#HORSERACING: WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP ANNOUNCES REJUVENATION STRATEGY INCLUDING NEW CONCERT VENUE

2018. Mark your calendars, everyone! In addition to being a major attraction as a casino and host to world-class Horse Racing, plans were announced today regarding Woodbine Racetrack‘s long-awaited transformation!  With 275-hectare parcels of land available, we learned today that Woodbine will be the new home to a 165,00 square foot, 5,000 seat concert venue. A memorandum of understanding was just signed between Woodbine Entertainment Group and Trinity Development Group.  That’s right – more live acts coming into the City  and less dreadful commutes way, way, way out of the Greater Toronto Area!

Our Friend Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Group reveals also that in the long-term, a movie theatre, shops and restaurants are in development, while eventually homes, offices and post-secondary school satellite buildings also could be a reality.  We’re terribly excited about this. Inasmuch as we love Woodbine, having grown-up there, a rejuvenation to draw people from our generation out is long overdue.

Make no mistake though, Woodbine still very much is a gaming facility with fortunes to be won.  In addition to over 2,500 slot machines ranging from 1¢ to $5, more electronic games are expected also.

BBB Architects will be overseeing this transformation and their previous projects are of a huge magnitude, including Madison Square Garden in New York and the L.A. Forum in Los Angeles. We’re talking WORLD. CLASS.

Jim sent me a note today telling me, “Thought you’d like our Music announcement today. Kind of a Daily Double for you!”.  Little does he know this is actually a Superfecta for me!  Shopping. Dining. Movies. Music and Horses?  I might as well just live there basically.  Jim I know really loved Lady Gaga‘s David Bowie Tribute at The Grammys last night, so I grilled him if we can expect to see her out at Woodbine in 2018?  “Hopefully before she turns 60!”, he jokes.  At least we know he’s working on it!