MASSACHUSETTS LAWMAKERS MADE it pretty clear in 2014 that they wanted to protect midsize theaters from having to compete against event venues run by casinos, inserting into the gaming law that gambling licensees “shall only be permitted to build a live entertainment venue that has less than 1,000 seats or more than 3,500 seats.”

The restriction received very little attention until recently, when representatives of Medford and the Chevalier Theatre began complaining about concerts and other events held in the ballroom of the Encore Boston Harbor in Everett. Most of the events occurred pre-pandemic, but the shows are resuming again next week with a mixed martial arts fight night.

The representatives urged the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to fine Encore and halt any shows that violate the 1,000-3,500 ticket limit. They also threatened a lawsuit if Encore kept hosting the shows. 

The Gaming Commission dealt with the controversy on Thursday not by addressing it head-on, but by letting its legal counsel, Todd Grossman, provide an interpretation of the law that basically would allow Encore to turn its ballrooms, lounges, and bars into concert venues of any size. That interpretation seemed amenable to the commission, which moved on to other matters with no comment. But the issue is not going away, in part because Grossman’s analysis is far from conclusive.

Grossman noted the statute allows licensed casinos to only “build” a live entertainment venue with less than 1,000 or more than 3,500 seats. He suggested nothing in the statute bars a casino from converting a ballroom or lounge into a concert facility and selling as many tickets as it wants.

Dan Rabinovitz, an attorney with Murphy & King who represents the city of Medford and the Chevalier Theatre’s booking agent, offered a very different interpretation of the law in his presentation to the Gaming Commission last week. He said Encore “built” its ballroom, and therefore the ballroom cannot be used to host entertainment events with 1,000 to 3,500 seats.

Grossman said his interpretation of the law is buttressed by a negotiated agreement between Encore and the Massachusetts Performing Arts Coalition, which represents theaters in the area. Grossman said the agreement, which was required of casino operators seeking a license from the Gaming Commission, permits the casino to use its bars, lounges, and hotel ballrooms for events, meetings, or celebrations where live entertainment is provided. 

“The hotel ballroom may be used for events that include live entertainment,” Grossman said. “There is no restriction in the agreement as to the size of any such event, either seats or patrons, the frequency of events, or any other such restrictions, though there could have been if it had been included in the agreement.”

Troy Siebels, president and CEO of the Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester, negotiated the agreement with Encore. He said Grossman’s summary of it is misleading because it focuses on a handful of words. “You have to read the whole thing,” he said.

In full, it states: “Wynn agrees that it does not currently plan to build, restore, operate or manage an indoor or outdoor, permanent or temporary live entertainment venue on or independent of the Casino Site in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts seating more than 1,000 persons, notwithstanding the fact that the Gaming Statute permits such venues seating more than 3,500 persons. The Parties acknowledge and agree that bars, lounges, common areas, hotel ballrooms, or other multi-use or meeting space within the gaming establishment or elsewhere at the Casino Site may be used for events, meetings, or celebrations that include live entertainment.”

Converting a ballroom into a concert venue would appear to fit the agreement’s reference to a “temporary live entertainment venue.” As for the reference to live entertainment in ballrooms or lounges, Siebels said that was included so Encore could provide entertainment incidental to an event — like a jazz trio performing in a bar or a band at a wedding. He said it was never intended that Encore would be selling thousands of tickets to an event in its ballroom.

“It’s parsing words and it’s clearly contrary to the spirit of the gaming statute,” he said.

 BRUCE MOHL

 

FROM COMMONWEALTH

Gaming Commission takes a pass: The Massachusetts Gaming Commission indicates it won’t seek to regulate a proposed entertainment complex across the street from Encore Boston Harbor in Everett as long as Encore agrees to conditions dealing with the size of the events venue, security, and other issues. Read more.

Death count revised: Massachusetts is revising the way it counts COVID deaths in a way that will reduce the overall total by 3,700. Read more.

Baker administration criticized: Rep. Michael Day, the House chair of the Judiciary Committee, accuses the Baker administration of “outright resistance” to implementation of the state’s criminal justice reform law. Read more.

Financial cliff: The MBTA is nearing a financial cliff in fiscal 2024 with a budget gap projected at $230 million and scheduled to increase over the next several years. Read more.

OPINION

Eating disorders: Ryan Dunk, a senior at Suffolk University and a figure skater with Team USA, lays out what can be done to stem the rise in eating disorders, which are ravaging the nation’s youth. Read more.

 

FROM AROUND THE WEB

 

BEACON HILL

Howie Carr slams House Republicans for failing to call for a roll vote on their proposal to suspend the state’s 24-cent-a-gallon gas tax, which was dispatched by House leaders on a voice vote. (Boston Herald) 

Pet owners renew their push to have the state regulate doggy day cares. (MassLive)

The Senate passes a bill that would overhaul the management structure at the Holyoke and Chelsea Soldiers’ Homes. (MassLive)

MUNICIPAL MATTERS  

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu named a 23-member working group to study “rent stabilization,” a signature proposal of her winning campaign. (Boston Herald)

The Worcester library considers terminating its subscription to Hoopla, which lets patrons rent free e-books using their library card, after finding hate content on the service. (Telegram & Gazette)

Worcester becomes the latest community to consider decriminalizing the use of psychedelic drugs. (Telegram & Gazette)

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and local business leaders are coming up with strategies to try to revive downtown activity. (Boston Globe) 

The New Bedford city council’s finance committee voted to accept the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funding, an issue that had set off power plays between the council and Mayor Jon Mitchell. (New Bedford Light) 

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

A bill pending in the Legislature would create a hotline for businesses to report job candidates who don’t show up for job interviews, and those people could lose unemployment benefits. (Gloucester Daily Times)

Play ball! (Boston Globe) 

More than 24 people from 19 states, including two from Massachusetts, testify at a Purdue virtual bankruptcy court hearing about the devastation caused by the company’s drug, Oxycontin. Members of the Sackler family, which owned the company, were on the call. (WBUR)

EDUCATION

A bill that would let school staff work at educational collaboratives – regional networks that share resources across districts – at the same time as they are working for a district aims to ease the school staffing crunch. (Boston University Statehouse Program)

Jerome and Linda Paros give $10 million to the UMass Amherst College of Engineering for research on extreme weather events. (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

Protesters plan a hunger strike to protest the building of a new oil and gas powered power plant in Peabody. (Salem News)

After the closure of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant, the void has been filled by natural gas, with other power producers increasing greenhouse gas emissions. (USA Today)

Casella Waste Management is trying to buy the waste incinerator in Pittsfield with plans to shut it down. (Berkshire Eagle)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/COURTS

A group of five Massachusetts State Police officers are suing the department, alleging it illegally discriminates against troopers taking maternity leave or other types of leave by dropping their seniority ranking. (Boston Globe) 

The family of Marine Lance Cpl. Ronald “Macho” Valentin of Fitchburg is still seeking answers three and a half years later about why Valentin died while stationed in Japan. (Telegram & Gazette)

There have been five deaths from ALS and 60 cancer diagnoses among employees of the decrepit Roderick Ireland Courthouse in Springfield, according to a judge calling for a full epidemiological study of the courthouse. (MassLive)

Thieves used a car to smash the front window of a Chanel store on Newbury Street in Boston and then grabbed merchandise and fled in a vehicle. (Boston Globe) 

MEDIA

The White House Correspondents’ Association quietly stripped the late legendary UPI reporter Merriman Smith’s name from its signature journalism award after reviewing his record of excluding female and Black reporters from the group. (Washington Post) 

PASSINGS

Michael Linquata, a World War II veteran and prisoner of war who founded the Gloucester House restaurant and other businesses, dies at 96. (Gloucester Daily Times)