Hollywood Casino Corporation began the second half of the year opening of its stunning new dockside casino at its Aurora facility on June 14. The opening marks the foundation for the $78 million expansion of the Aurora Casino.
Aurora's new dockside casino is a dramatic expansion and enhancement of the hotel's gaming offerings. The new single-level dockside casino has 53,000 square feet of gaming space, the largest in the Chicago marketplace, replacing two existing riverboats that used to provide 29,500 square feet of gaming space on the eight floors of the two boats. The new casino is seamlessly connected to the property's existing pavilion, providing customers with a land-based feel. The casino features more than 1,100 slot machines in Chicago's only poker room, including 200 new machines, 36 table games, and seven poker tables. The superior quality of the new dockside facility and significant additional passenger capacity allow Aurora Casino to dramatically increase the penetration of the untapped Chicago gaming market. The new facility's passenger capacity is around 3,200, a 70% increase from the 1,875 capacity combined for the two riverboats. In addition to the luxurious and beautiful new art decoration, the casino has a new air filtration system that, when combined with its spacious aisles, comfortable gaming area, 18-foot ceilings and ceiling height, can create the best air quality of all casinos in the Chicago market.
The Aurora expansion also includes a new state-of-the-art buffet and a new entrance to the Voodoo Casino. Opened on May 4, 2002, the new Hollywood Epic Buffet showcases the latest presentation dishes and luxurious new decorations. The new buffet also increases the restaurant's customer seating by about 27%. The new buffet is adjacent to the new casino, providing a unique opportunity to watch the casino's movements while enjoying a meal. Customers who visit the property in the main garage will now walk through the luxurious Art Deco-themed entrance that features a 20-foot ceiling and a grand chandelier. The new entrance opened on Feb. 15, 2002, with the first half of the new Voodoo Casino. 파워볼사이트
"We are thrilled that the new Dockside Casino has been completed. This new casino is undoubtedly the finest gaming facility on the Chicago market. While we are excited to provide our customers with superior gaming and entertainment products, our enthusiasm has been tempered by the recent sharp increase in gaming taxes passed by the Illinois State Legislature. The increase in gaming and admission fees will absorb nearly all of the projected returns on the $78 million investment in the Aurora expansion. We will continue to scrutinize our business in Aurora to determine how we can maximize the profitability of this wonderful new facility, given the huge tax burden the state has imposed on our operations," said Edward T. Pratt III, Chairman and CEO.
The Aurora expansion also includes the construction of new parking facilities. The parking expansion includes a new parking lot, a port coachet entrance, and a climate-controlled passageway that connects directly to the dockside casino. The new parking facilities will increase the Aurora casino's parking capacity by at least 30% and significantly improve customer access to accommodation. This parking lot will be the closest and most convenient parking facility for customers visiting the new dockside casino. The company expects the parking expansion to be completed by the end of June.
The total budget for the Aurora expansion, including new dock casinos, buffets, casino entrances and parking facilities, is $78.2 million. The company is funding the Aurora expansion with available cash.
Hollywood Casino Corporation owns and operates unique Hollywood-themed casino entertainment facilities under the service mark Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois, Tunica, Mississippi, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
