“I think it’s a little odd of a location, because there’s not much public transit around here,” one resident said. Lightfoot Denies Reports That Chicago Has Chosen Bally's Casino Bid Hopkins’ ward is located just to the north of the site, which is situated along the Chicago River on a plot of land formerly used as a publishing plant for the Chicago Tribune.Īrea residents have expressed skepticism about the viability of the site, and homeowners’ associations have pushed back against the plan. “ said she’s made no decision, (but) she’s going to come out tomorrow and not explain the justification for it,” Hopkins told NBC 5. Brian Hopkins, say that the Bally’s project has been the frontrunner all along, and they are expressing concerns about the process that led to the decision. The proposal would provide space for an estimated 3,400 slot machines and more than 150 gaming tables.Ī temporary casino would open in 2023, with the permanent location expected to open in early 2026.Īccording to reports, Bally's is reportedly close to a labor deal with the Chicago Federation of Labor that would require the entire complex to use union workers. The proposal includes a 3,000 seat theater, a sports museum, an extension of the Chicago Riverwalk, a pedestrian bridge, a 500-room hotel, an outdoor music venue and park, and six different restaurants.
