“It’s no secret that with our continued success we have been looking at the feasibility of a major expansion project for some time now,” said Domenic Mancini, MVG president and general manager. “We’re looking forward to working with our state and local leaders to turn the proposal into reality.”
The racino opened in December 2013 with about 1,500 video lottery terminal gaming machines and now has more than 1,900 VLTs. The proposed expansion would add up to 250 VLTs, bringing the total units in operation to about 2,200, and add more than 10,000 square feet of gaming floor space.
The expansion project will create approximately 300 jobs during construction and approximately 100 permanent positions when complete in the first half of 2021. MVG currently employs over 450 workers and is seeking to fill nearly 50 full- and part-time positions, including buffet and fine dining cooks, dishwashers, special event attendants, security officers, IT network and system engineers and gaming technicians.
Since opening, MVG has delivered more than $270 million in gaming taxes to the Ohio Lottery and $83 million in taxes to the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association. The racino is owned jointly by Delaware North and Churchill Downs Inc.
The proposed hotel will have 194 rooms, while the parking garage will have spaces for about 1,000 cars. The hotel will allow MVG to expand its market beyond Cincinnati and Dayton by attracting business from major cities within a few hours drive such as Columbus and Indianapolis. MVG has experienced parking constraints on busy weekends and holidays for months now, and the garage will help address that, Mancini said.
Thalden Boyd Emery, an architecture firm based out of Missouri, has been retained to design and develop the expansion project. The firm designed the existing MVG facility.
In addition to its gaming machines, MVG has four restaurants, two bars, a 5/8-mile harness racetrack with indoor grandstand, and racing simulcast center.
Musical acts such as Travis Tritt, Big & Rich and Billy Ray Cyrus have recently played at the venue. Thousands of people turned out this summer for MVG’s annual craft beer festival in June and the annual Trucks on the Track food truck rally and signature Chicken Wing and Classic Rock festival in July.
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