Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International announce multi-year partnership

Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International announce multi-year partnershipOn Friday, Feb. 1, Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International announced a multi-year partnership, making Tioga Downs the ‘Official Casino’ of Watkins Glen International. (Photo by Wendy Post)

On Friday, Feb. 1, Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International announced a multi-year partnership, making Tioga Downs the ‘Official Casino’ of Watkins Glen International.  

The announcement was made in the Tioga Downs ballroom and welcomed guests from Watkins Glen International, to include President Michael Printup. Tioga Downs President Charles Otto was also on hand to discuss the partnership and the benefits it will have for the Southern Tier.  

In a press release, officials wrote that Watkins Glen International and Tioga Downs would be working together to expand the region’s tourism reach with packages that complement each other’s properties and New York State attractions in general. These include bringing motor coach groups and tours from other areas so guests can experience all that the Southern Tier has to offer.

“Today is a great day for the Southern Tier with two of the region’s premier destinations coming together to provide additional opportunities to draw and attract visitors from outside the area,” said Otto, adding, “Watkins Glen International is a historic organization that has a long-standing reputation of quality and tradition and Tioga Downs is proud to partner with them.” 

As part of the multi-year deal as the Official Casino of Watkins Glen International, Tioga Downs will have the title sponsorship of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race that is taking place on Saturday, June 29 during Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen race weekend at Watkins Glen International. The race will now be named the “Tioga Downs 240,” and the “240” represents the length of the race in minutes.

Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International announce multi-year partnership

In addition, the Daytona 500 viewing party will be hosted at Tioga Downs on Sunday, Feb. 17.  The Daytona 500 is a 500-mile-long Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series motor race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Admission to the watch party will be free and will include interactive games as well as food and drink specials while the big race is broadcast throughout the property.

Printup was also able to talk to media and guests on Friday about Watkins Glen International, stating that it was voted “Best Track in the Country” for three years in a row. 

Watkins Glen International was established on the streets of Watkins Glen, N.Y. in 1948 and is North America’s premier racing facility. The Glen has a long and storied past from its Formula 1 roots to its position as New York’s home for NASCAR.

Printup, a western New York native having been born and raised in Hamburg, N.Y., was named president of Watkins Glen International in June 2009. Since that time, according to Printup, they have grown 80 percent, and just in IMSA Racing. 

Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International announce multi-year partnership
Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International, addresses guests and the media on Friday, Feb. 1, and during an announcement of a multi-year partnership with Tioga Downs Casino Resort, located in Nichols, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)

“All of us at Watkins Glen International are thrilled with this announcement of Tioga Downs Casino Resort as our ‘Official Casino’,” Printup stated, adding, “For us, the ability to work with another is one of the true drivers in terms of regional tourism and economic development, it checks off all of the boxes that you want to see in a partnership. We are excited to grow this into something very meaningful for both sides, and for the Southern Tier at-large.”

The owner of Tioga Downs, Jeff Gural, echoed these sentiments in a statement received on Friday, exclaiming, “We are excited to partner with a great group like Watkins Glen International for the benefit of all those inside and outside of the region.” 

He continued, “When I first announced our intent to apply for a casino license here at Tioga Downs, one of the overarching themes was to partner with local organizations for the collective benefit of the area and its residents. We feel that this partnership with Watkins Glen International is representative of that commitment and both groups will collectively work to bring increased tourism to the region.” 

Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International announce multi-year partnership
Pictured, from left, are Chris Duane, corporate sales executive with Watkins Glen International; Erica Miller, senior tourism marketing executive for Tioga Downs; and Jose Servantes, senior manager of group and corporate sales for Watkins Glen International. The three were in attendance at Friday’s announcement of a multi-year partnership between Tioga Downs Casino Resort and Watkins Glen International. (Photo by Wendy Post)

Tioga Downs Casino Resort, which opened in 2006, offers live harness racing, casino gaming, restaurants, golf and live entertainment. Jeff Gural owns Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. as well as Vernon Downs in Vernon, N.Y. 

Since opening the new casino in December 2016, Tioga Downs has expanded its gaming offerings to include 944 slot machines, 32 table games and a luxurious 12-table poker room, which is now affiliated with the World Series of Poker. 

The Tioga Downs Hotel, which spans six stories and boasts 160 rooms, an events center and many other exciting amenities, officially opened in December 2017. 

Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs have created more than 1,000 family-sustaining jobs and donated millions to nonprofit organizations. For more information on Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com

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