Posted January 23, 200916 yr River Downs could be put out to pasture Losing money again, River Downs looks at options http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/26/story1.html Its 85th season might be the finale for River Downs. After a fifth straight year of operating losses at the Anderson Township horse track, General Manager Jack Hanessian said the facility will close if state leaders fail to expand gaming options for the track in 2009. “We’re committed to racing this year,” Hanessian said. “If things don’t improve, we’re going to have to face that decision. I don’t think our owners have the stomach to keep it up.” Revenue has fallen for Ohio racetracks for more than a decade, as rival tracks in neighboring states continue to add slot machines to their revenue mix. Tracks with expanded gaming can offer richer purses, better horses and higher levels of betting. The total handle, or all bets placed at River Downs, dipped to $56.6 million last year, down from $110 million in the late 1990s. Operating losses for 2008 were roughly $1 million, and the track hasn’t posted a profit since 2003, Hanessian said. Read full article here: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/01/26/story1.html
January 23, 200916 yr Coney/ River Downs would be a perfect spot for a Casino. This would be a great opportunity to create a resort type Casino. You hove an outdoor concert venue, as well as the Moonlight Gardens, Horse Track, giant swimming pool, and some amusement rides as well as some beautiful old landscape, that could be greatly enhanced by consolidating parking, perhaps an underground parking garage. Use the the Delta Queen to take people from downtown to Coney with entertainment.
January 24, 200916 yr Coney/ River Downs would be a perfect spot for a Casino. This would be a great opportunity to create a resort type Casino. You hove an outdoor concert venue, as well as the Moonlight Gardens, Horse Track, giant swimming pool, and some amusement rides as well as some beautiful old landscape, that could be greatly enhanced by consolidating parking, perhaps an underground parking garage. Use the the Delta Queen to take people from downtown to Coney with entertainment. I like this idea a lot. We used to have boats that took people from Downtown to Coney...
January 24, 200916 yr Coney/ River Downs would be a perfect spot for a Casino. This would be a great opportunity to create a resort type Casino. You hove an outdoor concert venue, as well as the Moonlight Gardens, Horse Track, giant swimming pool, and some amusement rides as well as some beautiful old landscape, that could be greatly enhanced by consolidating parking, perhaps an underground parking garage. Use the the Delta Queen to take people from downtown to Coney with entertainment. I like this idea a lot. We used to have boats that took people from Downtown to Coney... My mom has mentioned these boats several times. If it weren't for these boats, she probably would not have gotten to Coney very often if at all. It would be awful if River Downs closed, but I have not been there is years. I feel like part of the problem.
January 24, 200916 yr I think Turfway is easier to get to for Westsiders. If they get any form a gambling there, it's over for River Downs.
February 2, 200916 yr Coney/ River Downs would be a perfect spot for a Casino. This would be a great opportunity to create a resort type Casino. You hove an outdoor concert venue, as well as the Moonlight Gardens, Horse Track, giant swimming pool, and some amusement rides as well as some beautiful old landscape, that could be greatly enhanced by consolidating parking, perhaps an underground parking garage. Use the the Delta Queen to take people from downtown to Coney with entertainment. I like this idea a lot. We used to have boats that took people from Downtown to Coney... I've been working on putting together some details about how water taxis might work in Cincy present day. I've got route times, stops, speeds, capacities, and general operating schedules all thought out. I am awaiting some quotes on how much the floating stock (I might have just made that term up for the boats). But generally speaking the Central Riverfront Loop would make the most sense, followed by the route mirroring the old Island Queen from Downtown to the Coney area. Check out the map and all the details here... Cincinnati Water Taxis? http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/02/cincinnati-water-taxis.html
February 2, 200916 yr ^Amazing post. I dont know about the practicality of commuter service boats, but after big concerts at Riverbend, I gaurantee that those boats would be full. Without driving and spending a shit load of money to park, and then waiting for an hour to get out of the parking lot, there is no other option to get to Riverbend except for cab or bus, and it is damn near impossible to get a cab quickly from RB. People could park downtown and take the boat to the show. It would be faster, easier, more scenic and relaxing, and cheaper, and I think wildly successful. I also think a boat that made maybe, 4 round trips to coney each day would be successful.
May 1, 200916 yr River Downs may not open next year After more than 80 years in business, River Downs is closing in on the finish line. General Manager Jack Hanessian said, other than a brief peak in the late 90s, the Anderson Township horse track has been experiencing a "slow death" for the past 20 years. "It's getting to the point where our out-of-pocket losses are just too great to keep it going," he said. "We've been weathering it because we are hoping that slot machines, or whatever they would authorize, would be implemented." Hanessian said River Downs, along with other tracks in Ohio, are facing competition from casinos in neighboring states. Read full article here: http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/20090501/NEWS/905010310
May 1, 200916 yr Sorry to say this, but River Downs is a god-awful location for anything. The surrounding area is filled with poverty and deplorable buildings for at least a mile in all directions, and having the river nearby just makes the location much more humid and miserable, especially since it is impossible to see the river from the racetrack! Maybe if they close it, they could turn it into a nice park, which would actually be really nice, especially with Riverbend and Coney Island right there. It would be very nice to have a tranquil spot right by the river to go to before a big show at Riverbend or a day at Coney Island. Plus, a casino would work much better in the city center, where it would be forced to maintain higher standards and people would be more likely to go to it. It would also create a large population of people in the city center, and also would be a nice compliment to the Banks.
May 1, 200916 yr Huh! Coney Island and Riverbend are right next door. Anderson is a stone's throw away. Even California is in better shape now than its been in years since the flood of the 90s mostly emptied the worst parts.
August 24, 201212 yr River Downs racino plan includes hotels, restaurants The owner of the River Downs horse-racing track is now thinking bigger than just video slot machines as it awaits an Ohio license to operate a racino in Anderson Township. “We’re very encouraged by what we have from a site-development standpoint,” said Anthony Sanfilippo, CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., in a July 25 conference call. “We’re looking at options that could add other amenities further down the line, like additional restaurants, potential hotels.” Full article below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/print-edition/2012/08/24/river-downs-racino-plan-includes.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 17, 201212 yr Pinnacle to pump $290M into River Downs, Belterra Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. will invest up to $290 million in the Cincinnati gaming market, with most of the money going to the River Downs race track in Anderson Township, the company told investors last week. An investor presentation, filed Sept. 12 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, says the company will invest $10 million in its Belterra Casino Resort & Spa property in Switzerland County, Ind. The money will fund improvements to its 608-room hotel, casino and buffet. Its Aquarium restaurant will be replaced by a Stadium Sports Bar & Grill. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2012/09/17/pinnacle-to-pump-290m-into-river.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 21, 201212 yr Pinnacle plans complete makeover, will tear down River Downs grandstand Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. now plans to develop a $200 million casino-and-racetrack complex at River Downs all in a single phase rather than in multiple phases, as previously reported by the Business Courier. Construction is expected to get under way this year and be completed in the spring of 2014, according to a report in the Blood-Horse magazine. The company plans to demolish the existing grandstand and clubhouse, it reported. More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2012/11/21/pinnacle-plans-complete-makeover-at.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, 201311 yr River Downs owner unveils name change, expansion details Historic horse racetrack River Downs is getting a new name as part of its $300 million makeover that should be finished next year. Las Vegas, Nev.-based Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: PNK) is changing the facility’s name to Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center. Pinnacle CEO Anthony Sanfillipo came to town to make the announcement on Wednesday along with providing details on Pinnacle’s plans to redevelop the track. “We’re building a premier gaming and entertainment facility,” said Kevin Kaufman, Belterra Park’s general manager. “We’re going to make this a preferred place to have fun.” More below: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/10/23/river-downs-owner-unveils-name-change.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, 201311 yr Loathe the name change... "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
October 25, 201311 yr Loathe the name change... I agree, don't we already have a Belterra close by in Indiana? What is this, an attempt to confuse people? It has been River Downs for how long? If you can't live with established Cincinnati names then just stay out of Cincinnati.
October 26, 201311 yr sounds like it could be one of those family fun centers that open up in abandoned Krogers and inevitably close down within four months after losing $750,000.
October 27, 201311 yr Loathe the name change... I agree, don't we already have a Belterra close by in Indiana? What is this, an attempt to confuse people? It has been River Downs for how long? If you can't live with established Cincinnati names then just stay out of Cincinnati. Also agree, why change the name. River Downs name is known and should stay. Why change it to some generic entertainment venue.
October 28, 201311 yr Are there renderings of what is being built? I am totally confused by this project. I already miss River Downs.
October 28, 201311 yr the name of the game in the casino business is creating experiences that the guest will come to associate with your brand... and then reward those experiences to create a loyal customer base. by converting river downs to Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center, pinnacle is making it very clear to its customers that they can have the "belterra experience" (whatever hell that may be) at the race track. If consumer A is a member of a rewards program at belterra rising sun, (and consider what type of person that consumer A might be) he may be more inclined to spend his entertainment dollar at the raceway bearing the same name, knowing that it will likely boost his rewards, whatever they may be. If the name remains unchanged, Consumer A will be less likely to associate the track with Belterra and his rewards points and will be less likely to go. Belterra wants to corner the market on their customers entertainment money. golf courses, spas, hotels, higher end restaurants? in rising sun, the racetrack in cincinnati... oh and hey while you're there, since you've been a good customer, here are some concert tickets to riverbend, reds tickets or a dinner out at boca or something along those lines as a thank you for being such a loyal customer. its all in cornering your customers entertainment dollars. Gary Loveman, the CEO of Caesars Entertainment gave a really interesting speech on very similar topics at the Chamber of Commerce's Annual Luncheon at the casino a couple weeks back. the casino business knows what theyre doing when it comes to targeting the consumer. Edit: the name of the project
April 26, 201411 yr Belterra Park transforming Kellogg Ave. into entertainment destination Alexander Coolidge, CIN 9:23 a.m. EDT April 26, 2014 ANDERSON TWP. – Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center opens next week with 1,500 video slot games, 700 new workers and high hopes of transforming Kellogg Avenue into a year-round entertainment destination. The traffic alone could drive new development. Projections are that the region's newest "racino" will bring 688,000 more vehicles each year to a stretch of Kellogg that's long been a seasonal draw, but devoid of much else. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2014/04/25/racino-injects-m-development-come/8184143/
May 2, 201411 yr Take a look at the new Belterra Park racino PHOTO TOUR: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/gallery/28681?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Fcincinnati%2Fnews%2F2014%2F05%2F02%2F300m-belterra-park-opens-its-doors-for-first-time.html
May 5, 201411 yr was out there to watch the derby... can confirm, has some nice points but on the whole (completely subjectively) not a nicer interior space than horseshoe.. and difficult to express, but the exteriof eifs somehow manages to appear less nice than the horseshoe as well. individual spaces (bars, restaurants, main axes of the gaming floor do have some high quality finishes, on par with or possibly surpassing horseshoe. but large swathes of the gaming floor are just open ceiling - a la hollywood casino - that at least to me doesnt feel as "nice"
May 5, 201411 yr The Horseshoe is nauseatingly monochromatic, that unrelenting beige, including the ceiling. At least at Hollywood the much higher black ceiling provides some contrast.
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