Tioga Downs marks expansion progress with one steel beam

Nichols, N.Y. – On Monday, March 7, dignitaries gathered with Tioga Downs Casino Owner Jeff Gural for a “Topping Off” ceremony at the Nichols, New York Casino. The ceremony placed the final beam on a structure built as part of the multi-million dollar expansion into a full gaming facility.

According to a Tioga Downs spokesperson, the construction, which began four months ago, is nearly complete.

Owner Jeff Gural, who spoke at the ceremony on Monday, envisions that the construction will be complete and that they will be up and running as a full gaming facility by July.

There were well over 100 in attendance for the “Topping Off” ceremony, which moves Tioga Downs one step closer to this reality.

After words from dignitaries in attendance and Jeff Gural, the guests, as well as Gural, moved over to the steel beam that sat in front of the framed building that will accommodate full gaming. Once there, they signed the beam as workers readied to lift it into its place on the top corner of the structure.

In building construction, topping off is a builders’ rite traditionally held when the last beam (or its equivalent) is placed atop a structure during its construction.

The practice of “topping off” a new building can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction.

On the beam on Monday were a small tree on the right, and an American Flag on the left.

Sitting below, Gural watched as the beam was being placed. Reaching this milestone was something that Gural has waited to see for years.

In November 2013, 51 percent of the voters in New York approved Proposition One, an amendment to the New York State constitution to allow table games.

On Nov. 18, 2013, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to expand the Nichols, New York facility with a 3-story parking garage.

And although Tioga Downs was passed over by the Gaming Commission for a license in December 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo requested that the Gaming Commission pursue awarding an additional license in the Southern Tier.

Gural was the sole applicant, and last October he was given the nod to apply for the additional license. He went to work immediately on expansions, and now needs to wait for full approval to set up the gaming floors. The final decision by New York State regulators is expected later this year.

“I have to have the license by the time the expansion is done – I can’t order the tables without it” said Gural when asked when he expects to have the full license in hand.

Gural also talked about how well the casino has been doing over the last couple of months.

“Business is the best it’s ever been,” said Gural.

“With this,” he said of the ceremony, “we are one more step in having the casino – we’re on schedule.”

Gural also talked about the jobs this expansion will bring to the community.

On March 14, dealers will be trained. There will also be another job fair for expansion openings as well as a job fair for racing season jobs that are available.

“We should be able to put three to four-hundred to work in the next few months,” Gural added.

Tioga Downs not only supports the community with jobs though, it supports its veterans. Al Eaton, president of the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group (STVSG) spoke to guests at Monday’s Topping Off ceremony.

Tioga Downs has provided support to the STVSG for the last several years, donating proceeds from concerts and making significant donations to the group. Because of this support, according to Eaton, the STVSG has been able to provide area veterans with assistance needed and has worked to help them transition into civilian life following deployment.

Gwen Kania, Tioga Chamber president and CEO, also addressed guests. She was proud to be a part of the celebration, and thanked Jeff Gural, stating that she is looking forward to cutting the ribbon.

Others in attendance shared this enthusiasm. Ray Wojdat, from SUNY Broome’s Hospitality Department, addressed guests, and noted that Gural is deserving of a license.

“It was justice served that he got the license,” said Wojdat.

The construction that is part of the expansion is expected to be completed by July, which is also the 10th anniversary for Tioga Downs in the community.

Other planned expansions include, but are not limited to a hotel facility and a conference center.

To learn more about Tioga Downs’ expansion and employment opportunities, visit www.tiogadowns.com.

To view a video of the beam being raised, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-6dy6t4tBA&feature=youtu.be.