by David La Torre, La Torre Communications

Meadow Lands, PA — Officials from the Meadows Racetrack & Casino today unveiled new plans for its $155 million permanent casino. The revised plans call for as many as 4,200 slot machines, an additional 30,000 square feet for the gaming floor and an enclosed 1,050-space parking garage. Meadows officials said there will be no additional costs incurred for the new plans.

Progress on the permanent 350,000-square-foot casino, which is slated to open in spring 2009, is progressing nicely. All foundation work is complete, and steel is now being inserted into the area that will hold the main grandstand. Once completed, the permanent casino will provide 750 jobs.

“We’re simply reacting to the marketplace and the needs of our guests,” said Meadows Vice President and General Manager Michael Graninger. “We’re involved in an intense competitive situation with two West Virginia casinos only minutes away. Expanding our casino floor to accommodate more slot machines will allow us to provide our visitors with more entertainment options. It also gives us the flexibility to modify our floor space to accommodate table games if the state permits us.”

Previously, the design included just 3,000 slot machines and a hotel and spa. The spa and hotel will now be replaced by a parking garage in order to satisfy the growing demand for parking. The decision to forego plans to build a hotel is based on the existing availability of accommodations in the region providing more than 750 nearby hotel rooms, with plans to add two more hotels, as well as a convention center. Casino patrons will be able to take advantage of several local hotels that sit adjacent to the Meadows property. Once the permanent casino is completed, The Meadows will more than double its number of parking spaces.

“The demand for hotel rooms was not as acute as our need for parking,” Graninger said. “Parking has been an ongoing concern. This move will ensure we have enough parking for our visitors, and by enclosing the parking garage, we can provide 1,050 spaces that will protect people from inclement weather.”

New 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, featuring a creative menu and stylish lounge space.

“We wanted to do something that would be unique to the area, and unique among casinos in our region,” Graninger said. “We expect our bowling alley will become a favorite spot for our many guests. There won’t be anything like this anywhere. People are going to love the style and feel the moment they walk in.”

All other plans will remain the same. The permanent casino will integrate the long-standing tradition of harness racing at The Meadows with state-of-the-art gaming facilities. It will also provide a covered grandstand area overlooking the racetrack. VIP boxes will be available and provide a select view of the horse racing. A separate entrance at track level will lead to a simulcast area and wagering lobby.

There will be three featured dining venues, which include a premier steak house, a specialty restaurant which overlooks the racetrack and a state-of-the-art food court. A centrally located lounge and bar will feature panoramic views of both the gaming floor and the racetrack. The food court will be circular in design and accessible from both the gaming floor and the grandstands. It will accommodate a variety of food outlets and provide seating for more than 200 guests.

The Meadows’ temporary casino opened June 11, becoming the first casino in the Greater Pittsburgh region. Amazingly, the temporary casino was built in about seven months. The 82,000-square-foot temporary casino includes 1,816 slot machines, a 360-seat all-you-can-eat restaurant, a snack bar, gift shop and sports bar.

The vast majority of the construction and subsequent goods and services have come from area businesses. Close to 1,000 local jobs will be created for construction of the temporary and permanent casinos. The Meadows also hired area residents to fill nearly all of the 500 jobs in the temporary casino.

Despite construction, race book services continue to be available at The Meadows, and off-track sites remain open.