Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs Casino and Resort located in Nichols, N.Y., speaks with members of the media on Monday. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Last Monday, Jeff Gural, owner of Tioga Downs Casino and Resort in Nichols, N.Y., met with members of the media to talk about the upcoming summer concert series lineup and to also let the community know that things are going great since the casino expansion in December of 2016.
“I’m happy because we’ve turned a corner,” said Gural when asked how he felt Tioga Downs was doing, financially, since the expansion.
Recently, Del Lago Resort and Casino, located in Waterloo, N.Y., requested financial assistance from Albany amid state budget negotiations. A recent story published in the Syracuse New Times reported that Del Lago’s owners requested the state grant a tax break of $14 million.
The report added that Del Lago, which opened in February 2017, produced in its first year about $147 million in revenue, which is about $100 million less than it predicted when applying for its casino license four years ago.
Guests line up on Monday for the County Fair Buffet at Tioga Downs Casino and Resort, located in Nichols, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)
And one of the issues, that Gural was vocal about several years ago when Del Lago was awarded a license for the Southern Tier, is cannibalization. There are seven casinos, including Turning Stone – operated by the Indian Nation, along a 100-mile stretch of the thruway between the Greater Rochester area and Albany, with several other gaming facilities nearby.
Once again, on Monday, Gural stated that the financial problems that Del Lago is facing are not a shock to him, adding, “I always thought they struggled with cannibalization.”
But for Gural, things are going well at Tioga Downs. He stated on Monday that March of 2018 was their best month, and that they were over $1 million from last March with gross revenue of over $1.7 million.
“And we’re not asking for anything,” Gural added.
And Tioga Downs is gearing up for their summer concert series, offering quality acts throughout the season in addition to the scheduled harness racing, which kicks off on May 5.
Pictured, is the doorway to the World Series Poker Room, which opened shortly following the casino’s expansion in December of 2016. (Photo by Wendy Post)
“I’m excited,” exclaimed Gural, noting that the big attraction is the Beach Boys, who will take the trackside stage at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7.
Other shows include Chris Janson, who will perform at Tioga Downs at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 31; a Thursday, June 28 performance by Eddie Money; and a Labor Day performance by Michael Bolton, planned for 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2.
On July 28, at 8 p.m., Wynonna and The Big Noise will perform a special concert to benefit the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group. As in the past, all ticket sales will be donated to the Southern Tier Veterans Support Group, and in addition, Gural has generously pledged to match all ticket proceeds. Tickets are available for $15 each.
Gural stated, on Monday, “Even if you can’t make the show, buy a ticket anyhow to support our area veterans,” and added, “Our veterans have done an amazing job, and it’s my way to acknowledge those who have served.”
Tickets for the five concerts in this star-studded lineup are on sale now in the Tioga Downs gift shop and online at tiogadowns.com and ticketmaster.com.
For more information on Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.
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