The Hollywood Park Casino hopes to attract those who normally migrate to Las Vegas, but will like only having to drive to Century Boulevard in Los Angeles. It’s betting on attracting not only those people, but also the many new sports fans expected to attend Rams games at the new arena opening nearby. It’s nearing the end of a million renovation that is closer to a completely new facility.
General Manager Deven Kumar, who has had his job for about two decades, told the Los Angeles Wave: “We want the social customer to come in not having to think about gaming — yea it’s there and it’s an opportunity — but it’s a social environment.” He added, “If you look at the environment, look at the architecture, I want to try to make a less intimidating card club and more of a social casino feel.”
The 110,000 square foot Hollywood Park, 40 percent larger than the current structure, is nearly complete and heading confidently towards an October 22 grand opening. It will offer poker and other card games.
The owners, Stockbridge Capital, moved to expand the casino after learning that the St. Louis Rams would be moving to Southern California and playing at a new stadium nearby.
Kumar declared, “It’s an opportunity to get situated before we get this massive number of people that are going to come in and make sure we are ready to handle that situation. Everything else is going to come along, and it’s going to be incredible.”
The enlarged facility will have 125 tables, 35 more than the old casino, with 20 of he new ones set aside for poker. There will also be a high limit card room and high limit poker room.
It has added HPC’s Century Bar & Grill and the Raise Lounge, which seats 85. There is also the 200-seat Turf Club.
Kumar predicts that the club will become the dominant card club in Southern California. He also expects that the club will increase the number of visitors by 50 percent within 24 months.
And when the stadium is built? “Sky is the limit,” says Kumar. “What we built here is not something about stealing customers from other card clubs; it’s about expanding the customer base. We have an opportunity to bring a whole new market of customers that are really looking for discretionary spending. It doesn’t have to be gaming based.”
