Posted December 7, 201113 yr County OKs Columbus’ annexation of Scioto Downs Move next step in track’s expansion By Lucas Sullivan, The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday, December 7, 2011 - 4:36 AM Franklin County has approved the annexation of Scioto Downs to Columbus, which is needed for a $150 million expansion plan that would add video slot machines to the 208-acre horse-racing track. Commissioners Marilyn Brown and John O’Grady said the annexation will help MTR Gaming Group Inc., owner of the harness-racing track, create a few hundred jobs by adding the slot machines. Commissioner Paula Brooks was in China and did not attend the meeting. MTR Gaming, based in West Virginia, filed papers last month for an expedited annexation because it wanted to tap into city water and sewer. Columbus usually requires property owners to annex to get those services. The track was an island in Hamilton Township surrounded by property within the city limits. MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/07/county-oks-columbus-annexation-of-scioto-downs.html
December 7, 201113 yr I was by there this morning and it looked like they were already getting ready to run water and sewer lines through the parking lot.
December 24, 201113 yr Author More about Scioto Downs and its video lottery terminals expansion (aka video slots). Due to this expansion, Scioto Downs needs a big upgrade to its water and sewer capacity. Because of this, Scioto Downs is being annexed from Hamilton Township into Columbus, which will allow the racetrack and slots complex to receive Columbus water and sewer services. Below is an excerpt from yesterday's Business First article about this and a link to a brief Columbus Dispatch article about Scioto Downs officially applying for video lottery terminals (VLT) from the Ohio Lottery Commission: Scioto Downs adding jobs, expanding ahead of VLTs By Jeff Bell, Business First staff reporter Date: Friday, December 23, 2011, 6:00am EST Scioto Downs plan to install video lottery terminals is taking shape, with the racetrack’s parent committing to invest at least $150 million at the facility in southern Franklin County. MTR Gaming Group Inc. applied this month to the Ohio Lottery Commission to operate the VLTs, effectively electronic slot machines. (. . .) MTR Gaming will construct a VLT building separate from the grandstand at Scioto Downs, said Sean Mentel, a Columbus attorney representing the company. It is expected the two buildings will be connected by a covered walkway. Site preparation work has started for the project but plans for the building, including its size and features, such as a restaurant, haven’t been finalized, he said. (. . .) The VLT facility is projected to add 400 jobs at Scioto Downs, a harness track that employs about 200 workers, Mentel said. In addition, up to 1,100 workers will be employed during construction. MTR Gaming has indicated it expects Scioto Downs’ slots facility to open in the second quarter of 2012. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/12/23/scioto-downs-adding-jobs-expanding.html Columbus Dispatch: Scioto Downs owner seeks slots - MTR Gaming applies to lottery commission
February 13, 201213 yr Author Updating the previous posts about Scioto Downs. There's also a construction photo at the link: Dispatch: Scioto Downs gets temporary slot-machine license
March 20, 201213 yr Author The annexation of Scioto Downs into the City of Columbus has been completed. And the reason for the annexation - construction of a $125 million, 130,000 square foot video lottery terminal building at Scioto Downs - is nearing completion. Construction of the video lottery terminal (VLT) building is moving very fast. So fast that, according to Business First, the VLT building is on track to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. Months before the Hollywood Casino is scheduled to be finished on the city's west side! Below is an article from Business First about the Scioto Downs annexation and a Business First article about the $125 million VLT building construction. Also below is a photo of the VLT building under construction. The VLT building is to the left in the photo, with the existing Scioto Downs facility to the right. Scioto Downs annexed to Columbus as slots facility nears completion Scioto Downs racing to open VLT facility
May 4, 201213 yr Author The annexation of Scioto Downs into the City of Columbus has been completed. And the reason for the annexation - construction of a $125 million, 130,000 square foot video lottery terminal building at Scioto Downs - is nearing completion. Construction of the video lottery terminal (VLT) building is moving very fast. So fast that, according to Business First, the VLT building is on track to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. Months before the Hollywood Casino is scheduled to be finished on the city's west side! Below is an article from Business First about the Scioto Downs annexation and a Business First article about the $125 million VLT building construction. Also below is a photo of the VLT building under construction. The VLT building is to the left in the photo, with the existing Scioto Downs facility to the right. Scioto Downs annexed to Columbus as slots facility nears completion Scioto Downs racing to open VLT facility Another article about new slot-machine casino facility being built at the Scioto Downs horse racing track. According to the article, the new horse racing season will begin on May 10. The first phase of the casino probably will open in early June - with a ribbon-cutting planned for later in the month. The second phase of the casino, which includes a restaurant and additional machines, will follow in August. Although Penn National's Hollywood Casino had at least a year's head start on the Scioto Downs casino addition, it looks like the Scioto Downs casino will open months ahead of Hollywood's. Even though the Scioto Downs facility is 1/3 the size of the Hollywood facility and they didn't need to built some things, like parking lots, it's still an impressively fast construction schedule. Dispatch: Scioto Downs racing toward casino opening - Scioto Downs is building casino addition, preparing to hire 800 for planned June opening
May 15, 201213 yr Scioto Downs ready for gamblers with slots, glitz galore The flashing lights and colors are there, but instead of whistles and bells and cries of joy, for now visitors to Scioto Downs’ new video lottery terminal are still hearing forklifts and drills and sounds of construction as workers put the finishing touches on the facility. .............. .............. The 130,000-square-foot building eventually will a 300-seat buffet area, 100-seat casual dining restaurant and 82-seat sports bar and lounge and, later this summer, another 326 VLTs bringing the total to 2,117. Full article below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/05/first-look-scioto-downs-slots-ready.html Slideshow: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/05/first-look-scioto-downs-slots-ready.html?s=image_gallery "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 23, 201213 yr Author Scioto Downs video gambling will begin June 1 By Steve Wartenberg, The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - 1:58 PM The video gaming machines at Scioto Downs Casino & Racetrack will start spinning and whirling at 2 p.m. June 1, General Manager Troy Buswell has announced. This will be the first Ohio racetrack to offer video lottery terminals, which offer a wide variety of games of chance played on video screens. The Ohio Lottery issued a video lottery terminal license late Monday afternoon to MTR Gaming Group, Inc., the parent company of Scioto Downs, paving the way for the start of gambling operations. Scioto Downs will initially have about 1,800 video lottery terminals, with another 300-plus to be added later this summer. READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/05/22/scioto-downs-gambling-machines-go-live-on-June-1.html UPDATED ARTICLE FROM TODAY"S DISPATCH: ‘Racino’ on track to open next week at Scioto Downs
May 26, 201213 yr Author More from the Columbus Dispatch about the Scioto Downs Casino that will be opening on Friday, June 1 (2:00PM to be exact). The $150 million construction project happened very quickly. According to the general manager in the article, “We did it in five months, and normally it takes 12 to 18 months.” Scioto Downs Casino & Racetrack is the state’s first “racino” — a combination racetrack and electronic-games casino — and the first casino of any sort in Columbus. (The Hollywood Casino Columbus is expected to open this fall.) And as also noted in the article, "once the doors open, they will remain open 24/7/365." Dispatch: Into the homestretch - Scioto Downs’ casino rushes to prepare for its planned opening on Friday
May 26, 201213 yr Isn't Scioto Downs just a wee bit south of city borders? Well, whadda know, on google maps it's well within the borders of the Far South's South Side.
June 1, 201213 yr Scioto Downs cleared to welcome gamblers after lawsuit dismissal Video lottery terminals will start jingling at Scioto Downs June 1 as the owner of Ohio’s first racino places a calculated bet on the staying power of the slots-like machines at horse-racing tracks. Chester, W.Va.-based MTR Gaming Group Inc. will open the $125 million facility just two days after a Franklin County judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s VLT plan. The lawsuit was filed against the state in October by a group led by the Ohio Roundtable, a public policy group that has fought the expansion of legalized gambling in Ohio. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2012/06/01/lawsuit-win-clears-scioto-downs-to.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 1, 201213 yr Scioto Downs opening first VLT facility Friday Scioto Downs is scheduled to open Ohio's first video lottery terminal this afternoon as the state becomes the 14th in the union to allow the combination of horse racing tracks and slots-like gaming, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. The Columbus race track's Chester, W.Va.-based parent company MTR Gaming Group Inc. spent $152 million on the 117,000-square-foot facility, the newspaper reports. It will have more than 1,700 VLTs at its open and about 2,800 parking spaces, the newspaper reports. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2012/06/scioto-downs-opening-first-vlt.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 1, 201213 yr Scioto Downs guarantees gamblers have plenty of dining choices Scioto Downs isn’t just bringing gambling to Central Ohio – it also will have the dining capacity for more than 1,200 in the multiple eateries across the racetrack and casino complex, some operating around the clock. The facility opens Friday with 1,700 of the more than 2,100 slots-like video lottery terminals jingling and jangling, but gamblers gotta eat too and Chester, W.Va.-based MTR Gaming Group Inc. aims to please. Full article below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2012/06/scioto-downs-guarantees-gamblers-have.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 2, 201213 yr Author Columbus Underground joins in on the previews to the video lottery terminal (aka "racino") addition to Scioto Downs. Full article and more interior photos at the link below: CU: Sneak Preview: The New & Improved Scioto Downs
June 2, 201213 yr Author The new "racino" addition to Scioto Downs opened Friday at 2:00PM. And the new gambling palace proved to be very popular. Maybe a bit too popular - as the Dispatch reported that some of the new video lottery terminals (aka video slot machines) froze up due to the volume of users. Apparently these machines are managed by the Ohio Lottery, which oversees the operation of the Scioto Downs racino and all other future racino operations in the state. Dispatch: Flurry of activity at Scioto Downs 'racino' locks up some machines
August 2, 201212 yr Scioto Downs adding buffet, sports bar, more slots this weekend The full new Scioto Downs experience will be available starting Saturday. Arrive hungry. Chester, W.Va.-based MTR Gaming Group Inc. (NASDAQ:MNTG) on June 1 opened the doors to more than 1,700 video lottery terminals and its first round of dinning and drinking choices, which included a cafe and a lounge. Phase two, toplined with a 278-seat buffet, opens Saturday. The additional 27,000 square feet also include a sports bar and another 300 slots-like VLTs. Full article below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2012/08/02/scioto-downs-adding-buffet-sports.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 29, 201212 yr Author Dang! It looks like there's a huge amount of gambling demand in Central Ohio. Or, as the casino professionals would call it, "gaming demand". :wink: Between the opening day crowd that overwhelmed its VLT machines and yesterday's free $25 play offer that backed up traffic so much that ODOT needed to close off some I-71 and I-270 ramps, Scioto Downs is certainly attracting customers. Below is an excerpt from yesterday's online Dispatch report and a link to today's follow-up article: 'Free money' at Scioto Downs causes major traffic snarl By Randy Ludlow, The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 1:14 PM A $25 giveaway at the Scioto Downs casino caused a several-mile backup on Rt. 23, I-270 and I-71 this morning, but the traffic has lessened and ramps have reopened, officials said. The South Side racino was offering $25 in free play between 8 a.m. and noon today in a “Rise & Swipe” promotion, which then was extended to midnight. The traffic backup was so severe, officials at the Ohio Department of Transportation decided to shut down the ramps leading from I-71 to I-270 east. Michael Newsom, marketing director for Scioto Downs, said the massive response to the free-play offer was unanticipated. Executives at the casino with more than 20 years of gaming experience “have never seen a response like this” to a promotion, Newsom said. READ MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/08/28/racino-promotion-snarls-traffic.html And today's follow-up story in the Dispatch with a bit more detail: ‘Racino’ freebie jams up highways
October 13, 20159 yr Brew Brothers brewpub ready to open, with beer production soon after Central Ohio’s next new brewery will be one of the oldest. Brew Brothers expects to open Oct. 21 inside the Scioto Downs Racino. Though new to Columbus, the Brew Brothers brand is 20 years old and has been operating inside a casino in Reno, Nevada, for the past two decades. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/10/13/brew-brothers-brewpub-ready-to-open-with-beer.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 23, 20159 yr Author A little more about the microbrewery/restaurant (aka brewpub) opening at Scioto Downs on Monday, October 26 from Columbus Underground, plus an under-construction photo-tour: Brew Brothers Microbrewery Opening Soon at Scioto Downs
October 23, 20159 yr Author Scioto Downs adding 118-room hotel as racino raises the stakes in Columbus' gaming market By Evan Weese, Staff Reporter - Columbus Business First Updated: Oct 23, 2015, 10:25am EDT Scioto Downs Racino will soon have a way for gamblers to stick around awhile. The south Columbus harness-racing facility’s operator, Eldorado Resorts Inc., said Thursday it has entered a joint venture agreement to develop a new 118-room Hampton Inn & Suites hotel adjacent to its new Brew Brothers restaurant. Construction will begin this month with a targeted completion date of late 2016. MORE: http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/10/22/scioto-downs-adding-118-room-hotel-as-racino.html
December 21, 20159 yr Brew Brothers up and brewing at full speed at Scioto Downs Racino Brew Brothers is up and brewing at full speed. The restaurant-brewery inside the Scioto Downs Racino opened in late October, but as is the case with many new breweries, it took a little more time to build up its stock of beer. More below: www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2015/12/21/brew-brothers-up-and-brewing-at-full-speed-at.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 27, 20213 yr Columbus will close Scioto Downs grandstand after new engineer's report Jim Weiker - The Dispatch - Aug. 26, 2021 "The city of Columbus plans to prohibit the use of the Scioto Downs grandstand after a new engineer's report found the grandstand's roof to be dangerously deteriorated. A track spokesperson said the owners will take action to address the problem. The South Side racetrack stopped using the grandstand for spectators four years ago, following a report from the engineering firm Burgess & Niple that the concrete roof over the structure was so unsound that it risked falling onto spectators. ... Katie Miller, a spokesperson for Caesars Entertainment, which owns Eldorado Gaming/Scioto Downs, said the company is "fully committed" to the racetrack and expects to have a plan in place shortly to address the grandstand roof."
October 29, 20213 yr Looks like Scioto Downs will be significantly upgrading their grandstands! "At 30,000 square-feet, the new Grandstands will feature 768 stadium seats on the main level, an additional 280 seats on the terrace and an open apron area. The two VIP suites on the top level will accommodate up to 130 guests and offer a variety of food and drink options." https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/eldorado-scioto-downs-unveils-plans-for-20-million-trackside-grandstand?fbclid=IwAR16lXc0IShKyX7125N179TN7pG2t2vzFQqNrDs63ILm_HQulLIbcAkOJqE
October 29, 20213 yr I think they had to close the old grandstand (or at least part of it) due to structural issues.
October 30, 20213 yr 3 hours ago, GCrites80s said: I think they had to close the old grandstand (or at least part of it) due to structural issues. Well better safe than sorry when it comes to public safety. We don't want to end up being some case study regarding a disaster or something(like a river catching on fire or something lol). That stuff can follow a city decades.
October 30, 20213 yr Indeed we want nothing like the Hillsborough soccer disaster 1989 or Le Mans 1955 where an engine broke off a car and rolled through the crowd.
October 30, 20213 yr Author 18 hours ago, GCrites80s said: I think they had to close the old grandstand (or at least part of it) due to structural issues. Apparently they've had problems with falling pieces of concrete for a few years - so much so that they installed protective netting(!) Then a structural report caused them to shut down the grandstand: https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/08/19/scioto-downs-horse-races-canceled-over-safety-concerns/8192013002/ https://www.10tv.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/scioto-downs-grandstand-closed-due-to-structural-issues-safety-concerns/530-c8c4adb5-07ea-4d1c-9503-a338e5918e6d Anyway, the replacement grandstand does look good:
November 4, 20213 yr On 10/30/2021 at 11:21 AM, Columbo said: Apparently they've had problems with falling pieces of concrete for a few years - so much so that they installed protective netting(!) Then a structural report caused them to shut down the grandstand: https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/08/19/scioto-downs-horse-races-canceled-over-safety-concerns/8192013002/ https://www.10tv.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/scioto-downs-grandstand-closed-due-to-structural-issues-safety-concerns/530-c8c4adb5-07ea-4d1c-9503-a338e5918e6d Anyway, the replacement grandstand does look good: Makes this news even better! Can safely go to Scioto Downs and not have to worry about getting conked in the head with a piece of concrete. Would probably make a great lawsuit though!
November 5, 20213 yr On 10/29/2021 at 10:24 PM, GCrites80s said: Indeed we want nothing like the Hillsborough soccer disaster 1989 or Le Mans 1955 where an engine broke off a car and rolled through the crowd. Cannot believe the finished the race and kept playing at Le Mans with over 80 people dead. Don't think that would fly nowadays. Anyways good for getting Scioto Downs back into shape.
March 28, 20232 yr I was out near Scioto Downs a little earlier so I snatched a couple quick ones of the new grandstands And construction at the Google Data Center complex continues to move south towards Scioto Downs as well
December 14, 20231 yr New Grandstands at Scioto Downs (Although it's a little harder to see because of the new fence)
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