Cordish cuts ribbon on Live! Casino Pittsburgh, set to open Nov. 24
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he Cordish Companies held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday night in celebration of the opening of Live! Casino Pittsburgh, the first of two Live! branded casinos to open in the state of Pennsylvania.
The Cordish Companies will open two properties in Pennsylvania over the next several months as it expands the Live! Casino brand in the Mid-Atlantic region and into Pennsylvania for the first time. The $150 million Live! Casino, located at the Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield Township, is scheduled to open its doors to the general public at 6:00 a.m. on November 24. Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, located in the heart of Philly's Stadium District, will open in early 2021.
The Cordish Companies' Principal Jon Cordish, Managing Partner Joe Weinberg and Cordish Gaming Group President Rob Norton were joined at the ribbon-cutting ceremony by incoming state Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward and state Representative George Dunbar. Also in attendance were Westmoreland County Commissioners Sean Kertes, Douglas Chew and Gina Cerilli, members of the Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors, and numerous business and community leaders from the region.
"Live! Casino Pittsburgh is a world-class destination that will set the gold standard for gaming, dining and entertainment in the region," said Jon Cordish, Principal of The Cordish Companies. "As a family-owned business for over 100 years, today marks an incredibly special day for my family and for The Cordish Companies as we expand our Live! Casino brand into Pennsylvania for the first time. I'd like to thank Senator Ward, Representative Dunbar, county commissioners and local officials for their unending support of this project."
As part of The Cordish Companies' ongoing commitment to the community, Cordish officials presented checks for $15,000 each to the Westmoreland County Food Bank and to Sage's Army. The donations, intended to provide hunger relief and assist with substance use disorder in the region, were generated from test nights held by the casino in preparation for its opening night.
"The Cordish Companies has long embraced a culture of giving and community service," said Zed Smith, Chief Operating Officer of The Cordish Companies. "Giving back to the communities where our projects are located and where our team members live and work is of upmost important to us. We will continue to explore ways to serve the Westmoreland County Food Bank, Sage's Army and other community organizations that make Western Pennsylvania so special."
Only one year since breaking ground on the project, Live! Casino Pittsburgh will provide the region $188 million in annual economic impact, an additional $148 million in economic impact from construction, and $47.5 million in tax revenues. The facility will provide more than 500 permanent new jobs for local and regional residents.
"To be creating hundreds of new permanent, well-paying jobs at this particular point in time is a real testament to the value this project is bringing to our region. I look forward to how the casino opening will bring renewed life to the Westmoreland Mall which has struggled under the recent Covid-19 restrictions and is a critical part of the commercial economy in Westmoreland County," said incoming State Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward. "Live! Casino is a first-class property and completely exceeded our expectations. Every step of the way, The Cordish Companies has done exactly what they promised to do. They have been a terrific partner and we are excited to welcome them to Pennsylvania."
The 100,000-square-foot, two-level property features 750 slots and approximately 30 live-action table games, as well as a FanDuel Sportsbook. Located exclusively on the ground level, the casino is strictly for guests 21 and over. The second level is available to guests of all ages and provides a host of entertainment and food options, including live music and non-casino games. Live! Casino also features access and parking, with over 6,000 surrounding surface spaces and more in the Westmoreland Mall parking garage.
"From day one of the conversation about bringing gaming to Pennsylvania, I have advocated for a property like Live! Casino because of the value it brings to the community in terms of jobs and tax revenue," said State Representative George Dunbar. "At a time when good news and opportunity are hard to come by, The Cordish Companies is making it happen here. We are grateful for their partnership and we look forward to fulfilling all the promise this property brings to the people of Westmoreland County."
A lineup of dining opportunities at Live! Casino will include two premier concepts – Guy Fieri's American Kitchen, and Bar and Sports & Social Steel City. The property will also feature a PBR Country Bar – PBR Pittsburgh, slated to open next year as part of a second phase of openings.
The two-level Sports & Social Steel City is a sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge offering guests the ultimate sports fan experience. The 445-seat venue is outfitted with state-of-the-art AV technology, including a giant 40-foot LED video screen, and a wide variety of interactive social games, such as bowling, a golf simulator, ping pong, darts and more. Sports & Social Steel City also features an official FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge on the first floor.
Management is still hiring for a variety of jobs, including experienced table games dealers, slots technicians, restaurant servers, among others.
To prepare for opening, Live! Casino has developed a comprehensive Play It Safe plan, an enhanced health and sanitation program that allows for ample social distancing, reduced occupancies, and vigorous hygiene and health measures for all guests and team members.
"We've made it a priority to provide a safe environment for our team members and guests," said Live! Casino General Manager Sean Sullivan. "Play It Safe employs extraordinary measures that meet and exceed the state's COVID-19 guidelines. We want our guests to have fun and feel safe."
