Bidders For Chicago Casino Pull Out All The Stops In Public Presentations
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Rush Street Gaming is trying to differentiate itself with two other bidders to build and operate a casino in downtown Chicago. Rush Street says it can have Chicago’s city casino ready to open in 2022 by repurposing the historic Lakeside Center at McCormick Place.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to see the casino project move along as quickly as possible. North Side Alderman Tom Tunney says it will take some time. The tax revenue will be used to fund police and fire pensions. Light foot wants a winner chosen in early 2022. Tunner wants the project vetted by planning commission and the zoning committee.
Bluhm touts development experience. Bluhm has developed and operated casinos in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Cook County. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a massive gaming expansion bill into law. It created six new casino licenses, including one for Chicago.
Bidders for Chicago Casino pulled out all the stops in their public presentations.
Rush Street is looking for a location for its proposed casino. The presentation for it included a plea by the late architect Helmut Jahn. He wants to save his creation, the Lakeside Center, by turning it into a casino and saving $200 million in deferred maintenance.
The other proposal involves spending $2 billion to build a casino in the 78 neighborhood south of Roosevelt Road along the Chicago River. It would include a 450,000-square-foot casino, a half-mile riverfront promenade, 3,300 gambling positions, 300-room hotel and water taxi access via the river.
Hard Rock's presentation featured musical stars such as J-Lo and Jay-Z. The casino is part of a $20 billion urban redevelopment project. It hinges on $6.5 billion in state financing that has yet to be approved.
Bally's is proposing to build a casino at the old River West printing plant of the Chicago Tribune. The company went to great lengths to show its commitment to the Windy City.
The other Bally's site lies along 28 acres just north of 31st Street and DuSable Lakeshore Drive. The $1.6 billion project would include 173 table games, a 500-room hotel, six restaurants, and a 3,000-seat, 70,00-square-foot entertainment venue. Baly’s also wants to place slot machines at both O‘Hare and Midway airports.
