The new Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati is expected to attract millions of visitors each year and the majority of them will be driving
So where will all the cars go? Many will park in the new 2500 space parking structure attached to the casino.
"Any guest that comes to the casino to game or dine in a restaurant or to make a purchase in a retail shop will receive free parking," says Jennifer Kulczycki with Rock Gaming which owns Horseshoe. "The only time we鈥檒l charge for parking is for those visitors who are not interacting with the casino or restaurant or retail shop and we will be doing a daily maximum rate or an hourly rate beginning at $1 for the first hour and the daily max will be $14."
But depending on when you want to park, you might not have to pay a dime, even if you don鈥檛 ever open the casino door. Kulczycki says anyone is welcome to park in the parking structure for free evenings and weekends.
The Horseshoe Casino which is located on Reading Road is across the street from and Pendleton within walking distance of Over the Rhine. David White is community council president in Pendleton. He鈥檚 also a member of the casino neighborhoods working group.
He says the city has already taken some action to help ward off parkers who don鈥檛 live in Pendleton. "In a portion of the neighborhood there鈥檚 a parking permit so it鈥檚 only available for residents who live in the neighborhood, it runs from 7 a.m. til 5 p.m. It鈥檚 not valid during the weekday evenings or weekends. That has helped alleviate parking for the residents who were having the most issues."
White says he鈥檚 also been told the city will work with the neighborhoods to address any issues that arise. "We just hope that we have an avenue to speak with the city with police with parking, with the casino with everyone to make sure that if issues do arise we鈥檒l address those as quickly as possible."
While many actions have already been put in place to keep traffic and parking problems to a minimum, president of the Over the Rhine community council, Peter Hames says there are still likely to be some problems when the casino opens next week. "It will take a while before the regular gamblers, the regular visitors can find their way quickly there. I think there will be that kind of experience where people won鈥檛 know where they鈥檙e going or how to get where they鈥檙e going."
Hames is also concerned about traffic congestion, "there will be more people coming through looking for parking spots, so I think that tension that congestion will be created, but the busier the better, the busier the safer it is."
"On street pedestrian traffic is what we want," says White. "Supporting our local businesses and restaurants and bars and that those are the entities we support as current residents and we would love to have more support for those entities from those new visitors that come here into our neighborhood."
They don鈥檛 have long to wait. Visitors can start lining up for the grand opening of the casino at 6:00 p.m. Monday night if today鈥檚 controlled demonstration goes well.
Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati: free parking Nights and weekends |
February 18, 2013 (Cincinnati) 鈥� In less than two weeks, Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati will open its doors to the public and a newly hired 1,700 member casino team will showcase the property鈥檚 gaming, dining and entertainment features. Doors are scheduled to open on March 4 at 8:30 p.m. EST. after a ribbon cutting ceremony among city and casino officials. Free public parking on Grand Opening night will be provided at the Banks Garage beginning at 6 p.m. with round-trip complimentary shuttle service to the casino through 6 a.m. on March 5. A component of the $400 million Horseshoe Cincinnati development is a five-story, 2,500-space parking structure, which connects directly to the casino. Access to garage parking is available from both Gilbert Ave. and Reading Rd. Beginning Tues., March 5, free parking will be offered in the casino parking deck on nights and weekends. 鈥淲e are pleased to offer our guests free parking on nights and weekends in our convenient and accessible new parking structure,鈥� said Mike Warren, vice president of marketing. 鈥淲e will also provide several ways for property guests to validate parking during the week.鈥� Members of Caesars鈥� Total Rewards guest loyalty program will receive free parking on every visit by playing 30 minutes of slots or table games (and earn 15 tier credits), by playing one hour in the poker room, or by spending $25 in a casino restaurant or gift shop. Hourly parking rates 鈥� ranging from $1 for the first hour up to a daily maximum of $14 鈥� will be in effect Monday through Friday during conventional business hours. Following is additional site access, transportation and parking information for the March 4 Grand Opening and post-Grand Opening operations: Mon., March 4 Grand Opening Parking - General Public:
Hotel Shuttles: Shuttles between Horseshoe Cincinnati and its seven hotel partners will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Mon., March 4 and will run until 6 a.m. on Tues., March 5. Daily hotel shuttle service to the casino will commence at 8 a.m. on March 5. Casino Access & Public Queuing: General public queuing will begin at 6 p.m. on the casino鈥檚 urban plaza and will extend east along Court Street. The queuing entry point will be on Court Street near Eggleston Ave. General public queuing prior to 6 p.m. will be prohibited and enforced. Tues., March 5 & Beyond Parking 鈥� Access & Rates: Valet and self-parking options for casino guests are available 24-7 inside Horseshoe Cincinnati鈥檚 on-site parking structure.
Hotel Shuttles: Daily casino-hotel shuttle service will operate Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. 鈥� 2 a.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. 鈥� 4 a.m. # # # About Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Rock Gaming LLC and Caesars Entertainment Corporation are developing a $400 million full-service casino in downtown Cincinnati which is scheduled to open March 4, 2013. The development will include three outward facing restaurants to engage pedestrians and support existing businesses, cultural, nightlife and sports attractions downtown. Horseshoe Cincinnati is expected to attract an estimated six million visits to downtown annually. The casino will employ nearly 1,700 team members and will feature 2,000 slot machines, 85 table games, and a World Series of Poker room, along with a feature bar, a quick-casual eatery and a buffet restaurant. The development has also created more than 2,000 construction jobs. |
