Stickney Casino Would Draw Gamblers, Families; Has Ditka As Backer

STICKNEY, Ill. (WBBM) - The Owners of Hawthorne Race Course and two gambling resort operators are placing their bets on a plan to transform Hawthorne into The Champions Racetrack Casino and Resort.

Hawthorne President Tim Carey sells the $500 million development proposal as an attraction that would lure Chicago-area gamblers from Indiana casinos, with a conference and entertainment center that would attract families.

"There are going to be more people walking in and about and you’re going to have families as a part of the water park area, movie theaters and bowling lanes," he said.

Although the existing Hawthorne grandstand would be used temporarily as a casino, it would be replaced in the second phase of the project by a 40,000-sq. ft. casino that would  host 1,150 slot machines.

State law permits 1,200 slots.

In addition, the new casino would feature 50 table games and a poker room, Adjoining it would be a 300-room casino hotel and a conference center that would include the bowling lounge, restaurants, movie theater complex, water park and a 4,800 seat amphitheater.

Carey’s most prominent backer is former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka, who said he would seek to locate a restaurant or sports bar in the complex, if the Illinois Gaming Board approves it as the 10th casino license holder.

Ditka said it makes no sense for millions of dollars in revenues from Chicago-area gamblers to end up in the coffers of the state of Indiana.  He said the near west suburban location would be far more effective in draining traffic from the northwest Indiana casinos than a site in Rosemont.

And Ditka said he likes the accent on family entertainment.

"It’s become a family business, gang. You’ve got to have everything for everybody," he said.  "You’re talking about restaurants.  You’re talking about retail.  You’re talking shopping.  You’re talking about entertainment.  You’re talking about a theme park for children, a water park.  It’s gotta be that.  It’s gotta be a point of destination for the family, not just the individual."

Carey claims they can have it up and running in six months by making temporary use of the existing Hawthorne facility as construction begins on the Champions complex, and said he would "dig a moat around it" in order to comply with state gambling regulations.

Revenue sharing would be offered to nearly 20 nearby communities.

Carey said no use would be made of the adjoining Sportsman’s Park property, which has sat vacant since a joint racetrack/auto racing complex collapsed in 2002.  Because of that, he said, the project could proceed expeditiously because the village of Stickney, in which Hawthorne is located, has already approved the needed permits.

Nor is Carey worried that the proximity of Hawthorne to neighboring Cicero would sully its chances, although he said Cicero Town President Larry Dominick is supportive of the plan and said Cicero would benefit from the revenue-sharing agreement.

Half a dozen groups are making bids for the dormant 10th license.  Carey said he considers the group’s most serious competition a bid offered by a group that would place the casino in Des Plaines.