Proposal for Youngstown

Bradford Pressman and Rick Lertzmann, developers in Ohio, tried to bring a little bit of Las Vegas to the state in 2008, but their proposal was not approved. Now they have brought forward a new development plan that should be underway shortly. It will not only give rise to a new entertainment complex in Ohio, but the eighth racecourse as well. Their resort and racecourse structure, Mahoning Valley Downs & Resort, will offer the racing community new opportunities and accommodate the public in various ways with numerous facilities. All that is left to be approved is the installation of video slot machines, which Lertzmann and Pressman both hope will still get a positive response.

Mahoning Valley Downs & Resort will be constructed on a hundred acre piece of land, and will take $300 million to complete. A number of investors, both local and national, have made this project a reality, and the group will apply for a racing license once construction begins. Over and above the facilities that will be available to the public, the construction of the complex will be creating approximately a thousand jobs, while the complex will offer more than two thousand permanent jobs to keep the complex running. The resort will have to be maintained, workers will be needed for the racecourse, and staff will be required to fill positions in the theatre, on the golf course, in the restaurants, spa and hopefully, if approved, the casino. Many racecourses have video lottery terminals installed, and now that the project is centered on horse racing it is hoped that approval for these machines will be passed. The first phase of the project will focus on the racecourse and the resort and it is hoped that all matters will be smoothed over to start construction in either summer or fall.

Michael Chaffee, Mayor of Lordstown, is extremely excited about the project and stated that he has land in mind that would be perfect for an entertainment complex. Speaking to the press, Chaffee stated, “The developers have not contacted me, but I am thinking about contacting them because I would be interested in having a conversation with them about that property. It’s right off the turnpike and would be ideal for this project.”