Richard and Lucille Rinebold of Windham, Pa. were the first car to arrive for parking in the newly constructed parking garage at Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y. on Oct. 31. Because they were the first, they were applauded, and will receive one of three chances to win $500, which is being offered to the first 100 to park in the garage. (Photos by Wendy Post)
The parking garage officially opened at Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y. on Oct. 31, Halloween Day. The first 100 visitors that parked in the garage earned an entry for a chance to win one of three cash drawings.
Jeff Gural, CEO & Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga Downs, addresses guests at an opening ceremony on Oct. 31 for the newly opened parking garage at Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y.
On Oct. 31, 2014, dignitaries and members from the media gathered at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. to celebrate the opening of their brand new parking garage with a tour and a ribbon cutting ceremony. The parking garage project, according to Jeff Gural, CEO & Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga Downs, represents the completion of Phase One of Tioga Downs’ expansion project.
The next phases, according to Gural, include an onsite hotel and expanded gaming floor.
But for the opening, which fell on Halloween, the group that arrived for the initial tour of the garage were delighted by balloons that were twisted and formed into spiders, and even a life-size Frankenstein created from colorful green balloons.
Guests then entered the newly constructed garage, which will provide 274 parking spaces with direct access to the casino. Best of all, parking inside the garage is free of charge.
Gural, during the presentation, stated that the garage will prove especially useful during the cold winter months.
Gural also talked of Tioga Downs’ application to the Gaming Location Board for one of the licenses available to three candidates vying for it in the Southern Tier Region, and remains optimistic.
“I will be really surprised if I don’t get it,” Gural said, once again, about the receipt of a full gaming license at the Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y., adding, “I hope next time I see you all that it is to announce the license.”
Prior to words delivered by Gural, Tom Osiecki, president of Tioga Downs, thanked all of their partners who helped along the way with the build of the parking garage, and those who have supported the application to New York’s Gaming Site Selection Board for a full gaming license.
“Today he promised, and today he delivered,” said Osiecki of the completion of the build of the new parking garage by Tioga Downs and Jeff Gural.
Dignitaries, guests, and staff from Tioga Downs, and Jeff Gural, CEO & Chairman of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga Downs, center, cut a ribbon on Oct. 31 to officiate the opening of the newly opened parking garage at Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y.
Pictured is the newly constructed parking garage at Tioga Downs Casino in Nichols, N.Y. The garage officially opened with a ceremony on Oct. 31. One of three chances to win $500, was offered to the first 100 to park in the garage.
Following remarks by Linn Redder, vice president of marketing for Tioga Downs, Osiecki was introduced, Gural was introduced, and then the first vehicle, driven by Richard and Lucille Rinebold of Windham, Pa. was welcomed into the parking garage. They were also given the first ticket to win one of three $500 cash drawings offered to the first 100 cars to park in the garage on opening day.
For the project’s General Superintendent, Walter “Buddy” Banko from LPCiminelli Construction, the completion of the parking garage was very exciting.
“I’m very proud of my guys,” said Banko of the approximate 80 to 90 tradesmen that assisted with the project.
Banko added, “Mr. Gural wanted things rolling, so we did it. He wanted us to keep going, even during the harsh winter months, and we did it.” The project was started on Nov. 18, 2013, just weeks following the passage of Proposition One to authorize full gaming licenses in New York.
Don Bouquio from Blanding Electric was also pleased with the completion of the project as well, adding that the company installed approximately 400 lights, the elevator, fire alarms, and other amenities included in the construction.
“It was awesome to be here today,” said Bouquio, who joined close to the approximate 100 guests that attended the opening celebration and ribbon cutting.
Bouquio added, “Mr. Gural was great to work for, and even footed the bill for overtime so we could get the job done on time.”
Among the guests attending were Tioga County’s Legislative Chair, Marte Sauerbrey; the Tioga County Sheriff; the Mayor from Nichols, N.Y.; and many others.
Sauerbrey, following the opening celebration, stated, “This is very exciting. Now we just wait for more good news to come in.”
Following the ribbon cutting, 100 balloons were released to celebrate the opening of the garage, and a hopeful win for the first 100 cars to park in the garage on Halloween Day.
Tioga Downs is located along the north side of NY Route 17 / I-86, two miles west of exit 62 in Nichols, N.Y.
To learn more about Tioga Downs and their upcoming events in November, visit them online at www.tiogadowns.com.
To view a brief video from the inside of the new garage, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMm30tiCBmo.
To view remarks delivered today from Jeff Gural, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ll8RGC4R74&feature=youtu.be,
Click here to view photos from the Oct. 31 event.
