RACINO OPENS | Full house

AUSTINTOWN

Not a seat seemed to be left in the racino after the doors opened at 11:30 a.m. today.

Music played, jingles from machines went on -- and the constant flow of people through the alley ways at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course never seemed to stop.

Officials from the Ohio Lottery Commission can monitor how machines take at least one bet during a two-minute period. At 11:42 a.m. it was 428 video lottery terminals. A few minutes later 726 VLTs were in play of the 850 on the 25,000-square-foot gaming floor.

"It's exciting," said Marilyn Workman as she played a penny machine. "It's beautiful in here."

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11:40 a.m.:

Opening of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course has been moved up 30 minutes to 11:30 a.m. due to heavy lines outside of the facility.

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11:10 a.m.:

Local politicians, the CEO of Penn National, a local boxing legend and the general manager of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course all held the golden scissors this morning to cut the ribbon at the new Austintown racino.

The 100,000-square facility off of State Route 46 will open to the public at noon today.

A crowd of about 100 gathered to hear speeches from those cutting the ribbon this morning.

"You have made us feel welcome and you have treated us like we are at home and you have really rolled out the red carpet for us," said Hollywood Gaming General Manager Mike Galle at the ribbon cutting.

A crowd already gathered outside to play on the 850 video lottery terminals, enjoy food and beverage from multiple outlets and entertainment.

A 1-mile thoroughbred racetrack will open with 1,000 grandstand seats Nov. 24. Simulcast racing starts today.

Marketing Director Scott Frost says the business is are hoping for 5,000 people today. The racino saw a crowd of 2,000 at its VIP event on Monday.

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10:40 a.m.:

A crowd of hundreds including local politicians, media and Penn National representatives gathered this morning for the ribbon cutting of the Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

"This is a tremendously great day for the area," said Scott Frost, marketing director for Hollywood Gaming.

President and CEO of Penn National Gaming Tim Wilmott spoke on the support received from the area that helped the project become a possibility.

"You wanted us here and you made it happen," Wilmott said.

Mahoning County Commissioner David Ditzler also spoke at the ribbon cutting on the heavy efforts by local government to make this happen.

"Wow. How about this?" he said. "What started as an exciting vision became a reality."

Austintown Trustee Jim Davis also spoke at the ribbon cutting.

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10:15 a.m.:

During this morning's ribbon cutting ceremony at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Penn National President and CEO Tim Wilmott talked about the process to get to opening day.

One of the first steps forward was the "racinos" bill Gov. John Kasich signed in the summer of 2012, allowing video lottery terminals at horse racing venues.

"We knew this [location] was an opportunity for us," Wilmont said.

"The reason it's here today ... Is because of the support of the local community."

Of the construction project, Wilmont said, It came in "on budget, on schedule, and right on target."

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9:30 a.m.:

Stephanie Enasko and Marilyn Workman have waited a long time to be the first in line at the opening of the Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

And this morning they are.

"We were up at 6 a.m.," Workman said.

Enasko and Workman were just two of about 75 people in line at 9:30 a.m. for the noon opening of the Austintown racino.

Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, local boxing legend, arrived Wednesday morning to celebrate the opening of a new attraction for the Valley.

"It's wonderful," he said. "I am so pleased for the community and for the area."

The 100,000-square foot location offers 850 Video lottery terminals, multiple dining outlets, entertainment and thoroughbred racing come Nov. 24.

Austintown resident Lynn Parker attended Monday's VIP night and was back Wednesday for the ceremonies and grand opening.

"Monday was a riot. We had a good time. It was really clean and they took care of us" Parker said, who is an active member in the township and frequently speaks at trustee meetings.

When asked if he won Monday night, Parker laughed and said, "I donated to charity."

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9:15 a.m.:

LIVE RACING IS NEXT

The one-mile thoroughbred racing track at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, which is slated to open on November 24, will have more than 1,000 enclosed, track-view grandstand seats and a state-of-the-art simulcast theater where patrons can wager on races at tracks throughout North America.

Hollywood Gaming is at 655 N. Canfield Niles Road, near the state Route 46 interchange with Interstate 80, convenient to I-76 and 10 minutes from downtown Youngstown.

Its web site is www.hollywoodmahoningvalley.com.

Penn National Gaming owns, operates or has ownership interests in gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. As of June 30, the Company operated twenty-seven facilities in eighteen jurisdictions, including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario.

Penn National Gaming’s operated facilities featured approximately 30,900 gaming machines, 790 table games and 2,900 hotel rooms.

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8:53 a.m.:

SIMULCAST RACING TOO

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course offers simulcast horse racing from across the country, where guests can pick their horses 365 days per year. Simulcast viewing and wagering will be available immediately upon opening.

Additionally, the one-mile thoroughbred horse racing course, with more than 1,000 seats in its fully-enclosed grandstand will debut at the start of the season’s racing schedule on November 24.

Hollywood Gaming will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Parking is complimentary.

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8:50 a.m.:

... WITH DINING, ENTERTAINMENT AND RETAIL

Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course has other options for entertainment.

A 150-seat Skybox Sports Bar with chic décor and a high-energy atmosphere, serving up specialty burgers, nachos and wings plus steak and seafood and a selection of beers and spirits. Guests will experience aming action plus live sports events on more than 20 TV screens.

Hours: Sunday – Thursday Noon – 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday Noon – midnight; Bar service 11 a.m. – 2:30 a.m., Sunday11 a.m. – midnight

Hollywood Gaming’s food court features three outlets perfect for a quick taste during breaks from the action. Ciao offers simple Italian cuisine: salads, pastas and pizza.

Take 2 Grill is a go-to mainstay with sandwiches and burgers hot off the grill; Hollywood & Grind offers coffee, pastries sweet treats and more.

Hours: Ciao and Take 2 Grill, Sunday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 3 a.m.; Hollywood & Grind, 24 hours

Two concession stands serve guests in the racing area. Harlan’s Holiday is located on the 2nd floor near the simulcast theater.

Hours: Noon – 9 p.m. daily. Trackside, which is accessible from the first floor live racing viewing area, will be open on live racing days only.

H Lounge has a live music stage with a full bar.

Bar service, 11 a.m. – 2:30 a.m., Live entertainment Fridays 7 p.m. – midnight, Saturdays 6 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Also on property is the Rodeo Drive Gift Shop, where guests can purchase boutique gifts and Hollywood branded items like jewelry, tumblers, hats, shirts and everyday essentials.

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8:43 a.m.:

HOLLYWOOD GLITZ AND GLAMOR

Glitz, glamour and red-carpet service arrive in Northeast Ohio today as Penn National Gaming invites the public to step inside the $250 million state-of-the-art Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course for the very first time.

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials, Penn National executives and Youngstown native and former world lightweight boxing champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Hollywood Gaming will open its doors to patrons ready to experience service and amenities including video lottery terminals, simulcast wagering, live music plus dining and drinks.

“Today we open our fourth Hollywood facility in Ohio, and the second in just three weeks,” said Tim Wilmott, President and CEO of Penn National Gaming. “We’re deeply committed to the state, and to this region and this fact is reflected in the success of our Toledo, Columbus and Dayton facilities. In addition to bringing top-notch entertainment just a 10-minute drive from downtown Youngstown, we’re proud to be creating jobs and tax revenues and contributing to the ongoing economic resurgence of the Mahoning Valley.”

Expected to attract 1 million patrons annually, the property employs more than 400, with more than 90 percent of the facility’s workforce coming from the Mahoning Valley region. Hollywood Gaming expects to continue the hiring process until live thoroughbred racing debuts Nov. 24.