Published: September 19, 2008
Kansas Speedway and The Cordish Company Secure Casino Management Contract for Wyandotte County, Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Kan., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Kansas Speedway and The
Cordish Company ("Cordish") announced today that Kansas Entertainment, LLC
("KE"), a 50/50 joint venture between Kansas Speedway and Cordish, has been
awarded the casino management contract forWyandotte County, Kansas, by the
Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at
Kansas Speedway is scheduled to open in 2011.
The 1.5 million square-foot Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with a cost of
approximately $705 million to construct, will include a 300-room luxury hotel;
a state-of-the-art casino with 3,000 slot machines and 140 gaming tables;
275,000 square-feet of destination retail, dining and entertainment including
a live music venue; first-class resort amenities; and extensive meeting and
convention facilities.
The development, which will be located in Kansas Speedway's Turn 2 with
strong visibility and access to both Interstate 70 and Interstate 435, will
bring a distinctive and energetic destination entertainment and gaming
experience toWyandotte County and establish the area as one of the major
sports and leisure destinations in the country.
"This is a great day for the citizens ofWyandotte County and the state of
Kansas," said Kansas Speedway President, Jeff Boerger. "The Hard Rock Hotel &
Casino will be a state-of-the-art gaming, entertainment and retail destination
development that will attract eight million tourists annually from across the
country to theKansas City region. In addition, now that we have been given
the green light to develop one of the nation's most unique sports and
entertainment projects, we look forward to moving forward with our other
announced plans. This includes requesting that NASCAR move a second NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series race to Kansas Speedway. I look forward to NASCAR's premier
stock car series racing twice a year in the nation's heartland by no later
than 2011."
As part of its comprehensive commitment to the Kansas Lottery Commission,
KE plans to open a first phase gaming facility on-site in 2009. The initial
facility, which will include approximately 2,000 slot machines and 75 gaming
tables, will operate during construction of the overall hotel casino and
entertainment development and is projected to generate in excess of $200
million in annual revenues.
"We applaud the exhaustive efforts of the Kansas Lottery Commission
members and other state and local leaders in evaluating the merits of the
various proposals," said Joe Weinberg, a principal in The Cordish Company.
"In the end, they chose the project that will truly create the most benefit
for the people ofKansas. Like we have done so successfully in other
communities across the country, including inKansas City, Missouri, with the
Kansas City Power & Light District, Cordish looks forward to creating a unique
destination development that will further enhanceKansas City's attractive
image."
The combined impact from the existing Kansas Speedway, the proposed
destination development, and other commitments from KE as part of its proposal
to the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board, is expected to generate a
staggering amount of economic benefit for the community -- in excess of $620
million per year.
Kansas Speedway currently has an annual economic benefit of $243 million
for the community. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will provide an incremental
economic benefit of $243 million per year. In addition, as part of its
proposal, several significant commitments were made by KE that will drive
approximately $140 million in incremental annual economic impact for the
taxpayers ofKansas. These commitments include:
-- Kansas Speedway will petition NASCAR to realign a second Sprint Cup
series date to the facility, which will result in an additional $111 million
in annual economic benefit for the region.
-- A permanent infield road course will be constructed at Kansas Speedway
that will attract car enthusiasts from across the country to enjoy Grand-Am
sports car races, as well as Sports Car Club of America and other car club
member events. These combined activities are estimated to provide well in
excess of $15 million per year in financial benefit for the community.
-- Kansas Speedway's current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race sponsor,
Camping World, will bring an annual national RV rally to the speedway
beginning in 2010 that will provide approximately $10 million of positive
economic impact each year.
-- Kansas Speedway will provide the state ofKansas two free track-side
billboards at the speedway during the entire term of KE's Lottery Gaming
Facility Manager's contract. These billboards will be used to promote tourism
for the state ofKansas to a national audience, and are estimated to provide
almost $2 million in annual economic benefit.
Kansas Speedway ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased by
calling 866.460.RACE or logging on www.kansasspeedway.com. The ticket package
includes the September 26-28, 2008, race weekend that includes the Kansas
Lottery 300 and Camping World 400 presented by Coleman, as well as April
2009's O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 and Road Runner Turbo Indy 300. O'Reilly Auto
Parts Qualifying Day and Sprint Fan Walk tickets are also available. Parking
is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring one 6x6x12-inch
soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverage into the grandstands.
Kansas Speedway is wholly-owned by International Speedway Corporation
("ISC"), a leading promoter of motorsports and related activities. ISC owns
and/or operates 13 of the nation's major motorsports entertainment facilities,
including Kansas Speedway. For more information, visit
www.iscmotorsports.com.
The Cordish Company (www.cordish.com) is an award-winning, multi-billion
dollar conglomerate including one of the leading real estate development
companies inthe United States. The company has diverse development expertise
with divisions focused on Entertainment & Mixed-Use, Gaming & Lodging, Sports
Anchored Districts, Shopping & Lifestyle Retail, Office and Residential. The
Cordish Company also owns and manages a diverse group of operating businesses,
ranging from restaurants/clubs to live music promotion to film/media
distribution.
SOURCE Kansas Speedway
Copyright © 2012, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2012, NewsBlaze,
Daily News