Facility Notes

Rivers Casino Pays $2.35M To Consol Energy Center After Violating Condition Of Its License

In Pittsburgh, Mark Belko reports the Rivers Casino Thursday paid part of the $7.5M "required of it to help in the funding" of Consol Energy Center. The $2.35M payment came a day after the Pittsburgh Gaming Control Board's Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement "recommended action against the casino for violating a condition of its license by not turning over" the $7.5M. Rivers Casino CEO Greg Carlin said that the "partial payment had nothing to do with the gaming board action Wednesday or the amendments advanced by" Pennsylvania state Sens. Sean Logan and Wayne Fontana Thursday to "suspend the Rivers' license and appoint a new trustee to run the casino if no payment" was made by October 25 (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/9).

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS ... In Chicago, Dan Mihalopoulos reports Chicago Aldermen Richard Mell and George Cardenas are "floating the idea of putting a casino and entertainment complex where Chicago had hoped to build an Olympic Village" for the '16 Olympics. Mell said that the site also could feature a "large theater offering 'big-name entertainment' and a massive complex with dozens of TV screens for watching games or pro league drafts, emulating a project at Lambeau Field." Mihalopoulos writes the pitch "seems likely to be only the first of many proposals" for the site (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/9).

DELAY OF GAME: In Daytona Beach, Jim Witters reports Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson Tuesday "granted a request from the state's Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board for a 60-day extension to complete work on two proposed casinos." The decision means a "delay until Dec. 28 for the board vote on a massive project on Turn 2 of Kansas Speedway, with the $390[M] casino as Phase One." The vote originally was scheduled for December 1 (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 10/9).