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Multiple speakers urge Roanoke City Council not to pursue casino at Berglund Center
Summary
Several residents and Civic Center stakeholders used the meeting’s public comment period to oppose possible plans to convert the Berglund Center into a casino, citing potential negative impacts on local events, small businesses, and increased crime.
During the public-comment segment of the Oct. 20 City Council meeting, several residents and Civic Center stakeholders spoke against consideration of a casino at the Berglund Center.
The speakers said a casino would displace existing events and hurt nearby businesses, and they expressed concern about social harms and increased crime.
What speakers said
- Reverend Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church: "I would ask that we look for other avenues to financially fund the needs of Roanoke City and those businesses and not engage in pursuing the addition of another casino here in our valley," adding concern that a casino "will lead to the reallocation of funds, taking away monies from local businesses and restaurants, also a measurable increase in crime." (public comment) - Chris Craft, a Civic Center committee member, said council members made a surprise announcement about the casino without consulting the committee and said the Civic Center could lose regular events such as trade and home shows; he stated he opposed a casino conversion and corrected an earlier numeric error he had given the council about Civic Center losses. - Anita Atkins, resident: She described seeing children left outside casinos while parents were on the gaming floor and said, "We really don't want that for our children. That just concerns me." - Ralph Smith, former mayor: He urged the council to find more efficient ways to raise revenue for the Civic Center rather than pursuing a casino and suggested exploring shared management arrangements with other civic centers.
Why it matters: Council members do not appear to have taken formal action at the Oct. 20 meeting to pursue a casino project; public comments registered community concern that expanding gambling at the civic center would change the venue’s event mix and could have social and economic impacts on downtown businesses.
Ending: Speakers requested that council decline any path that would convert the Berglund Center into a casino; council thanked public commentators and referred the matters to city staff as part of the usual public‑comment follow‑up process.
