On March 1, Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading casino entertainment company based in Las Vegas, reported that, pursuant to legislation introduced in the 2022 state legislative session, it has filed an application with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC) to develop and manage Sedgwick County’s newest historic horse racing (HHR) facility. The facility will be called Diamond Jo Park City.

Layout of the proposed horse racing gaming facility:

The company is proposing to build its newest $160 million horse racing gaming entertainment facility not far off Interstate 135 in Park City.

Beside the casino portion with up to 1,000 HHR units, Diamond Jo would include an enticing portion of non-gaming benefits that involve a world-class steakhouse, a FanDuel-themed sports bar and grill, a modern bar and lounge, new meeting and convention space and a first-of-its-kind convenience store Amazon Go in Kansas.

With its wide variety of benefits and eye-catching design, Diamond Jo is predicted to become a crucial part of attracting new visitors and economic development opportunities to Park City and its environment.

In this regard, Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “For more than a decade, Boyd Gaming has been an important part of the south-central Kansas community as the owner and operator of Kansas Star Casino. Today, we propose taking that relationship to the next level with our application for Diamond Jo Park City, our vision for an exciting new entertainment destination serving the Wichita metropolitan area. We are confident that our compelling proposal, backed by our Company’s experience, national scale and strong financial position, makes Boyd uniquely suited to realize the maximum possible benefits of the new HHR license for the people of Sedgwick County. We look forward to sharing more information with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission and our neighbors throughout south-central Kansas as the bidding process unfolds.”

New job opportunities:

Constructed with 100% private funding, Boyd Gaming anticipates the newest horse racing gaming facility will produce almost 600 direct and indirect employment opportunities in the community, collecting nearly $30 million annually in wages, salaries and benefits. In addition, the property is estimated to collect roughly $90 million annually in extra economic activity across south-central Kansas.

Donation pledge:

Building on Boyd’s long-lasting commitment to supporting veterans, Boyd’s proposal involves a promise to donate $1 million annually to local nonprofits that offer health and educational services to local veterans. In addition, the new facility would offer $250.000 annually in new financing for problem gambling treatment resources in south-central Kansas.

To that end, Boyd partnered with United Way of the Plains to manage Diamond Jo’s non-profit contributions.

New partnership with Laham Development:

To support its application for Diamond Jo, Laham Development, a real estate development company based in Wichita, Kansas, signed a partnership deal with Boyd.

Laham is a highly respected company and widely known across the community for its innovative planned commercial and retail developments across the Wichita region.

Commenting on the partnership, George Laham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Laham Development, said: “Through Kansas Star in Mulvane and Boyd’s other casino locations, we have seen Boyd’s commitment to being a great partner in the community and doing things right. These values are important to us as well. We believe that by combining Laham’s development experience with Boyd’s gaming experience and reputation as a premier operator, we can bring Sedgwick County a first-class entertainment venue.”