Aurora Hollywood Casino Could Move Near Chicago Outlets If Vote Passes

AURORA, IL — A proposal to relocate and expand Aurora's Hollywood Casino is cleared for a final vote at the Aurora City Council meeting Oct. 25.

If the deal passes — the 12 City Council members had no objections to the proposal at Tuesday's Committee of the Whole meeting — the new resort will be located on Farnsworth Avenue, across from the Chicago Premium Outlets on the city's east side.

The new Hollywood Casino campus would move from its current location on the Fox River to the I-88 corridor where it would occupy a space that would include a 200-room hotel and a 10,000-square-foot event space, officials said. The city-owned site most recently housed two hotels and a car dealership.

"Since the change in law to permit land-side casino relocation in Illinois, we have been exploring the viability of relocating our aging riverboats in Aurora and Joliet," announced Jay Snowden, chief executive officer and president of Penn Entertainment, according to a report from Business Wire.

RELATED: Joliet, Aurora Hollywood Casinos On Move: Penn Gaming Confirms

As part of the $360 million proposal, the city would transfer ownership of the site to Penn Entertainment, the Pennsylvania-based company that operates several racetracks and casinos, in exchange for the casino's current downtown property and parking garage, according to Chief Communications Officer Clayton Muhammad.

Officials noted Penn Entertainment would also exercise its option to purchase land immediately west of the proposed Farnsworth Avenue site. Currently, the lots are occupied by the C-Club and Gaslite Manor Banquets, both facing Church Road.

The funding includes a $50 million bond issuance from the city, which officials said would be repaid from increased property taxes received from the new site, not from general funds from taxpayers.

"As an added assurance, if property taxes aren't enough to cover payment in any given year, Penn has agreed to make up the difference," Clayton wrote in an email.

This is where some Aurorans cited issues. Residents who attended Tuesday's meeting spoke up during the meeting to question why Penn Entertainment needs $50 million from the city. According to the company's 2021 fourth-quarter financial report, it generated $1.6 billion in revenue and $44.8 million.

"They have all the money in the world, yet they are asking our city for a handout to build them another asset," one resident said.

Others cited issues with a lack of transparency from city officials and leaning toward supporting businesses rather than the community.

"Time and time again ... we keep seeing our City Council representing businesses and corporations and not the people that live in this community," one commenter said. "If you are economic developers above being community builders, if you are politicians over being servants of this community, then I think it's time for you to step down and for the community to vote you out."

City Council members listened to the comments but did not respond during the meeting.

If Tuesday night's vote clears City Council, construction will begin in late 2023, bringing almost 1,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs to Aurora, according to Muhammad.