The Cordish Companies have officially opened Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, the new gaming, hotel, dining and entertainment destination located in the heart of the Philadelphia Stadium District.
The opening marks another major milestone for the company as the next Live! branded casino to open in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Live! Casino Pittsburgh opened in Hempfield Township, PA, in November 2020.
One of the key elements of the new development is Sports & Social Philly, a one-of-a-kind sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge that offers guests a 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 features 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 sports viewing.
The Cordish Companies’ Principal Reed Cordish, Cordish Gaming Group President Rob Norton, and Executive Vice President Joe Billhimer were joined at a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Philadelphia City Council member Kenyatta Johnson (Second District), and numerous business, tourism and community leaders from the region.
The ceremony was hosted by Philadelphia fan favorite Ron Jaworski, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles; with special guest appearances by Philadelphia 76ers legend and Basketball Hall-of-Fame player Julius “Dr J” Erving; former Philadelphia Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel; and former Eagles wide receiver, the “Invincible” Vince Papale.
Cordish stated: “As a family-owned business for over 100 years, today marks an incredibly special day for my family and The Cordish Companies as we expand our Live! Casino brand into the great City of Philadelphia.
“Live! Philadelphia is the region’s premier gaming and entertainment destination, and we are proud to welcome our guests, team members and the community to go Live! with us. I’d like to thank Mayor Kenney, Council member Johnson, and local officials for their support for this project.”
It’s expected that Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia will generate over $2bn in economic stimulus and $100m in tax revenues for the city in its first five years of operation, including $25m to Philadelphia’s School District. The facility has created over 3,000 construction jobs during development and will create up to 2,000 permanent jobs for local and regional residents.
To prepare for opening, Live! developed a comprehensive Play It Safe plan, an enhanced health and sanitation program that allows for ample social distancing, reduced occupancies, and vigorous hygiene and health measures for all guests and team members.
Key components of the 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.