Month: November 2020

Hollywood Casino revenues down compared to last October

Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, reported about $9.3 million in casino gaming revenue for October, according to figures from the Kansas Lottery.

The figure is about $3 million below that of October 2019, according to state records. The casino revenues were discussed at a Kansas Lottery Commission meeting Wednesday afternoon.

According to a written report to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, attendance was down 33 percent at Hollywood Casino during October. Because of the pandemic, the casino faced restrictions on the number of people allowed and the hours open, since last year.

The Hollywood Casino continues to have one of the most challenging markets of the four state-owned casinos, according to Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery.

Kocher said the state’s casino revenues are continuing about the same level as recent months.

One of the state’s casinos, Boot Hill in Dodge City, Kansas, reported an increase compared to last October, but the other casinos were down, with Kansas Star off about 2.5 percent and Kansas Crossing down about 11 percent, he said.

However, they are trending in the right direction, Kocher said. In July and August the casinos were down about 18 percent collectively, then down 15 percent in September, and now down 14 percent collectively in October, he said. They are making progress, he said, but maybe not as fast as everyone would like.

Hollywood Casino has been under COVID-19 restrictions on the number of people who can be in the building, according to Kocher.

New restrictions came out in Wyandotte County and in the Dodge City area this week, and it remains to be seen what the revenues will do in the future, according to Kocher.

Stephen Durrell, the lottery’s executive director, said Boot Hill Casino will be adding mask mandates, something it didn’t have before.

He said the casinos continue to be very proactive in making sure the staff is aware of what might be occurring with COVID-19 infections.

He said most of the quarantines at the casinos seem to be coming from places other than the casinos, and that people have encountered outside of the workplace. Employees are screened and have temperatures taken before going into the casinos, he added.

The Unified Government receives 3 percent of the casino gaming revenues, while the state of Kansas receives 22 percent.

According to the report to the KRGC, Hollywood Casino has several special events planned in the upcoming weeks, including a VIP shopping spree on Nov. 21, a pie giveaway Nov. 25, a treasure chest Nov. 27, a wireless headphones giveaway on Dec. 4 and a VIP stuff your stockings promotion on Dec. 5.

Sporting KC’s new mask campaign supports Harvesters food drive

Manager Peter Vermes (Photo from Sporting KC)

Ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs and a Western Conference quarterfinal showdown against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park, Sporting Kansas City has partnered with Harvesters – The Community Food Network to launch the “KC As One” mask campaign.

The community initiative will help feed those in need throughout the holiday season while also supporting public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a spokesman.

Supporters can visit SportingKC.com/KCAsOne to purchase a limited-edition “KC As One” facemask. Proceeds from mask sales will go to Harvesters, a regional food bank serving the Kansas City region. For every mask sold, Harvesters will be able to provide up to 18 meals for individuals and families in need.

By purchasing a “KC As One” facemask, fans can protect themselves and others amidst the pandemic and help Harvesters provide meals at emergency food pantries, community kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes and elsewhere.

“KC As One” facemasks are available for $10 while supplies last. Masks will be available for pickup at the following locations:

• Sporting KC Front Office: 2020 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, Missouri. (streetside lobby)
• Children’s Mercy Park: 1 Sporting Way, Kansas City, Kansas. (Budweiser Brew House)
• Pickup on the Toyota Plaza for fans attending the Sporting KC playoff match on Sunday at Children’s Mercy Park

Fans can also have their masks shipped to their homes. The cost of shipping will be added to the final total.

The “KC As One” mask campaign is the latest initiative tied to Sporting Serves, a philanthropic platform that Sporting Kansas City launched in April in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sporting Serves has seen Sporting KC and The Victory Project-the club’s flagship charitable foundation — join several community partners to serve Kansas Citians through a variety of programs. Sporting KC leverages the Sporting Serves platform to build relationships with local and national partners and nonprofits, supporting and serving those in need during the pandemic and beyond.

Harvesters is a certified member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks. In 2011, Harvesters was named Feeding America’s Food Bank of the Year. To learn more about the nonprofit organization, visit https://www.harvesters.org/Learn/About.

Sporting will begin its postseason journey on Sunday, as host of the San Jose match at 3 p.m. The match will be shown live national on FS1, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app in addition to airing locally on ESPN 94.5 FM and La Grande 1340 AM.

  • Story from Sporting KC

Obituary: Daniel Dewayne Williams Sr.

Daniel Dewayne Williams Sr. (left)

Daniel Dewayne Williams Sr. of Kansas City, Kansas, died Nov. 8, 2020, at Advent Health Shawnee Mission. He was 63 years old.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Olivet Baptist Church, 4901 Mission Road, Westwood, Kansas.

Williams was born Sept. 3, 1957, in Kansas City, Kansas. Williams graduated from Schlagle High School and worked at Advanced Auto. He enjoyed collecting records, CDs, baseball cards and movies. Williams loved to joke, and was always there to help in any way when the children needed help.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Debbie Williams, and his stepfather, Freddie Ottens.

He is survived by his mother, Darla Ottens; siblings, Kenny Ottens, Deby Carothers, Cathy Ottens, Freddie (Mac) Ottens; children, Kelly (Michael) Patrzykont, Daniel (Shaunna) Williams Jr., Katie (Rodney) Wittkopp, Jay (Jenny) Czechan, Christina (Ryan) Davis, and Cindy (Memo) Avalos; grandchildren, Kelsey, Katrina, Kristen, Dylan, Milli, Gabby, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Lynx, Paislee, Emery, Olivia, Marissa, Austin (Bre), Byron, Kaylee, Keira, and Zach; great-grandchildren; Acelynn and Urijah; along with many nieces and nephews and other family and friends.