Bally’s Chicago Casino Site Serves as Firefighter Training Before Demolition

Posted on: July 31, 2024, 08:15h. 

Last updated on: July 31, 2024, 10:16h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

The future site of Bally’s Chicago is serving as a training ground for the Chicago Fire Department until the former Tribune Publishing plant is ready and cleared for demolition.

Bally's Chicago casino Freedom Center
An aerial view of the Freedom Center seen in the winter of 2022. The future home of Bally’s Chicago is being used as a training ground for first responders before its scheduled demolition begins later this year. (Image: Wikimedia)

The Chicago Fire Department recently began running drills for its trainees and firefighters at the soon-to-be demolished Freedom Center. The simulated events included rescuing trapped people from inside a burning smoke-filled building and a window washer suspended on the outside of a skyscraper.

We are so glad to share the Tribune Freedom Center site so our partners at the Chicago Fire Department can conduct this valuable training,” Mark Wong, vice president and general manager of Bally’s Chicago, told WGN News. “Bally’s Chicago is thankful to both the Chicago fire and police departments for their partnership, and we look forward to a strong continued relationship as we further engrain ourselves in the Chicago community.”

Located along the north branch of the Chicago River between Ontario St. and Chicago Ave., Chicago FD 1st District Chief Jim McDonough told WGN News that such training provides critical experience for firefighters that can make the difference between rescue success and failure, as well as life and death. 

Casino Training Grounds

When casinos close or buildings are torn down to build new casinos, it’s not uncommon for first responders to ask to use the vacated facilities for training purposes. Last year, Casino.org reported on the shuttered Majestic Star Casino Hotel in Gary, Ind., being used by SWAT and police for active shooter and explosives response drills.

You can’t beat this,” said Gary Police Department Sgt. Marlin Gray. “There is nothing like real-world experience.”

Gray’s SWAT agency had 45 days to run a series of exercises at the former riverboat hotel.

After the Riviera on the Las Vegas Strip closed in May 2015, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which by that time had acquired the storied casino resort, gave full control of the property to the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department. More than 300 firefighters participated in a series of drills putting out fires in high rises.

Numerous fire departments from around the nation sent firefighters for the rare chance to participate in mega-resort fire and rescue simulations. Outside fire departments had to pay money for the opportunity. That money was donated to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, a New York-based support fund for firefighters that was established after Sept. 11, 2001.

Bally’s Site Prep 

Rhode Island-based Bally’s Corp. recently found a willing partner to bridge an $800 million funding shortfall for the permanent Bally’s Chicago casino resort that’s expected to cost more than $2 billion.

Bally’s is redeveloping the 30-acre Freedom Center site, which for decades was where the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times were printed until their last runs in May. Bally’s has assembled a team of companies that are working to acquire the many necessary permits needed to begin demolition.

Because the flatting of the nearly 700,000-square-foot manufacturing plant has been deemed “environmentally complex” because of its location along the river and proximity to thousands of residential units — plus the building likely containing asbestos and lead paint — the demolition team is dealing with the city’s Department of Health and Department of Buildings in receiving signoffs to start the undertaking. The project group hopes to gain those permits in August or early September.