The article mentioned that the location will enable them to market more heavily to Birmingham, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.
Speaking as a Chattanooga resident, this is great news. We drive through Murphy on our way to Cherokee. The new location will cut an hour off the drive by eliminating the whole Nantahala Gorge and its associated whitewater rafting from the trip. Birmingham residents probably use this same route to Cherokee, so that's good for them too.
Getting a big boost from Atlanta may be a bit more of a crapshoot. Murphy is closer than Cherokee, but some Atlanta residents may have better roads through the mountains on their way to Cherokee than they do on their way to Murphy.
Looks like Harrah's will get first rights of refusal to operate this one as in addition to Cherokee. That decision will be interesting.
