Opening of Derby City Gaming location providing hope

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The long-awaited Derby City Gaming location in downtown Louisville is open and ready for business, 150 days away from the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.

Representatives from Churchill Downs, which owns and operates the historical-racing based casino, cut the ribbon on Wednesday morning. It marks the start of what city leaders hope will be one of the catalysts to bringing life back to the central business district -- and possibly set a blueprint of what downtown can become.

Shortly after 9 a.m., a line of several cars already formed on 4th Street, with customers taking advantage of the new opportunity to wager.

"It's my birthday, I'm going to win some money!" one woman in line told WHAS11, saying she had Dec. 6 circled on her calendar for months. "[I knew] this is where I was going to be for my birthday."

City leaders want to elevate this kind of demand in the central business district, set back by COVID and the shift to work-from-home. A University of Toronto study shows downtown Louisville has recovered just 54% of its foot traffic from 2019, ranking near the bottom of U.S. cities its size and larger.

Nearby the Derby City Gaming Downtown facility, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is welcoming the extra attention.

"It's a jolt in the arm for businesses in downtown Louisville," Greg Ward, training and development manager, said. "Offices are going to close, so having stuff come in where it can be more entertainment as opposed to a central business district can only help the downtown grow."

David Beck is president at Kentucky Venues, which operates the Kentucky International Convention Center downtown. He believes the new Derby City Gaming venue can be the catalyst for more investment down the line.

"Everyone is anxious to evaluate," Beck said. "This is another attraction that people will enjoy and be able to participate in. Everyone in this area will benefit from the success and growth of this activity."

But there's a call to ensure that benefit extends west of downtown, too. Rev. Stachelle Bussey says she's been promised many of the 150 jobs created by the facility will go to those who really need them.

"Especially the people who live on the other side of Market Street -- where there is violence happening, where there is food insecurity happening, poverty happening," Bussey said, who says she has seen familiar faces working inside already. "Our job as nonprofits is to hold these bigger organizations accountable. To say, 'This is what you said. We want to make sure that you make do on your word.'"

She's hopeful some of that revenue stream from the casino, which was a $90 million investment, will be reinvested into the neighborhoods that have long been overlooked.

Derby City Gaming Downtown is open every day. Its hours Sunday-Thursday are 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. On Friday and Saturday, it's open until 4 a.m.

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