Operator News
US – Live! Casino & Hotel opens in Philadelphia’s Stadium District
By Phil - 8 February 2021
Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, developed by Cordish Gaming Group has opened in South Philadelphia, boasting a 510,000-square-foot multi-level facility with more than 2,100 slot machines, 121 live-action table games, and a dedicated 29 table poker room, as well as FanDuel Sportsbook.
Joe Billhimer, Executive Vice President, Cordish Gaming Group, said: “Our Team Members are ready to welcome the Philadelphia region to experience the world-class gaming and entertainment destination we have created, in a fun and safe manner. We are beyond excited to go Live! in Philadelphia and bring this world-class gaming and entertainment destination to the heart of the Stadium District. What we have created here is unrivalled anywhere in the country. Sports fans, foodies, gaming enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a night of fun and excitement only has to make one stop to experience it all.”
Sports & Social Philly, a one-of-a-kind sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge that will offer guests the ultimate sports fan experience at the only place in the country located in the center of big-league action from four major professional sports teams. The venue will feature a FanDuel Sportsbook and Lounge retail location and state-of-the-art AV system, including a giant 52-foot LED display and 24 televisions for ultimate sports viewing.
“Live! is the casino Philly has been waiting for and deserves, so we’re making it a priority to expand our grand opening festivities to ensure everyone can go Live! safely,” Mr. Billhimer added.
Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia has committed to serve as a transformative development that will create maximum community benefits for the City of Philadelphia and bring economic opportunity and inclusivity to local residents. The project will generate over $2bn in economic stimulus to the City, along with $100 million in tax revenues for the City in its first five years of operation, including $25m to Philadelphia’s School District.
The facility has provided over 5,000 new construction jobs and is now hiring to fill up to 2,000 permanent new positions for area residents.
To prepare for opening, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia has developed a comprehensive Play It Safe plan, which is an enhanced health and sanitation program that allows for increased cleaning frequency, physical distancing, reduced occupancies, new technology and vigorous hygiene and health measures. Signage will be located throughout the facility to underscore all health and safety requirements.
Key components of the Play It Safe plan include the installation of the state-of-the-art Atmos Air Bi-Polar Air Purification System within the HVAC system to treat and clean the air in the facility, including any virus particulates. The system is designed to perform 12 air changes per hour throughout the casino floor, which is more than twice the frequency of most commercial buildings.
In addition, the one-of-a-kind Reel Clear slot management system will guarantee every customer who plays a slot machine is sitting down at a freshly sanitized machine and also has the capability to automatically social distance the customer from the nearest guest. The newly-developed system can automatically shut down a slot after it has been played and can only be reactivated by an attendant after it has been sanitized. Also, once a player starts to play a newly sanitized machine, the system will lock down the machines on either side to enforce social distancing in areas not protected by plexiglass barriers. The system will also allow a patron to request their machine to be cleaned at any time.
“Our top priority is to provide a safe environment for our team members and guests,” Mr. Billhimer said. “We’ve gone through extraordinary measures to meet and exceed Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 guidelines to ensure all of our guests have fun and feel safe.”
