Supplier News
Canada – Century wins bid for Edmonton racing facility
By Phil - 3 October 2016
Century Casinos has been selected as the successful applicant to own, build and operate an “A” Track Horse Racing Facility in the Edmonton market area by the Board of Directors of Horse Racing Alberta.
Earlier this year, following the announcement from Northlands Park that it will cease its racetrack and casino operations, Horse Racing Alberta issued an Expression of Interest and a Request for Proposal to build and operate an “A” Track Horse Racing Facility in the Edmonton market area. Subsequently, a number of applications had been received by Horse Racing Alberta and reviewed by an External Review Committee.
Century Casinos proposes to build “Century Mile”, the only one-mile racetrack in Western Canada, with track lighting and a multi-level racing entertainment center with a covered grandstand. The proposed location is on Edmonton International Airport land and close to the City of Leduc, a city of 30,000 inhabitants, just south of Edmonton and ideally positioned exiting off the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, one of the most heavily used highways in Western Canada. Several hotels, a golf course and a large shopping mall, which is currently under construction, are all within close proximity to the proposed site. Initial plans indicate total project cost of approx. CAN $50m and a possible opening date in late 2018.
“We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been selected as the successful applicant by the Board of Horse Racing Alberta. Together with the great success of Century Downs in the Calgary market, this is another important milestone for Century Casinos,” the Company’s Co CEOs Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger said.
“The location at Edmonton International Airport offers great potential as this is the only remaining untapped casino market area of greater Edmonton.”
