed to pop up on your social media feed if you in your 20s to 40s and are in the Rockford or Springfield area.
Click here to track how the Facebook ads are doing. They’ve been seen by several hundred thousand people, so kudos to them.
* But the linked website asks people to tweet this to the governor…
Now is the time for a Rockford casino. We’re done being held hostage by wealthy Illinois casino owners afraid of competition. Do we have your support? #timeforrockford
I searched Twitter for the hashtag and found one result from two weeks ago, before the ads began running…
Another one popped up and then disappeared for some reason. It could be an issue with Twitter’s search function.
* Related…
* Where States Stand on Sports Betting One Year After PASPA
- George - Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:19 pm:
The casinos did so much for Aurora and Elgin. People drive into the parking structure, lose their money, and drive home. I can see why Rockford would want one.
All those Fox River cities between Elgin and Aurora must be struggling. You know - St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva, etc. How does Geneva, with all its great restaurants and charm, get people from the city to schlep all the way out there.
So Rockford may get a few bucks from a casino while others will get rich - or if they have the casino operating skills of Donald Trump - go broke. Casinos are the desperate last act of a drowning man.
- Practical Politics - Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
Einar weren’t you Adlai’s running mate?
In Solidarity… never mind.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:36 pm:
===People drive into the parking structure, lose their money, and drive home===
The issue for Rockford is that an Indian tribe in Wisconsin is trying to open a casino just north of the city.
- Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:51 pm:
Not sure about Aurora and Elgin, but I have always thought that the Joliet casinos brought in a lot of cash to the area.
- George - Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 12:58 pm:
===The issue for Rockford is that an Indian tribe in Wisconsin is trying to open a casino just north of the city.===
That strengthens my point. Gambling is a terrible tool for economic development. I believe there are studies out there that the societal costs of gambling exceed the benefit. And why attack other Illinois casino operators when the biggest threat is a Wisconsin casino.
I am just sick of the casino quick fix solution to our fiscal problems.
- A guy - Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 1:14 pm:
They learned something from the Russian bots, eh? /s
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 15, 19 @ 2:18 pm:
You know - St. Charles, Batavia, Geneva, etc. How — how does Geneva, with all its great restaurants and charm, get people from the city to schlep all the way out there.–
Apples and bowling balls, comparing Rockford and Geneva.
Geneva is a small, homogeneous, bedroom community that has striven for the last 20 years or so to keep a lid on growth.
Rockford is a much larger, diverse, industrial center trying to replace some post Rust Belt jobs.