Cannery Casino Resorts Celebrates Opening of $175-Million, State-of-the-Art Meadows Racetrack & Casino

April 27, 2009

Officials for Cannery Casino Resorts (CCR) today delivered on their promise to create a world-class entertainment destination with something for everyone when they opened the $175-million, 350,000-square-foot Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

The first to open in southwestern Pennsylvania, the state-of-the-art casino includes 3,700 slot machines, an electronic table-games pit, premier restaurants with spectacular views of the gaming floor and the race track, a new racing grandstand, bowling center, simulcast area, and VIP super boxes.

Casino officials were joined by members of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, community leaders, elected officials and Meadows guests. A loyal Meadows customer, Marjorie Harrigan of Clairton, Pa., joined Meadows officials in cutting a ceremonial ribbon to usher in the crowd. Two years ago, she was randomly chosen from the crowd to cut the ribbon to the temporary casino. The grand opening comes after a highly successful testing that generated $254,000, to be donated by The Meadows to more than 50 area volunteer fire departments.

"Today is the culmination of nearly five years of hard work by so many people," said Bill Paulos, a principal of Las Vegas-based CCR, which owns The Meadows. CCR has invested more than $450 million into the property. "The Meadows is among the finest gaming facilities on the East Coast. By fully integrating horse racing and gaming, while adding great restaurants, live entertainment and an all-ages bowling center, we have created a true entertainment destination that everyone can enjoy. This shows how a community and region can benefit when private enterprise, local government leaders and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board work as partners."

The gaming floor includes a wide array of slot machines, including popular games such as Wheel of Fortune, Hot Hot Penny, Keno, video roulette, Monopoly, Star Wars and eBay. Guests can play more than 1,600 slot machines that cost as little as a penny and other machines with denominations ranging up to $25.

The Meadows' electronic table-games pit, located in the center of the gaming floor in front of the main bar, Pacers, features 10 electronic blackjack tables and two three-card poker tables, allowing up to 60 players to play the tables at one time.

For harness-racing enthusiasts, the complex features a new, covered grandstand area overlooking the historic racetrack and a 200-seat simulcast area. Providing a select view of the racetrack, VIP super boxes are situated on the top level of the casino and are available for rent.

The PIPA Group brings Pittsburgh-area chef Greg Alauzen to Bistecca, an exciting Italian steakhouse located on the top floor of the casino, featuring exquisite food and breathtaking views. Alauzen is well known for his creativity and flair at several Pittsburgh-area restaurants owned by The PIPA Group, including Cioppino and Caffe Amante.

With seating for 200, Bistecca features a warm, earth-tone decor, with two private dining rooms, a relaxing bar and an outdoor terrace, all with a spectacular view from atop the casino. The restaurant also has outside patio seating and private dining for receptions and parties of up to 50 people. Bistecca will come to be known for its hand-cut, certified Angus Beef (R), selected and served to culinary perfection. Chops, freshly made pasta and the finest seafood will provide something for everyone. Bistecca also features a wide selection of wines and spirits.

The Terrace Cafe features classic American cuisine from coast to coast. With seating for 450, the cafe provides guests with Italian, Southwest, Greek, Creole, Dutch and even local regional favorites. Homemade soups, fresh salads, overstuffed sandwiches, zesty appetizers and seafood all are on the menu.

For those looking for something quick, The Meadows' 327-seat Food Court features the following specialty micro-restaurants, which provide a little bit of everything:

• Cookies - Hershey's hand-dipped ice cream and a wide variety of Hershey's premium frozen treats.
• Perks - More than just your average cup of Joe, Perks offers pastries, espressos and specialty cappuccinos.
• Peppers - A fresh deli counter serving sandwiches, salads and panini.
• Franks - Franks serves up thick and juicy burgers, hot dogs, kielbasa, and jumbo fried-bologna sandwiches.
• Cibos - Featuring hand-tossed dough, enjoy homemade pizza, calzones, lasagna, stuffed shells, sweet Italian sausage and manicotti.

For guests focused solely on harness racing, Delvins sits comfortably in the lower level next to The Meadows' historic racetrack and features everything from hot dogs and sandwiches to desserts.

Located directly below Bistecca on the main casino floor is Pacers, a hometown sports bar with a Vegas attitude. With a bar and seating area for 94 people, Pacers also will provide a panoramic view of the action on both the floor and the racetrack.

Nationally known and local-favorite music acts will begin performing on a new concert stage during Kentucky Derby weekend. Local band "No Bad Ju Ju" will take the stage on Derby Day in Silks Lounge at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Several groups will perform during Derby Day weekend, including Las Vegas favorite "The Rat Pack Is Back," which does a tribute to legends Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.

Located in Silks Lounge next to the casino's Food Court, the 23-foot by 19-foot main stage includes state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. Acoustic acts also will begin performing regularly this spring at Pacers, located in the center of the casino near the electronic table-games pit.

Plans also include a boutique-style bowling alley that promises to capture the growing popularity of the sport, but in a setting that will create a nightclub feel. Tentatively set to open in May, it will include stylish lounge space, leagues, parties, a full-service menu and private VIP lanes.

Since opening its temporary casino in June 2007, The Meadows has focused heavily on being a community partner, providing hundreds of jobs to local residents, hiring local companies for goods and services, working with several charities, and using its Neighborhood Partners program to benefit area businesses.

Here are some additional ways The Meadows has continued to help the community:

• Raised $121,597 for local charities during two test nights prior to opening its temporary casino. The test nights generated $53,537 for the Greater Washington County Food Bank and $68,060 for the Washington Hospital.
• Created about 1,000 jobs for the permanent casino. Most of the jobs have been filled by area residents.
• Created about 1,000 local jobs for construction of the temporary and permanent casinos. Nearly all construction was done with the assistance of local construction companies.
• Invested millions of dollars in local goods and services. The Meadows purchases 95 percent of all goods and services from local companies for its day-to-day operation.
• Conducts canned-goods drives to benefit the Washington County Food Bank. For example, The Meadows donated more than a half-million dollars in free slot play to its guests in exchange for 100,501 cans of food in November 2008. The Meadows also provided 1,000 turkeys to the food bank for Thanksgiving. In January, The Meadows provided another $280,000 in free play in exchange for 55,000 cans.
• Holds an annual coat drive in January for the Washington Christian Outreach. In January, The Meadows donated nearly $57,000 in free play and collected 4,000 coats in only two days to help families during the cold winter months.
• Partnered with Penn State University to create the state's first internship program for college students interested in a career in the gaming industry. The first class of interns is scheduled to begin training this summer.
• Provided more than $1.5 million through our Neighborhood Partners Program that benefits area schools and businesses. The Meadows purchases gift cards for its guests through local schools that can be used at businesses throughout the region. Local schools receive a portion of the proceeds. Businesses include convenience stores, pharmacies and restaurants, to name a few.

"Not only do we believe we have created a unique venue that everyone can enjoy, but we have made it a priority to continually identify ways to give back to a community and region that have provided us with tremendous support and encouragement," said Meadows Vice President and General Manager Michael Graninger. "Whether it's community leaders, elected officials or our guests, everyone has done what they can to help us arrive at this point today. On behalf of our 1,000 employees, I want to extend my heartfelt thank you to all."

The design and construction team of the new Meadows is considered second to none, building both casinos on time and under budget. Amazingly, the 82,000-square-foot temporary casino was built in seven months. The permanent casino - nearly three times as large as the temporary - was completed in less than two years.

Chief architect of the project was Climans Green Liang Architects Inc. of Toronto (CGL).

For more information, please see: www.cglarchitects.com. LPCiminelli of Buffalo, N.Y., served as the construction manager, overseeing multiple subcontractors, most of which are local businesses. For more information, please see: www.lpciminelli.com.

"I cannot say enough about the work our construction and design team did to build two incredible facilities in such a short time," Paulos said. "A few years ago, no one would have thought this possible. Now we have a state-of-the-art casino. Some people didn't believe we could do it, but all our hard work has paid off, and our guests are going to love it."

David Climans, principal of Climans Green Liang Architects Inc., said: "The creation of The Meadows Racetrack & Casino has been truly a collaborative effort including the entire design team, the owners, the construction managers and the local municipal representatives. The wealth of experience and dedication offered by the various parties involved has culminated in what we believe is an outstanding entertainment destination. We are proud to have had the opportunity to assist in the process."

"All the partners involved in building The Meadows Racetrack & Casino can take great pride that we have successfully completed a first-class destination attraction for the southwestern Pennsylvania community, and we did so ahead of schedule," said Louis P. Ciminelli, chairman and CEO of LPCiminelli. "We had great teamwork with the owner and architect. It was a tremendous effort and commitment from the local contracting community in delivering high-quality construction work."

SOURCE Cannery Casino Resorts