Western Fair Gateway Casino Expansion - Page 4

MolsonExport · #61 Posted **Feb 21, 2019, 4:54 AM**

more blah in blahland. that stretch of Wonderland Road south of Southdale is wretched. Parkinglotlandmanship. Adding a third-rate attraction (mostly soul-sucking slots). I am glad I moved north.

mike4451 · #62 Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 2:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djeffery

Well, that seems less than impressive. Wonder why they planned a hotel at the fairgrounds but not here? Funny, as I was quickly scanning through the pages of text and it says something about complementing and integrating with the area, I was thinking "sounds like it will look like Lowes across the road". Then I get to the diagrams, and yep, looks like Lowe's across the road lol. I know they are basic drawings, but why not put out something that shows what they are looking at actually building? They had all these glossy full colour images done up for the WFD site. I was also hoping there would be some kind of entertainment component to this, although obviously nothing like Windsor or Rama.

Apparently Gateway was upset with the process with the Fair and the City for taking too long and costing them money. They originally planned one of their high profile Grand Villa properties in London but downgraded it to a Starlight property due to this. Would have been nice to see a destination-type property instead of a smaller casino, but typical London strikes again!

GreatTallNorth2 · #63 Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 3:17 AM**

To be honest I just don’t care either way. Casinos don’t add value to a community. They just take money out of peoples pockets. So I don’t care what they build and where and it doesn’t bother me if the fair and/or city dragged their feet.

Djeffery · #64 Posted **Feb 22, 2019, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatTallNorth2

To be honest I just don’t care either way. Casinos don’t add value to a community. They just take money out of peoples pockets. So I don’t care what they build and where and it doesn’t bother me if the fair and/or city dragged their feet.

I don't think either plan was going to be a major tourist draw either, but I think the proposal at the fair would have had a better shot at bringing in some outside dollars. The Wonderland one just looks like a slightly enhanced version of what they have now.

haljackey · #65 Posted **Jun 26, 2019, 1:35 PM**

More updates about the Wonderland move

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/gate...iRRdiVNwSPfHVnT2roKMUQYN0HJ4_A9L6Jtqv4m0

Djeffery · #66 Posted **Jan 11, 2020, 8:54 PM**

Construction underway. I had noticed before Christmas the lot being cleared but wasn't sure if that was a sign the project was going ahead right away or if it was just a matter of knocking the old ones down.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/fina...orRv6OMozZgPIllY2E7bbtrck1aPEPDK8Pb-0DvQ

Djeffery · #67 Posted **Sep 11, 2020, 3:28 AM**

Wonderland Casino constructions remains on hold. I hadn't even thought about the fact the Western Fair casino was still closed.

https://london.ctvnews.ca/no-timeline-to-start-delayed-casino-construction-in-london-1.5098496

haljackey · #68 Posted **Sep 11, 2020, 5:28 PM**

Makes sense- this could be on hold for quite a while until Covid gets under control.

jammer139 · #69 Posted **Aug 31, 2022, 12:23 PM**

Gateway ditches plans for Wonderland Rd Casino and will invest in the current Western Fair site.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/gate...no-will-expand-western-fair-site-sources

MrSlippery519 · #70 Posted **Aug 31, 2022, 1:36 PM**

Makes sense, I did not think it was a good spot for a Casino anyways honestly.

At least the site is flat and ready for something better, I would imagine quite a few developers would be interested in building a residential tower there.

jammer139 · #71 Posted **Aug 31, 2022, 2:43 PM**

Wonder if they will bring back their earlier proposal for an expanded casino plus hotel, dining and event/performing arts center? Given the dramatic decline of the fall fair the Western Fair District board may have had a reality check and be more collaborative in designing a new entertainment facility. A properly designed performing arts venue with acoustic engineering to attract all kinds of musical acts and theater shows with the right number of seats could be the attraction they need now. Revitalize the Queens Park side as the entrance into the facility keeping the park intact with the trees and adding gardens and a water fountain.

GreatTallNorth2 · #72 Posted **Aug 31, 2022, 3:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammer139

Wonder if they will bring back their earlier proposal for an expanded casino plus hotel, dining and event/performing arts center? Given the dramatic decline of the fall fair the Western Fair District board may have had a reality check and be more collaborative in designing a new entertainment facility. A properly designed performing arts venue with acoustic engineering to attract all kinds of musical acts and theater shows with the right number of seats could be the attraction they need now. Revitalize the Queens Park side as the entrance into the facility keeping the park intact with the trees and adding gardens and a water fountain.

Western Fair has so much potential. They could do a better concert venue or a stadium for CPL soccer or even potentially CFL. Another option could be a museum or attraction that's not just once a year or once a week but all day every day.

Pimpmasterdac · #73 Posted **Aug 31, 2022, 5:02 PM**

Good to hear. Hopefully Western Fair District woke up and smelled the coffee on things. Not trying to hose Gateway with ridiculous requests for more money, or supporting further the money losing harness racing. With the major redevelopment happening at Kelloggs area, will really make the whole area a bit more vibrant and compelling reason to stay.

MolsonExport · #74 Posted **Aug 31, 2022, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammer139

Gateway ditches plans for Wonderland Rd Casino and will invest in the current Western Fair site.

https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/gate...no-will-expand-western-fair-site-sources

good. Surprising. I thought work was well underway. But I am glad to hear it. Personally, I dislike Casinos and I believe that outside of a few marquee destinations, they are a drain on the local economy.

Djeffery · #75 Posted **Aug 31, 2022, 10:33 PM**

I don't think you can drive more than 45 minutes along a 400 series highway without stumbling across a casino of some sort in Ontario. They aren't a tourist draw except for the ones that actually have performance venues like Windsor, Niagara and Rama. We have a family friend who is in senior management at Gateway and I asked her earlier this summer when construction would resume, and she was pretty non-committal in the response. Not wanting to give anything away but she went on about how badly the pandemic hurt them and how it still is. Not a shock, but now to see what happens on Wonderland.

jammer139 · #76 Posted **Sep 1, 2022, 3:10 PM**

Walt Spivak who owns the Wonderland Rd site and was going to lease the property to Gateway to build the new casino said on the news yesterday that the first he heard of Gateway pulling the plug was in the newspaper yesterday. Gateway will have to explain things via their lawyers to Spivak I suspect very soon. On the other hand Spivak may have new opportunities to redevelop the property or sell it off to a developer. Could be more commercial retail or maybe some high density residential down the road.

jammer139 · #77 Posted **Sep 4, 2022, 3:14 PM**

LFP article on reaction to the renouncement.

https://lfpress.com/business/local-busin...western-fair-bring-it-on-area-businesses

jammer139 · #78 Posted **Nov 9, 2022, 9:35 PM**

Agreement reached on new casino.

No details on the specifics as of yet.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9266072/western-fair-district-casino-renovation-lease-agreement/

jammer139 · #79 Posted **Sep 8, 2023, 10:54 AM**

Well not much in the way of a new building. The plan is to spend $50M on renovations and exterior facade changes to the existing building over 5 phases to refresh the current casino.

Looks like a possible hotel and performance centre is no longer in the cards.

https://london.ctvnews.ca/50-million-ren...eway-casinos-london-a-sure-bet-1.6552573

haljackey · #80 Posted **Mar 24, 2024, 4:09 PM**

I went to the Western Fair area for the first time in a year. The Getaway restaurant has moved outside of the casino area to the main entry but you need to still pass security to get to it (so 19+). The old restaurant area is blocked off likely for a expansion area. The old revolving doors at the main entrance have been replaced by automatic doors.

The bar which was in the restaurant has moved to the player reward desks- at least for now.

The raceway concourse is completely blocked off on the first floor. I would assume this is for some more casino expansion or renno work... not sure.

Yuck Yuck's former location is now the new area where you can watch/bet on the horse races. The brick wall where the comedians did stand up now has a cluster of tvs that just seems so stange and sad. I assume this is the temporary home of the horsies until the grandstand area is done? I dunno.

The casino itself was mostly the same as I remember it. Very tight, very busy. I managed to have a little luck on my side and ran away with about 50 bucks profit without giving it back.

I assume once some new areas open they'll renno and reorganize the existing area. It certainly needs a refresh to me... but I think the regulars are too fixated on the machines to care about the vibe.