Bally’s Corporation (Bally’s) has announced that the Chicago Department of Planning and Urban Development has approved its site plans for a new Bally’s Chicago Casino. Construction will begin in late 2024.
The project, slated to cost $1.7bn, is also projected to create at least 3,000 permanent jobs for Chicago residents. The location for the mixed-use entertainment, gaming and resort space will be on the waterfront in Chicago’s River North neighbourhood, within walking distance from Michigan Avenue.
Bally’s Chicago will include a casino, food hall, restaurants, a museum, a theater, event space, a 500-key hotel and spa, as well as areas of VIP access. A park will also be added for the community to host outdoor events and markets.
Bally's SVP of Design and Development, Joyen Vakil, said, "Inspired by the city's interplay – grit and grandeur, structure and the organic, historically-charged and cutting-edge – the design of Bally's Chicago creates a sense of wonder and adventure accessible to everyone.”
Many Chicago-based and minority-owned businesses have been hired to make up the development team, including the Chicago Community Builders Collective, V3 Companies, SOSH Architects and Gensler.
Vakil added, "We are confident this team will bring to life this one-of-a-kind urban space. The unique and exciting design celebrates Chicago's motto, urbs in horto – city in a garden – and creates a dynamic public realm on site."
As part of the project approval, Bally’s will obtain the exclusive right to operate a temporary casino for up to three years during the construction of this first-of-its-kind casino resort fully integrated within the center of a major US city.
