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Valley officials, Penn National extend thanks
By Kalea Hall
AUSTINTOWN
The message to the Mahoning Valley from Penn National Gaming is that of gratitude.
Likewise, local government officials extended their thanks to Penn National for bringing the $250 million Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course here.
“What started as an exciting vision became a reality,” Mahoning County Commissioner David Ditzler said at the ribbon-cutting.
Outside the red-carpet opening, valet drivers worked quickly to park cars, the Ohio State Highway Patrol monitored traffic on and off of state Route 46 and Interstate 80, and a crowd formed before the official opening at 11:30 a.m. — a half-hour before the expected opening Wednesday.
Everything and everyone seemed abuzz. “It’s amazing what has happened over two years,” said Darren Crivelli, Austintown Township zoning inspector.
He recalled checking to see if the land where the racino now sits was “wet” so liquor sales could be allowed. That aspect had actually been approved since November 1964, he said.
In November 2012, the township zoning appeals board approved a conditional-use permit to operate a recreational facility.
“This is the biggest project I ever issued a zoning permit for,” Crivelli said. “It’s been a really smooth project to have to deal with, and they really have good people to work with.”
Austintown Trustee Jim Davis extended his thanks to Penn National, Trustee Lisa Oles, former trustee the Rev. Rick Stauffer, David Betras, the Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman; and Ditzler. “It’s government working together that makes this happen,” Davis said.
Davis told Mike Galle, general manager of Hollywood Gaming, that Galle exemplifies the Valley with his hard work and dedication.
“Welcome to the Austintown family,” Davis said.
Tim Wilmott, Penn National CEO and president, thanked Davis for his continued support of the racino and effort to make sure it happened.
To make sure people do get to the racino, the state patrol will monitor traffic through Sunday and make sure parking is available with the 1,127 free parking spots and 124 valet spots that cost $5.
Patrol Sgt. Brad Bucey said if the parking lot hits full capacity, the patrol has to block off the front entrance.
Two shuttles will run 24/7 to adjacent hotels in the area and truck stops in the Route 46 corridor through Sunday. The shuttles will continue from 2 p.m. to midnight and on-call 24/7, 330-505-8797, from Monday to Oct. 1.
Shelley Stevens, manager of the Comfort Inn, said she has two golf groups coming for a weekend to go to the racino in November, when the racing starts on the 1-mile thoroughbred track.
“I know, for me, it is a selling point,” Stevens said of the racino.
David Kovass, president of Meander Hospitality Group, which operates the Hampton Inn on Route 46, saw an impact in traffic, but not directly in his room sales on Wednesday.
“As of today, we haven’t had anybody check in just to go to the racino,” he said. Kovass remains optimistic that travelers to the Valley will now consider Austintown instead of other areas because of the proximity to the racino.
Quaker Steak and Lube off of Route 46 saw some business from the racino Wednesday, but there is still the hope the business will increase. “We had a few people in here today that came after they gambled,” said Lindy Good, marketing manager at Quaker.
To Sarah Boyarko, vice president of economic development for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, the racino adds another option to entertain companies interested in coming to the Valley. The chamber worked with Penn National at the beginning of the project when the company looked for a location, and even after, as the chamber stayed on as a community resource.
“It’s exciting that [the racino] is here,” she said. “They are putting a lot of people to work.”