MGM Northfield Park

MGM Northfield Park
Location Northfield, Ohio
Address 10777 Northfield Road
Opening dateDecember 18, 2013 (2013-12-18)
Total gaming space200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2)
Casino typeRacino
OwnerVici Properties
Operating license holderMGM Resorts International
Websitemgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com
Northfield Park
Date opened1958
Race typeStandardbred
Course typeHalf-mile oval
Notable racesBattle of Lake Erie
Carl Milstein Memorial Pace
Cleveland Trotting Classic
Courageous Lady

MGM Northfield Park (previously Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park) is a racino in Northfield, Ohio, U.S.A., a community near Cleveland. Northfield Park conducts more than 200 harness racing nights each year. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International.

History

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Originally constructed in 1934, Northfield Park racetrack was originally known as Sportsman Park, with a focus on midget car racing. After 20 years as a successful car racing facility, interest began to wane and in 1956, Sportsman Park was demolished to make way for what would eventually become one of the nation's premier harness racing tracks under the leadership of Carl Milstein, a well known real estate developer and businessman. Carl Milstein purchased the track in 1972.[1]

The tracks' top race, The Battle of Lake Erie, has featured some of the greatest pacers in history including Jaguar Spur, Gallo Blue Chip, Falcon Seelster and Riyadh. in 2007, the race was won by World Champion Maltese Artist, driven by Brett Miller in a world record time of 1:49.4 for the mile.

In early 2009, the Ohio Legislature initiated legislation that would allow each of the state's seven tracks, including Northfield, to install 2,000 slot machines under guidelines developed by the Ohio State Racing Commission. In July 2009, slot machines were approved, and were installed at Northfield Park pending the approval of Governor John Kasich.[2] Northfield Park's owner, Brock Milstein, contributed over $500,000 to the campaign to legalize slot machines.[3][4] The racino, renamed as Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, opened on December 18, 2013 with 2,300 video lottery terminals, under the management of Hard Rock International.

In 2018, MGM Growth Properties bought the property from Milstein Entertainment for $1.02 billion.[5][6] Hard Rock continued to operate the property under a management agreement with the new owners.[5] On April 1, 2019, MGM Growth's majority owner, MGM Resorts International, bought the Rocksino's operating business from MGM Growth for $275 million in stock, assumed control from Hard Rock, and rebranded the property as MGM Northfield Park.[7][8] MGM Resorts would lease the property from MGM Growth for initial rent of $60 million per year.[9]

Vici Properties acquired MGM Growth, including Northfield Park, in 2022.[10]

The track's nickname is "The Home of the Flying Turns" and its motto "Every nineteen minutes the place goes crazy".

Trackside Lounge

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In the spring of 2008 Northfield Park constructed the Trackside Lounge. Trackside at Northfield Park is a state-of-the-art Sports Bar, featuring three-dozen flat-screen television monitors, private seating areas, full bar service and snack menu. In addition to Northfield’s full simulcast agenda, Trackside broadcasts major sporting events including Guardians, Cavaliers and Browns games, March Madness, the World Series, Super Bowl, NASCAR and more. The Trackside Barbecue features award-winning ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and more, and food from the barbecue can be brought into the Trackside Lounge, or eaten in the barbecue tent pavilion.[11]

The RaceBook, a $600,000 companion renovation, mirrors the Trackside Lounge's design and elements, featuring hundreds of flat-screen tvs and private TV carrels or workstations. The RaceBook is the highlight of the track's simulcast area, where patrons wager on races from other tracks from around the world.

Cedar Downs

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Cedar Downs is the only off-track betting parlor in Ohio and is owned and operated by Northfield Park. Cedar Downs is located in Sandusky, Ohio at the entrance to the Cedar Point Causeway. Northfield purchased the facility in the summer of 2005. It had previously been operated by Raceway Park, a Toledo harness track.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Northfield Park Live and Simulcast Racing".
  2. ^ "Track owner likes his odds with slots - Issue 3 success would mean big-time growth for Northfield Park". Nordonia Hills Sun. October 26, 2006. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "$18.5 million raised in slots campaigning". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. October 27, 2006. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Vinella, Susan (November 9, 2006). "Campaign Finances - how me the money". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Rich Exner (July 11, 2018). "MGM Growth Properties closes $1.06 billion purchase of Hard Rock Rocksino". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, OH. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  6. ^ Karen Farkas (April 5, 2018). "Hard Rock Rocksino expected to be sold for $1.06 billion". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, OH. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  7. ^ Scott Suttell (April 1, 2019). "With deal closing, the Hard Rock Rocksino officially becomes MGM Northfield Park". Crain's Cleveland Business. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  8. ^ Howard Stutz (September 19, 2018). "MGM Resorts entering Ohio through acquisition of Hard Rock Rocksino operations". CDC Gaming Reports. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  9. ^ "MGM Resorts International and MGM Growth Properties LLC announce agreement for Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield, Ohio" (Press release). MGM Resorts International. September 19, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  10. ^ Eli Segall (May 2, 2022). "Casino landlord Vici closes $17B buyout of MGM Resorts spinoff". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  11. ^ "Northfield Park - The Trackside Lounge, open for live and simulcast racing". northfieldpark.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
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41°20′57″N 81°31′17″W / 41.3492°N 81.5214°W / 41.3492; -81.5214

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