
Can Encore Build A New Theater Across The Street
Leader Staff
When Encore was willing to pay an entertainment act, the B-52’s, three times what a smaller theater in Medford was able to offer recently, and the B-52’s chose the casino over the Medford theater, that play is called a “predatory presenter” move in the entertainment industry.
In such an environment, the casino not only has the edge over local venues, but such a situation allowed to exist, will put the smaller venues out of business.
Allowing Encore to build its planned new entertainment venue would perpetuate that situation as well as exacerbating it and give Encore an unfair advantage over smaller entertainment theaters and halls, according to Attorney Dan Rabinovitz.
Rabinovitz urged the Gaming Commissioners at Monday’s Zoom public hearing, that Encore has continually had concerts and entertainment events with thousands of seats sold in its ballroom at the casino – which, Rabinovitz insisted – is against the casino laws in force in Massachusetts.
Ironically, Rabinovitz was cautioned by an MGC commissioner that he was speaking about an issue not up for debate at this particular Zoom public meeting, as if to say, we can’t and shouldn’t be discussing this because it is not on the agenda.
The interaction revealed the complexities of overseeing Encore, a gaming giant taking in about $800 million a year and now wishing to expand across the street to increase the take while at the same time attempting to keep in force laws intended to save the smaller theaters.
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