Penn Sets June 24 Opening for Hollywood Casino Aurora
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The new property expands Penn’s Chicago area footprint and puts fresh focus on how quickly the $360 million property can add jobs, tourism, and gaming revenue in Illinois. Penn’s latest Midwest launch comes shortly after the company confirmed it will also open a new hotel at Hollywood Casino Columbus on June 12, marking another step in its broader regional expansion strategy.
The $360 million development sits across from Chicago Premium Outlets near Interstate 88 in Aurora and represents Penn Entertainment’s second land-based launch in the greater Chicago area following the opening of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer. The Aurora property is billed as a full-scale entertainment destination, featuring a 226-room upscale hotel, a 12,000-square-foot events center, more than 1,200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, Drift Spa, and roughly 1,700 parking spaces.
Penn said the casino will create approximately 700 jobs locally – nearly double the operator’s existing team in Aurora – and will host a mix of live and private events, from conferences and weddings to concerts and galas. ‘‘We are now months away from opening another premium entertainment destination in the greater Chicago region’’, Penn Entertainment CEO and President Jay Snowden said in a statement. ‘‘We are thrilled to follow the successful rollout of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer with another new land-based property, strengthening our overall retail portfolio in the Midwest and deepening our roots in the community.’’
The opening remains subject to customary regulatory approvals, which in Illinois typically include sign-off from the Illinois Gaming Board and local permitting authorities. Penn has indicated that bookings for the events center are already underway and that the schedule of public entertainment will be announced in the weeks after opening.
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