On Saturday we published a quick analysis of possibles alternative sites to be considered by Foxwoods Casino, which has supposedly agreed to look at moving its planned $670 million casino from the piece of land it owns on
Columbus Boulevard in Pennsport. While we outlined the likely candidates, there are other factors for each that space didn't permit. We lay them out in more detail here, in order of intrigue:

1) The Spectrum: There does seem to be talk at some level about land near the Spectrum, which is to be demolished to make way for PhillyLive!, an outdoor, mixed-use entertainment complex. Ike Richman, a spokesman for Comcast-Spectacor, which owns the Spectrum, said this last week: "As it pertains to Philly Live, the new mutli-entertainment complex that we are adding to the Wachovia Complex in a partnership with Cordish Company, our plans do not call for a casino and we are not considering one for the site."

An analysis by Inquirer graphics editor John Duchneskie (using a 10-mile radius drawn from the perimeter of the Harrah's Chester Racetrack and Casino) shows that the Spectrum and Wachovia Center and most of the adjacent land fall just within the 10-mile, non-competition limit, though the old Vet site and the Linc's parking lot fall outside. That would prevent Foxwoods from building on the Spectrum site without a change in the state gambling law that prohibited casinos within 10 miles of the Chester racino of Philadelphia Park in Bensalem.

But it is intriguing that Ed Snider, chairman of Comcast-Spectacor, the Comcast subsidiary that owns the Flyers and Sixers, is a principal in Foxwoods. And Comcast Corporation's executive vice-president is David L. Cohen, Gov. Rendell's ally and chief of staff when he was mayor. And we know that the Governor wants to do whatever it takes to get the Philadelphia casinos up and running any time soon.

City Council President Anna Verna, whose second councilmanic district in South Philly includes the Spectrum, has predicted that her neighbors would not want a casino and that she would fight it, though the Spectrum site is a new concept that Verna has not weighed in on specifically and did not immediately respond to a request to do so. Support of the district council person, whose colleagues will not overrule on land deals on their home turf, is critical.

2) Three Center City possibilities — 8th and Market, The Gallery (9th and Market) and/or Girard Estate property (Market Street to Chestnut between 11th and 12 streets). The sites have great public transit access, but already heavy street traffic, according to Mayor Street’s Gaming Advisory Task Force, which also noted that the Gallery, a shopping mall, is big enough to handle the footprint of a casino. The sites would also work well with the Convention Center, and the Gallery is owned by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, whose chairman and CEO is Foxwoods principal Ronald Rubin. Could these sites overcome resistance from Chinatown residents and their proximity to revered historical sites such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall?

3) The former Budd plant in Nicetown/East Falls, where Trump Entertainment and former Sixers owner Pat Croce wanted to build TrumpStreet. Trump had nailed down an agreement with the neighborhood, but was one of three applicants for a gambling license who lost out to Foxwoods and SugarHouse. Trump Entertainment VP Bob Pickus said last week that the partnership had foreseen the trouble with two casinos on the waterfront, through polling of neighbors and traffic studies (Trump was the only one, including the Gaming Control Board, to offer a combined traffic scenario with two casinos. Of course Trump was the most motivated to show it didn't work). Pickus is now saying that the only logical alternate site is the TrumpStreet site, and that the TrumpStreet partnership should have a piece of anything that goes there. His logic: The Gaming Control Board, in its published reasoning for awarding Philadelphia's two licenses to Foxwoods and SugarHouse projects, said SugarHouse was far and above the competition in its proposal. With SugarHouse locked in, the Gaming Board then reasoned North Delaware Avenue could not stand the traffic with two casinos in close proximity, so that eliminated nearby Pinnacle and RiverWalk projects. So it came down to a choice between Foxwoods and Trump for second place. Foxwoods won because it had a better location, according to the Gaming Control Board.

4) A former power plant adjacent to the Betsy Ross Bridge . This was one of the few sites in the city that is actually outside of the 10-mile limit and also meets demands by local activists that casinos be 1,500 feet away from the nearest house.But district Councilwoman Joan Krajewksi said Friday that she would fight such a proposal tooth and nail. "If South Philadelphia doesn't want it, there's no way I'd want it up in Bridesburg," said Krajewski. Bridesburg currently suffers from traffic problems because there is only one way in and out, she said. "I don't believe the people of Bridesburg would appreciate it any more than I would. I would never support something like that."

5) The former former Whiskey Yard, immediately south of the Walt Whitman Bridge, adjacent to Crazy Horse Too Gentlemen’s Club at 2908 S. Columbus Blvd. Watch out for South Philadelphia neighbors and Council President Verna, who predicts neighborhood opposition even at this relatively remote site. Casino backers don't seem to like it too much either -- one casino source suggested that the area is not attractive for a first-class casino, fit for only a bare-bones, slots barn that would add little to the area. We will leave the fact that it sits next to a strip-club without comment.

6) Various locations in Fairmount Park including Montgtomery Drive at I-76, City Avenue at I-76 and Girard Avenue. This uses the same logic (and general area) used by Trump, with proximity to the western suburbs, filled with willing gamblers with money to lose. But sticking a casino on park land? Has to be considered a dark horse.

That looks to be all the possibilities that meet Foxwoods' two promises: That the site would be outside of the 10-mile limit (leaving out the Airport), and not on the water (leaving out the Navy Yard and losing casino applicants Pinnacle and Riverwalk). If we throw out the last three as unlikely, that leaves only three scenarios in play. We'll see; Rendell made it sound like he wanted to have something to talk about in September.