Greg Zyla, publisher of Times Shamrock Weekly Group and The Daily & Sunday Review, pictured on the right, participated in a “Topping Out” ceremony that allowed media to join staff in signing the final beam being erected on the new parking garage constructed at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Next to Zyla, on the left, is Mary Jury Roper, media planner at Rosanne Sall Advertising. The signing took place at Tioga Downs on Friday morning. (Provided Photo)
Greg Zyla, publisher of Times Shamrock Weekly Group and The Daily & Sunday Review, pictured inset on the right, participated in a “Topping Out” ceremony that allowed media to join staff and workers in signing the final beam being erected on the new parking garage constructed at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Standing near Zyla are other media representatives to include Mary Beth Jones from the Tioga County Courier, who is looking at the camera. The signing took place at Tioga Downs on Friday morning. (Photo provided by Fred Brown)
In the center, Tom Osiecki, president of Tioga Downs and Vernon Down, participated in a “Topping Out” ceremony on Friday that welcomed media and staff to sign the final beam being erected on the new parking garage constructed at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Here, Osiecki, in the center, signs the beam. Over to the right of the table is Linn Redder, vice president of Marketing at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Redder also participated in the signing. To the far left is Jay Dinga, regional director of business development and governmental relations for American Racing and Entertainment, parent company of Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y. (Provided Photo)
The final beam for the new parking garage is put in place at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. on Friday as part of a “Topping Out” ceremony that welcomed media and workers to participate in the beam’s ceremonial signing. (Provided Photo).
On Friday morning, Tioga Downs invited members of the media, to include Greg Zyla, publisher of Times Shamrock Weekly Group and The Daily & Sunday Review, to a “Topping Out” ceremony that allowed for the signing and then erection of the final beam on the new parking garage constructed at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y.
According to Linn Redder, vice president of Marketing at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y., construction on the 3-story, 275-space garage began last fall as fulfillment of a promise made by Jeff Gural, CEO and chairman of American Racing and Entertainment (the parent company of Tioga Downs) to start construction on the ramp if voters passed Proposition 1 in the Nov. 5, 2013 election allowing the New York State Legislature to authorize and regulate up to seven gaming casinos in New York State. The building process for the parking garage at Tioga Downs began soon after that proposition was approved.
Construction of the parking garage, which will connect to the casino, is Phase One of Tioga Downs’ expansion plans and is anticipated for completion next month.
In May of 2014, Gural, in a special press conference, noted that he is already expanding at Tioga Downs, and noted that he plans on creating as many jobs as possible for the community.
The new parking garage, as Redder noted earlier, began within a week following the passage of Proposition One that was on the ballot for voters in November. Gural was vital in getting the Proposition onto the ballot, and included additional expansion plans in his proposal that will take place if he is awarded a full gaming license by the gaming location board, which could arrive as early as next month.
Other expansions include the build of a hotel, and a partnership with nearby Tioga Country Club, in Nichols, N.Y. for destination amenities. Gural also partnered with Ageless Spa, to offer spa services at the casino upon the hopeful selection for full gaming in the Southern Tier.
Tioga Downs is competing against a proposed Traditions Resort and Casino in the Town of Union; and Lago Resort and Casino in Tyre, Seneca County for a full gaming license in the Southern Tier.
On Wednesday, Sept. 24, a public comment event regarding the full-gaming license within the Southern Tier Region will take place at the Hotel Ithaca, located at 222 S. Cayuga St. in Ithaca, N.Y. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Gaming Facility Location Board could render a decision as early as October on where and to whom the gaming licenses would be awarded.
Each location already presented their proposals in an Albany session last Monday, to include Tioga Downs.
Full applications can be viewed online at http://gaming.ny.gov/gaming/casinos.php.
Tioga Downs Casino is located along the north side of Route 17/I-86, two-miles west of exit 62 in Nichols, N.Y.
To view more photos from the event, taken by Fred Brown, click here.
Be the first to comment on "Updated: Final beam in place for new parking garage at Tioga Downs"