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Chicago & Midwest  + Greater Chicagoland  + Hospitality  |  December 1, 2023
Jasmine Kilman
By: Jasmine Kilman

Crews Break Ground on New Aurora Hollywood Casino

The new Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois, broke ground recently, signaling the start of the $360 million project. Mayor Richard Irvin and city officials joined PENN Entertainment, the parent company behind the development, to mark the project’s start on 20 acres near the Chicago Premium Outlets.

The new casino will replace the current, aging riverboat casino on the Fox River in downtown Aurora. The facility will feature 1,200 gaming positions, approximately 220 rooms, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, a spa, bars and restaurants. The property will also have an approximately 12,000-square-foot event center.

The development included the transfer of parcels of land from the city, which will also fund up to $50 million of the project through a new bond issuance. The casino is part of a plan consisting of four new growth projects in Joliet, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; and Henderson, Nevada. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has committed up to $575 million towards the overall $850 million budget for all four projects.

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About Jasmine Kilman

Jasmine Kilman is Content Director of Connect Commercial Real Estate, covering Chicago and greater Chicagoland, the Midwest, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest. She covers industry trends, transaction deals, market research, and produces daily news stories. With experience in marketing and communications for academic nonprofits and corporate clients, including Hearst Media, Hilton, and Coldwell Banker, Kilman has written about commercial real estate, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), technology, healthcare, and philanthropy. She was born and raised in California and graduated with a degree in public relations. In her spare time, Kilman enjoys hiking and traveling to new locations with her family.
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