The green flag is waving today at Kansas Speedway. The thrill of
racing, the excitement of gaming and the glamour of Hollywood have
come together under one roof with the grand opening of Hollywood
Casino at Kansas Speedway, Kansas City’s first land-based, Las
Vegas-style casino.
The new casino was developed and is operated by Kansas
Entertainment, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture of Penn Hollywood Kansas,
Inc., a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN: Nasdaq) and
Kansas Speedway Development Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary
of International Speedway Corporation (ISCA: NASDAQ Global Select
Market; ISCB: OTC Bulletin Board) (“ISC”). All of the casino games
at the facility are owned by the state of Kansas.
Penn National Gaming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Peter
M. Carlino, and International Speedway Corporation CEO, Lesa France
Kennedy, opened the casino at a ribbon cutting ceremony today
alongside Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County
and Kansas City, Kan., Joe Reardon, a representative from Kansas
Governor Sam Brownback’s office, NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer and
Kasey Kahne as well as other local elected officials and executives
from Penn National Gaming and ISC.
“As the first new casino in the Kansas City market in 15 years,
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway offers guests a
state-of-the-art destination with premier gaming, dining and
entertainment options,” commented Peter Carlino. “Just seconds from
I-70, the facility’s luxurious design, modern grandeur and
extensive amenities provides guests with a range of memorable
experiences in an unparalleled, high energy setting on Turn Two of
Kansas Speedway, a world class motorsports facility and host to two
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events annually.
“The facility’s 2,000 slot machines and 52 table games are
complemented by the extraordinary red carpet service that is the
hallmark of the Hollywood Casino brand. The property is another
drawing card for Wyandotte County, which is already the top tourist
destination in the state with more than 11 million visitors
annually. Guests from near and far, including Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska and Iowa can play in style on a single gaming floor and
dine at five different restaurants, several with views of the
track.
“We are grateful to the Kansas Lottery Commission and Kansas
Racing and Gaming Commission for their efforts in ensuring that
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is opening on schedule. In
addition, we welcome the partnerships we have established with the
Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas and
the many other local and state government officials and entities
who have worked closely with our team throughout the planning and
construction process. The facility opening will result in more than
1,000 new jobs as well as significant tax revenue and other
sustainable economic benefits for the community, county and
state."
The casino sits at Turn Two of the Kansas Speedway, overlooking
the racetrack and is the first trackside casino in the ISC family
of facilities.
“The combination of a world-class sports facility with the
premier Hollywood-branded casino will set a new standard in gaming
entertainment excellence,” stated Lesa France Kennedy. “We
appreciate the collective confidence and support of state and local
leaders that recognized the tremendous benefit that Hollywood
Casino at Kansas Speedway will provide for the citizens of
Wyandotte County and the state of Kansas.
“ISC and Kansas Speedway have been a collaborative partner with
the community to increase area tourism and create jobs for more
than a decade. We continue to make significant investments in the
facility, most recently with the start of the speedway’s permanent
road course construction. This partnership started with a mutual
vision to create a true destination for visitors and residents,
anchored by a premier motorsports racing facility. Hollywood Casino
at Kansas Speedway will build upon our successful track
record.”
Economic Impact
Approximately four million guests are expected to visit
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway annually, bringing increased
tourism and tax revenues to Wyandotte County and the state of
Kansas. The total estimated economic benefit of the casino is $220
million annually.
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway employs more than 1,000
workers from the greater Kansas City region and is seen as a
significant driver of employment in the area at businesses that
support the facility.
Slot Machines Throughout the Gaming Floor
The casino offers nearly 100,000 square feet of gaming.
“It’s an inviting and spacious casino floor with easy access to
all the games; no turnstiles or space limitations here,” says
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway Vice President and General
Manager Bob Sheldon.
Hollywood Casino features many player-popular games including
high-profile TV show and movie themes such as Wheel of Fortune,
Mission Impossible, The Hangover and Tarzan, as well as the area’s
first Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers machines in honor of the casino’s
Kansas roots.
Machines span from penny slots up to $25 and $100 denominations
with a top award of a $100,000 jackpot. The higher limit machines
are located near the Executive Producer’s Lounge, offering VIP
players’ club members exclusive amenities and easy access to the
slots they desire.
In addition, Hollywood Casino has a wide variety of video poker
machines with competitive pay tables, including several located
directly at the Sunset Bar.
Table Games and Poker
Blackjack, craps, roulette and carnival-style games are among
the 52 live table games featured at Hollywood Casino with a wide
range of minimum bets. Specific tables feature Craps-Free Craps,
Mini Baccarat, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Fortune
Pai Gow, Let it Ride Bonus and Three-Card poker.
The casino’s tables up the ante by offering a Royal Match side
bet on blackjack and a progressive jackpot on select table games --
both unique features in the Kansas City market.
The high limit table game area is adjacent to the Executive
Producer’s Lounge on the casino floor, making it easy for players
to take a break from the action.
Designed for maximum guest comfort, the modern Hollywood Casino
Poker Room is trimmed in rich woods, provides drink holders for
players at every table and includes seven LCD screens showing
sports programming during play. Hollywood Casino’s Poker Room
features 12 live tables with games including Texas Hold’em -- with
a bad beat jackpot -- Pot Limit Omaha, traditional 7-card stud and
high limit options.
Marquee Rewards
Hollywood Casino’s multi-tiered Marquee Rewards card allows
guests to win whenever they play. Players earn points to redeem for
downloadable promotional play, rewards, casino promotions and
exclusive access to casino events, parking and lounges. Guests who
play at Hollywood Casino as well as Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa
in Riverside, also owned by Penn National Gaming, earn tier points
at both casinos and can combine them to achieve a higher tier
status faster. Soon after opening, players will have the ability to
combine their earned rewards and use them at restaurants and
outlets at both casinos.
Design
The casino floor oozes Hollywood glamour. Elegant chandeliers
and art deco columns combine with the latest video technology to
transport guests to the Golden Age of Hollywood. A giant serpentine
video wall projects movie trailers, vintage commercials and
animation.
Numerous plasma screens and video trees interspersed between
slot machines and table games allow guests to enjoy entertainment
programming and live sports as they play.
“The Hollywood name says it all,” according to Bob Sheldon.
“From the moment they walk in the building, our guests are immersed
in the comfort and sophistication of the classic style of 1930s
Hollywood.”
Dining
Hollywood Casino’s five restaurants provide great options for a
range of tastes. The 103-seat Final Cut Steakhouse takes casino
dining to a new level by combining the staples of a Kansas City
chop house with a balanced menu of specialty dishes, homemade
pastas, seafood and shellfish. The upscale restaurant is under the
helm of Chef Marshall Roth, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of
America in Hyde Park, New York who’s worked at several James Beard
award-winning restaurants around the world. The fine dining
establishment, located right off the casino floor, offers sweeping
views of the speedway. Guests dine among elegant glass display
cases filled with gowns, tuxedos and accessories worn by Hollywood
stars. Final Cut features an intimate cocktail lounge and 20-seat
private dining room.
Casual diners will enjoy the variety and made-to-order
attributes of the 282-seat Epic Buffet. Guests can enjoy a carving
station, homemade pizza station, Asian station, salads, soups and
sweets right on the casino floor.
Speedway lovers can have a drink or a meal while looking over
the racetrack at Turn Two Lounge, a sports bar easily accessible
from escalators on the casino floor. The roomy, 176-seat cocktail
lounge is designed to offer every bar patron multiple views of
sporting events on numerous flat screen televisions. An outdoor
patio offers more than 40 seats on warmer nights. Access to Turn
Two Lounge will be limited on race weekends.
Additional dining options include the Marquee Café, a casual and
contemporary restaurant with 164 seats; the 24-hour Hollywood &
Grind Coffee Bar, which also sells a range of speedway and
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway merchandise; the Sunset Bar,
where guests can choose from 12 video poker machines located on the
casino floor; and the VIP Lounge, an upscale player’s lounge
offering food, cocktails and Hollywood’s signature red carpet
service.
About Hollywood Casino at Kansas City Speedway
Hollywood Casino sits on Turn Two of the Kansas Speedway and is
adjacent to The Legends Outlets Kansas City at Village West. It is
the most accessible casino in the Kansas City market, just seconds
from I-70 (110th Street exit) with a dedicated entrance that is
separate from the speedway and does not require driving through
Village West. The casino can also be reached by I-435 (State Avenue
exit). With 2,300 gaming positions, Hollywood Casino is the Kansas
City market’s only land-based, Vegas-style casino with gaming on
one floor. Nearly 3,000 parking spaces and valet service are
available. For more information, go to
http://www.hollywoodcasinokansas.com/.
About Penn National Gaming
Penn National Gaming owns, operates or has ownership interests
in gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine
entertainment. The company presently operates twenty-six facilities
in nineteen jurisdictions, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi,
Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario. In aggregate, Penn National's
operated facilities feature approximately 29,700 gaming machines,
approximately 640 table games, 2,400 hotel rooms and 1.2 million
square feet of gaming floor space.
Penn National is also developing casinos in Toledo and Columbus,
Ohio, with openings targeted for 2012.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Actual results may vary materially from expectations. Penn
describes certain of these risks and uncertainties in its filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Meaningful factors that could cause actual results to differ from
expectations include, but are not limited to, risks related to the
following: our ability to receive, or delays in obtaining, the
regulatory approvals required to own, develop and/or operate our
facilities, or other delays or impediments to completing our
planned acquisitions or projects, including favorable resolution of
any related litigation and/or enforcement of contingent settlement
agreements; our ability to secure state and local permits and
approvals necessary for construction; construction factors,
including delays, unexpected remediation costs, local opposition
and increased cost of labor and materials; the passage of state,
federal or local legislation (including referenda) that would
expand, restrict, further tax, prevent or negatively impact
operations in or adjacent to the jurisdictions in which we do
business (such as a smoking ban at any of our facilities) or in
jurisdictions where we seek to do business; the effects of local
and national economic, credit, capital market, housing, and energy
conditions on the economy in general and on the gaming and lodging
industries in particular; the activities of our competitors and the
emergence of new competitors; our expectations for the continued
availability and cost of capital; the maintenance of agreements
with our horsemen, pari-mutuel clerks and other organized labor
groups; the outcome of pending legal proceedings; changes in
accounting standards; our dependence on key personnel; the impact
of terrorism and other international hostilities; the impact of
weather; and other factors as discussed in the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010,
subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on
Form 8-K as filed with the SEC. The Company does not intend to
update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required
by law.
About International Speedway Corporation
International Speedway Corporation is a leading promoter of
motorsports activities, currently promoting more than 100 racing
events annually as well as numerous other motorsports-related
activities. The Company owns and/or operates 13 of the nation’s
major motorsports entertainment facilities, including Daytona
International Speedway® in Florida (home of the DAYTONA 500®);
Talladega Superspeedway® in Alabama; Michigan International
Speedway® located outside Detroit; Richmond International Raceway®
in Virginia; Auto Club Speedway of Southern CaliforniaSM near Los
Angeles; Kansas Speedway® in Kansas City, Kansas; Phoenix
International Raceway® in Arizona; Chicagoland Speedway® and Route
66 RacewaySM near Chicago, Illinois; Homestead-Miami SpeedwaySM in
Florida; Martinsville Speedway® in Virginia; Darlington Raceway® in
South Carolina; and Watkins Glen International® in New York.
The Company also owns and operates MRN® Radio, the nation's
largest independent sports radio network and Americrown Service
CorporationSM, a subsidiary that provides catering services, food
and beverage concessions, and produces and markets
motorsports-related merchandise. For more information, visit the
Company's Web site at www.internationalspeedwaycorporation.com.
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