CHICAGO | City Casino

[gandalf612]

Originally Posted by BIGdckbrett

the project has faced multiple funding challenges
including a lawsuit
design issues
pollution of the river
and a tax incentive fight

would like to see a path to success...like we used to say where i'm from "we will just have to see what happens "

None of those aspects are unique to the project. It shares them with the 78 and Lincoln Yards, and out of the 3 the casino is the only one with active construction going on.

[BVictor1]

Getting close...

03.04.25

[Randomguy34]

Cassion permits issued yesterday

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by Randomguy34

Cassion permits issued yesterday

Standing by w/ bananas.

[SolarWind]

February 27, 2025







March 24, 2025

[r18tdi]

Looks official

[lakeshoredrive]

Wow, well let’s hope this project will turn out well and be a nice addition to the area. Is the hotel being built concurrently with the casino and entertainment venue? And is it still around 500 feet?

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by lakeshoredrive

Wow, well let’s hope this project will turn out well and be a nice addition to the area. Is the hotel being built concurrently with the casino and entertainment venue? And is it still around 500 feet?

Supposedly yes, Bally's new investor strongly believed they need the full hotel tower open on Day 1.

I think it's really smart. Our existing casinos are isolated in the suburbs and attract mostly compulsive gamblers - even the ones with hotels still rely on big events to bring people in. Bally's will get a MUCH larger pool of customers with a hotel on site, where the casino can be part of a planned trip to Chicago for tourists, families, bachelor parties, smaller meetings/conventions, etc.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Supposedly yes, Bally's new investor strongly believed they need the full hotel tower open on Day 1.

I think it's really smart. Our existing casinos are isolated in the suburbs and attract mostly compulsive gamblers - even the ones with hotels still rely on big events to bring people in. Bally's will get a MUCH larger pool of customers with a hotel on site, where the casino can be part of a planned trip to Chicago for tourists, families, bachelor parties, smaller meetings/conventions, etc.

Agreed. I think one of the reasons the River North temporary location has failed to get dollars is.... It's just not a good location. It's a relatively small temporary casino in an area that's more difficult to get to with parking, etc.

[r18tdi]

Originally Posted by twister244

Agreed. I think one of the reasons the River North temporary location has failed to get dollars is.... It's just not a good location. It's a relatively small temporary casino in an area that's more difficult to get to with parking, etc.

That's like saying Michigan Avenue is bad location for shopping. The area has a ton of foot traffic, decent CTA access, and is surrounded by hotels on nearly all sides. Yes it's small and a bit of hassle for suburban drivers who have to park in one of many nearby public garages (the horror), but I wouldn't say the location is bad. The issue are more related to marketing, execution and softer than antipcated demand.

[twister244]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

The area has a ton of foot traffic and is surrounded by hotels on nearly all sides. Yes it's small and a bit of hassle for suburban drivers who have to park in many nearby public garages (the horror), but I wouldn't say the location is bad.

I think for a casino as small as that one for the audience it is trying to target is contributing to the lack of people showing up.

If locals are going to haul ass to downtown to go to a casino, there just isn't as much incentive to go to one as small as that one in that particular part of downtown. If you are driving, it's a pain to get there because you have to battle traffic, then pay out the ass for parking. Why would you do that when you can just go to Rosemont?

And yes, there are hotels galore, but who are the tourists who stay in downtown Chicago to go to a small temporary casino to gamble? I'm sure there are some, but clearly not enough to make the numbers work in the way they predicted.

The permanent casino will be much closer to the highway, and it will be a destination people will probably want to go check out. If it's designed well and there are fun things to checkout besides gambling, that's different.

I'm not arguing against the River North location, I'm just highlighting why I think it's struggled to get people in the door. I've been there once and wasn't super impressed.

EDIT - I would add you need to look at the things that attract people - They go to them to get an experience. The Starbucks on Michigan Ave is the world's largest Starbucks that offers an experience. People love to go to places like that because it offers something unique. I have faith that the permanent location will offer a cool experience on the River, but the temporary location just feels underwhelming and not worth going to more than once.

[sentinel]

Question because I cannot remember, but has there been discussion before about what will happen to the current Bally’s temp casino once the new one is open?

[gandalf612]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

That's like saying Michigan Avenue is bad location for shopping. The area has a ton of foot traffic, decent CTA access, and is surrounded by hotels on nearly all sides. Yes it's small and a bit of hassle for suburban drivers who have to park in one of many nearby public garages (the horror), but I wouldn't say the location is bad. The issue are more related to marketing, execution and softer than antipcated demand.

Who is taking the Red Line home with casino cash?

[KWillChicago]

Any guesses how many cranes will be on this project? 2 for the low section and a tower crane for the hotel?

[twister244]

Originally Posted by KWillChicago

Any guesses how many cranes will be on this project? 2 for the low section and a tower crane for the hotel?

I'm actually pretty excited to see this go up. It's a unique project on a large parcel of land on the River. I'm going with three cranes just because I want to see cranes........

[BrickellBased]

Originally Posted by twister244

EDIT - I would add you need to look at the things that attract people - They go to them to get an experience. The Starbucks on Michigan Ave is the world's largest Starbucks that offers an experience. People love to go to places like that because it offers something unique. I have faith that the permanent location will offer a cool experience on the River, but the temporary location just feels underwhelming and not worth going to more than once.

This.

Besides the aforementioned transportation issues - the new casino is both an attraction and a casino. Whereas the River North casino is nothing other than a fairly small casino.

This will have
- Large Hotel with events/conferences etc - Honestly I think this could be a viable competitor to McCormick and Navy Pier for smaller conferences with a better/more central location.
- 3,000-seat theater
- Six restaurants and food hall
- Larger casino
- And very importantly a Riverwalk/public park and a riverfront experience.

I think it can be very successful when the temp casino has been under-performing. I don't think the temp casino is a good indication of how this product will do.

[Sprinklemoore]

Would love a shopping mall component. I can't believe I'm saying this but new-format urban malls a la Dubai or Hong Kong are having something of a resurgence and Chicago's center-city mall scene is notoriously stuck in the 90s. Something really international and experiential would be dope.

[ithakas]

If they had executed a design anywhere close to this the temporary casino would be a huge hit in the city: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/03/21/casino-royal-palm-caprini-and-pellerin/

I realized time was of the essence in getting it up and running, but the folding tables and food court stalls are not doing the bones of the Medinah Temple any justice. It just feels schlocky inside, like most American casinos. Undifferentiated product in a spot where they had the potential to do something spectacular.

[dewbs]

[BrickellBased]

Wow - 4 rigs on site! Haven't seen that in a while in Chicago.

Feels good man.

Originally Posted by dewbs