Tioga Downs goes ‘full speed ahead’ with expansion plans

On Oct. 30, 2015 one of the largest media and community events joined together at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. for a groundbreaking ceremony that represents a multi-million dollar expansion at the casino. Earlier this month, the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB) recommended Tioga Downs for the final full gaming license in New York State, and owner Jeff Gural isn’t wasting any time.

“We are moving ‘full speed ahead,’” said Gural as he addressed the over 200 guests, dignitaries, labor unions, media, and other community members that attended a special groundbreaking event on Friday. The event also welcomed dignitaries that included U.S. Congressman Tom Reed, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Assemblyman Gary Finch, and others.

Jay Dinga, regional director at Tioga Downs, thanked all of the elected officials, government agencies, non-profit groups, county and town officials, partners, construction and labor locals and numerous others.

With more than 220 RSVPs and 10 to 12 media groups, television and radio stations present, Dinga stated, “This represents the largest and most significant media event in the history of Tioga Downs. Without the great community support from this region, Tioga Downs would not have been awarded the full gaming license.”

Tom Osiecki, American Racing & Entertainment president and COO for Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs had a chance to address guests, stating, “If you are in the room today, you are part of making Tioga Downs successful and I’d like to thank the team at Tioga Downs and also our future partners. We will be very soon offering jobs and we have jobs available. Interested people should go to our website, and we will be putting together job fairs. Jeff Gural is the greatest.”

Other dignitaries on hand that spoke included Tom Reed, U.S. Representative for the 23rd New York Congressional District.

Reed stated, “I tip my hat to Jeff Gural and your entire team. The investment you are making here in Tioga County is very much appreciated. Most importantly, over 500 jobs will be made a reality. Today you are celebrating a great victory.”

Gary Finch of New York State’s 126th Assembly District shared these sentiments, stating, “Jeff Gural is probably one of the greatest corporate neighbors that we could hope for. During the time that we suffered the damage from the floods, Jeff was walking the streets with me and wanted to help the people, and he continues to have a concern for the people here. Jeff Gural needs to be thanked immensely.”

But the most special guest at the event, himself, was owner Jeff Gural who never gave up the fight for a full gaming license for Tioga Downs Casino which will allow for table gaming, and prompt an immediate expansion of the facility into a $195 million destination resort in the Southern Tier of New York, and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. The expansion will also bring 840 new direct and indirect jobs into the region.

As for Gural’s persistence in fighting for the full gaming license recommendation, Gural told guests, “Basically, I was really angry when I didn’t get it [the recommendation] last year.”

But it was Gural’s persistence, and his reaching out to New York State’s Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state officials that finally landed him a recommendation by the GFLB for a full gaming license.

Gural spoke of Senator Tom Libous, who was instrumental in reaching out in Albany for Tioga Downs, stating, “It was simple. Libous took the map to the governor and showed him that the location board’s choice for the license was up on the thruway.”

Governor Cuomo was in agreement that the thruway choice wasn’t positioned correctly in the Southern Tier, and that an additional license in the “true Southern Tier” should be pursued.

As the sole applicant for this additional license, Gural received the recommendation earlier this month by the GFLB for the license, and the chips were put back on the table for the expansion that will include an event center, a golf club, a restaurant, spa, hotel, and much more.

And although the recommendation by the GFLB gave the green light that gets things moving, Gural, as promised, was shovel ready on Friday — with contractors from labor unions on-hand, and equipment positioned where the initial construction will begin — which is the expansion of the gaming room.

The construction of the hotel, Gural noted, will not begin until the full gaming license is in his hand. Gural also hoped for a warm winter. He noted years ago they had the warmest winter in history, and he is hoping for the same so he can keep construction going.

“I’m hoping to have the expansion completed by the Fourth of July,” stated Gural following a groundbreaking ceremony that took place after the initial conference. This groundbreaking also included fireworks.

“We spare no expense,” said Gural with a chuckle when guests looked around the partly sunny sky for a view. (To view video of groundbreaking with fireworks in background, visit https://youtu.be/TiPsGLG6wqI)

Two of those guests were Maggie and Bob Shook of Horseheads, N.Y., regulars at Tioga Downs Casino.

“It’s about time,” said Maggie who just won $200 on one of the indoor slot machines.

Her husband, Bob Shook, stated that he is looking forward to the table games.

As for the economy, Local Union 195 Representative Gary Bonadonna Jr., of Worker’s United, stated that the expansion is great news for the area, as well as for Tioga Downs’ sister track, Vernon Downs in Vernon, N.Y.

“This will be more jobs,” stated Bonadonna, adding, “Tioga Downs will grow, and there will be more jobs.”

What resounded the most though, were Gural’s comments that they are moving ahead anyhow.

Gural also talked of the history of the casino, and how when he found the property it was in bad shape, but that people in the area thought a casino would be a great addition. He quoted a local resident he spoke to as stating, “We need something to do around here.”

Gural, referencing two other racetracks he did not succeed in securing prior to Tioga Downs, stated to guests, “There is a lot of luck involved in life.”

When he first heard about Tioga Downs, he spoke of his mother, stating, “My mother would appreciate it, she was from Binghamton. If it wasn’t for my mother, I don’t think I’d be here today. There is no place I’d rather be than right here in Tioga County. There is a great workforce here.”

Gural also added, “If there is one person who is not here today, it is Tom Libous, he is the first politician I asked for help. The project is designed to give a boost to the Southern Tier. We are going full-speed ahead, regardless. This is a great community, and there is no place else that I’d rather be today.”

Highlighted as well was his philanthropic commitment to donate even more to the community once the expansion is complete and the license is received, and of how much he cared for the community.

“I went to my first game at Tioga Central and saw the lights over the football game,” said Gural, who recently contributed dollars to save programs at the school. “For me, this is what it is all about.”

The celebration at Tioga Downs is continuing throughout the weekend with buffet specials, a Halloween party with cash prizes, and much more.

To learn more about Tioga Downs, visit them online at www.tiogadowns.com.

New: To view entire conference and groundbreaking, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXm-joahdtc&feature=youtu.be.