Ohio's Latest Racino is only 6.3 miles from Ohio's Second Racino

I stopped in at Ohio's newest Racino ( Northfield Park Hardrock Brand ) before Christmas, and then drove over to the other one close by ( Thistledown ) to collect some free-play.

Wow, what a contrast.

The "Hardrock-sino" is a brand new facility complete with typical Rock and Roll Memorabilia and a Hard Rock Cafe and a buffet. The lay-out and furnishings remind me a little bit of RED ROCK out in Las Vegas. Yeah, that nice. Ohio Racino's are currently allowed to only have VLT Slot Machines, but they had a huge variety and I was a little surprised to note 4 or 5 different manufacturers of the games.

Thistledown, to sum it up accurately and concisely, is a DUMP. It looks as if the least amount of money possible was spent do slap down some carpet under the grandstands and install the VLT's. Maybe that was their plan, because news articles have indicated that the owner, Dan Gilbert, may move it. I think he should start reserving the trucks, because the new Hardrock facility is SO much nicer. The least they can do at Thistledown is to fill in some of the potholes in their parking lot, but I guess that would cost some money and that is apparently not part of their business plan.

Back to the Northfield Park Hardrock...

- Best Rock-n-Roll Memorabilia: A Suit worn by John Lennon during his immigration hearings in New York, 5 original outfits from the Jackson 5 from their television show in the 70's.

- Worst Memorabilia: A hat signed by Madonna. I'm not even sure it was her hat.

- Funniest Memorabilia: An Eric Clapton Sweater on a mannequin with lighting that makes it look like it is being worn by a woman.

- Buffet: Has potential, the food was good but not great. I think they'll improve over time.

- Player's Club: It looks like they spent a lot of money on an automated system that scans information off your driver's license. The only issue is the system doesn't work very well ( ! ) so a booth person looks at your license and corrects all the automated system typo's anyway. So, nice try but I hope they get their money back or have the manufacturer come out to fix it. I did mention to the attendant that I was planning to go up to Horseshoe in downtown Cleveland for lunch since I had BOGO buffets that day, so she called a Host. I was very impressed that he gave me 2 free buffets, even though at that time I had just gotten my Player's Club card and hadn't played a single quarter yet.

- Misc: I found an excellent website of Ohio casino information at http://www.ohiogaminglaw.com. That's where I saw the following break-down:

"Despite having the fewest number of slots or VLT’s of all Ohio casinos and racinos, Thistledown grossed the highest revenue in October, generating an average of $361 per day per machine. Horseshoe Cincinnati was next at $212, followed by Horseshoe Cleveland at $194, Hollywood Toledo at $185, Scioto Downs at $172 and Hollywood Columbus at $149".

Quote: JohnnyQ

I stopped in at Ohio's newest Racino ( Northfield Park Hardrock Brand ) before Christmas, and then drove over to the other one close by ( Thistledown ) to collect some free-play.

Wow, what a contrast.

The "Hardrock-sino" is a brand new facility complete with typical Rock and Roll Memorabilia and a Hard Rock Cafe and a buffet. The lay-out and furnishings remind me a little bit of RED ROCK out in Las Vegas. Yeah, that nice. Ohio Racino's are currently allowed to only have VLT Slot Machines, but they had a huge variety and I was a little surprised to note 4 or 5 different manufacturers of the games.

Thistledown, to sum it up accurately and concisely, is a DUMP. It looks as if the least amount of money possible was spent do slap down some carpet under the grandstands and install the VLT's. Maybe that was their plan, because news articles have indicated that the owner, Dan Gilbert, may move it. I think he should start reserving the trucks, because the new Hardrock facility is SO much nicer. The least they can do at Thistledown is to fill in some of the potholes in their parking lot, but I guess that would cost some money and that is apparently not part of their business plan.

Back to the Northfield Park Hardrock...

- Best Rock-n-Roll Memorabilia: A Suit worn by John Lennon during his immigration hearings in New York, 5 original outfits from the Jackson 5 from their television show in the 70's.

- Worst Memorabilia: A hat signed by Madonna. I'm not even sure it was her hat.

- Funniest Memorabilia: An Eric Clapton Sweater on a mannequin with lighting that makes it look it is being worn by a woman.

- Buffet: Has potential, the food was good but not great. I think they'll improve over time.

- Player's Club: It looks like they spent a lot of money on an automated system that scans information off your driver's license. The only issue is the system doesn't work very well ( ! ) so a booth person looks at your license and corrects all the automated system typo's anyway. So, nice try but I hope they get their money back or have the manufacturer come out to fix it. I did mention to the attendant that I was planning to go up to Horseshoe in downtown Cleveland for lunch since I had BOGO buffets that day, so she called a Host. I was very impressed that he gave me 2 free buffets, even though at that time I had just gotten my Player's Club card and hadn't played a single quarter yet.

- Misc: I found an excellent website of Ohio casino information at http://www.ohiogaminglaw.com. That's where I saw the following break-down:

"Despite having the fewest number of slots or VLT’s of all Ohio casinos and racinos, Thistledown grossed the highest revenue in October, generating an average of $361 per day per machine. Horseshoe Cincinnati was next at $212, followed by Horseshoe Cleveland at $194, Hollywood Toledo at $185, Scioto Downs at $172 and Hollywood Columbus at $149".

Do they have any older versions of the VLT machines or all they all new?

thistletown did a lot of hard work to improve their thouroughbred racing this year with the exception that they still don't transport their signal.

I had no idea this place was opening until my friend got unsolicited mail for it. Too many casinos in my opinion because quality suffers, but it's way of the road and those who fail will determine where they should be. My fear is government will just do anything to keep them and tossing revenue motivations out just to baby the debt holders of thesegambling houses.

" The least they can do at Thistledown is to fill in some of the potholes in their parking lot, but I guess that would cost some money and that is apparently not part of their business plan."

Had a friend years ago go to Mile High Dog Track manager's office to complain about potholes in parking lot. He was told that to fix them would cost money. At that time attendance on weekends was 10,000 and 25,00 on Timberline Stakes night. And a 23% rake on the handle.

Mile High closed 5 years ago. Good Riddance.

Quote: Buzzard

Had a friend years ago go to Mile High Dog Track manager's office to complain about potholes in parking lot. He was told that to fix them would cost money. At that time attendance on weekends was 10,000 and 25,00 on Timberline Stakes night. And a 23% rake on the handle.

Mile High closed 5 years ago. Good Riddance.

Colorado dog racing was awesome. The beautiful summer nights at the track in Colorado....Mile High, Cloverleaf .......Here comes Whizzzzzmo!

At one time kids were not allowed in the tracks. Met a lot of tourists outside the chain link fence watching the races with their kids.
I think Whizmo was at Colorado Springs. Rusty was at mile High

Racing used to be a big deal but never when I was alive. I remember when I was a boy in the 80s, they used to charge parking and admission. $2 probably for both but even then I thought it was silly.

Plus $1 for a program and $2 for the racing form. And now they have the nerve to insist that casinos pay their bills. THIEVES !

Quote: AxelWolf

Do they have any older versions of the VLT machines or all they all new?

The ones at the Hardrock-sino looked to be all brand new. In fact, they had an interesting promo going on where if you had played a certain amount, at Noon a video screen window opened up on your "slot" (VLT) machine and you got to participate in a special promo bonus game where you picked a horse to win a race. How they networked that on all the different games made by different manufacturers I don't know.

I think all the VLT's at Thistledown are also probably new, I know this is all supposed to be closely regulated by the State of Ohio.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

I had no idea this place was opening until my friend got unsolicited mail for it. Too many casinos in my opinion because quality suffers, but it's way of the road and those who fail will determine where they should be.

On the other hand, at least theoretically, competition should be good for the consumer. With such a nice alterntive so close by, it would seem like Thistledown, which is part of the TotalRewards CET network, would have to amp up the free-play offers to stay viable. Time will tell.

My prediction is that the racinos will have table games with-in 5 years, maybe sooner.

Quote: Buzzard

At one time kids were not allowed in the tracks. Met a lot of tourists outside the chain link fence watching the races with their kids.
I think Whizmo was at Colorado Springs. Rusty was at mile High

Rocky was at Colorado Springs. Maybe pueblo?

Ohio's VLTs at racinos behave like "Class III" gaming, fwiw. They must generally adhere to GLI 11: Gaming Devices in Casinos but with a 85% minimum instead of 75%. They just call them VLTs since the lottery keeps tabs on the games. So if they ever offer video poker on those, they will behave like Nevada games. And of course, Thistledown has the biggest hold per unitday likely because they have a smaller inventory, so their machines are played on longer per day. And possibly because of the surrounding population? I have no idea how Cleveland geography is with respect to suburban population centers. The top grossing casino in Missouri is in the St. Louis suburbs, and the one in downtown STL is the lowest grossing of the four STL casinos on the Missouri side.

http://www.ohiolottery.com/assets/vlt/Racetracks/Video_Lottery_Terminal_standards-10-1-13

http://www.gaminglabs.com/downloads/GLI%20Standards/Bill%20E%202011/GLI-11%20v2.1.pdf

I go to ThistleDown fairly often. I don't think it is nearly as bad as Johnny thinks it is. The lack of smoke helps. The food options are generally good and the staff is good. There are a few good machines. There is a VIP lounge for Diamond and 7S with cheap drinks. Parking is extremely easy. And yes, there is a VERY readily available population of gamble-hungry suburbanites (and urbanites; the city limits of Cleveland aren't too far away) willing to play there. I don't think they could have picked a better location, in fact. I don't know if I will ever make it out to Northfield since it's very far out of the way for me.

Quote: teddys

There are a few good machines.

So they do have VP there now? Or are these progressive slots? :P Every time I have read about racinos in Ohio, they said there wasn't any VP.

Quote: JohnnyQ

On the other hand, at least theoretically, competition should be good for the consumer. With such a nice alterntive so close by, it would seem like Thistledown, which is part of the TotalRewards CET network, would have to amp up the free-play offers to stay viable. Time will tell.

My prediction is that the racinos will have table games with-in 5 years, maybe sooner.

You would think so but the reality never happens because of the costs of opening and running a place. Free play can never make up for the returns to player for those who play with their own money.

There would probably be tables or machines in the plans but Im not entirely convinced they're a money making choice for a casino anymore. I'm not certain, but I have my doubts about them. Irrelevant anyways.

Quote: tringlomane

So they do have VP there now? Or are these progressive slots? :P Every time I have read about racinos in Ohio, they said there wasn't any VP.

I looked all around in Thistledown and Northfield Park (Hardrock) and there is NOT any Video Poker.

Quote: teddys

And yes, there is a VERY readily available population of gamble-hungry suburbanites (and urbanites; the city limits of Cleveland aren't too far away) willing to play there.

I suspect that a lot of people don't want to be bothered with driving to downtown Cleveland for the real casino.

Quote: teddys

I don't think they could have picked a better location.

Both are close to I-271 and I-480. Having 2 racino's so close together now is going to have to have an impact on the daily averages at Thistledown. I'll look for that kind of info at the website over the next couple of months.

Quote: teddys

In fact. I don't know if I will ever make it out to Northfield since it's very far out of the way for me.

I think it is worth the 6.3 mile drive just to see the Rock and Roll stuff.

Quote: teddys

There is a VIP lounge for Diamond and 7S with cheap drinks.

I haven't been in that, although the sister of one of my friends has a Diamond Card that she got from a friend, so maybe someday...

The new skywalk is open at Horseshoe Cleveland. I would say it is twenty times better than the old way of having to walk outside and cross two streets to get to the casino. Plus, in this weather...? I would recommend checking it out.

Addendum.....

More Best of Rock-n-Roll Memorabilia:

- Tuxedo from Sammy Davis Jr
- Elvis patriotic Gi ( the karate clothing )
- custom made motorcycle for Van Halen (I think it was for Eddie).

The VLTs they had were mfg'd by:

Bally
IGT
Aristocrat
WMS
and I wrote down Ainsworth and Konami which I think must also be VLT mfgr's.

Quote: JohnnyQ

Addendum.....

More Best of Rock-n-Roll Memorabilia:

- Tuxedo from Sammy Davis Jr
- Elvis patriotic Gi ( the karate clothing )
- custom made motorcycle for Van Halen (I think it was for Eddie).

The VLTs they had were mfg'd by:

Bally
IGT
Aristocrat
WMS
and I wrote down Ainsworth and Konami which I think must also be VLT mfgr's.

Not sure about Ainsworth but Konami has some of the best slots in the world. Very creative games.

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I wonder if you can use the Konami Code on slots.

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