Tall & Urban News

Bally’s has begun demolishing the Freedom Center printing plant in Chicago to make way for a $1.7 billion USD casino along the Chicago River. The plant, once the largest newspaper printing facility in North America, was the publishing hub for the Chicago Tribune for over four decades. Demolition will continue over the next few months to clear the 30-acre site for the new entertainment complex, which will feature a 500-room hotel, a theater, and 4,000 gaming positions.

Bally’s won the bid to build Chicago’s first casino in 2022 and aims to open this by September 2026. Despite concerns over funding, Bally’s secured a $2 billion USD financing deal to ensure the project’s completion. The casino company, partially owned by Standard General, is also set to go private in 2025.

The Freedom Center, built in 1981, was a printing powerhouse but became redundant with the rise of digital media. Potentially, the site’s iconic Chicago Tribune signs may be integrated into the design of the new casino complex as a nod to its history.

Learn more about this story at the Chicago Tribune.