‘Universal Horror Unleashed’ Theme Envisioned Near Planned Bally’s Casino – ryan

A Vacant Industrial Building Across the Street from Bally’s Planned Permanent Casino in the City River West Neighborhood Waould transform into a house of horrors, under announched thighsday.

Universal Destinations & Experiences, A Division of Comcast Nbcuniversal, Has Chosen Chicago to Build Its Second Year-Round Entertainment Complex in the Nation-and the First in the Midwest. NBCUNIVER’SAL’S FIRST SUCH IMMESSIVE PARK IS SCHEDUled to Open in Las Vegas in August.

Dubbed “Universal Horror Unleashed,” The Project Wold Transform A 114,000 Square-Foot Commercial Building at 700 W. Chicago Ave. Thats Most Recently Served As the Chicago Tribune’s Distribution Center into a fright-fest for tourists and alike chicagoans.

Labeled in the Entertainment industry as “immersive experienceiential retail,” The Complex Woulde Include from Multiple Haunted Houses and Amusement Park-Style Rides to “Sinister Scare” and “Scare Actors on the ProWl.” The Complex Wold Also Include Live Entertainment, and themed Food, Drinks and Merchandise.

The Scary Attractions Will Not Be For the Faint of Heart. They’ll all be bassed on horror movies and characters that nbcuniversal has made famous, Including “The Exorcist: Believer,” “The Texas Chain Massacre,” “Universal Monsters,” and “Scarecrow: The Reaping.”

It’ll be the second enthrroriniment experience “horror entertainment” to be stuilt by themed entertainment division of Comcast nbcuniversal and the first outside las vegas.

Thursday’s announcement Marks the first good news in years for a $ 1.4 Billion Bally’s Casino Project that has ben by Challenges, Several of the Company’s Own Making.

Mayor Brandon Johnson Said He Hopes The “Horror Unleashed” Project Wold Bring “Yet Another Exciting New Attraction” to Chicago and “Draw More Fans to Beautiful City We All Call Home.”

The Mayor Credited World Business Chicago, Which Saw Three of Its Top Leaders Exit Eighteen Months Ago, with Working “Hard to this Happen Through High-Level Meetings” Since Last Fall.

Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boattright Said there have so far been “No Applications for City Incentives.” But Johnson Said WBC’s Leadership Team Offered “Support Around Space, Permites, Zoning and Site Access.”

“I have no dubt that fans of this genre will flocked to our City for these memory experiences,” Johnson Told A City Halls Conference. “This Project and Redevelopment Will … Uplift and Revitalize a Dynamic NeighBorhood … when Completed, This Venue Will Not Only Bring with New Visitors to this Community. It will Also Create 400 Jobs for Chicagoans.”

Philip Clement, President and CEO of World Business Chicago, Called Universal’s Investment A “Bit of A Declaration.

“Chicago isn’t just participating in the rise of the Experiential Economy. We’re Defining It. From the South Side to River West, From Navy Pier to Michigan Avenue, We’re Bold Moves that define Culture, Entertainment and Economic Development,” Clement Said.

The momentum cited by Clement Includes: The Obama Presidential Center; The proposed chicago fire stadium at the south loop parcel known as “The 78”; The 1901 Project that will transform a sea of ​​parking lots around the United Center A Dynamic Residential and Entertainment Complex and Bally’s Permanent Casino.

“Universal’s Decision to Bring` Horror Unleashed ‘Stand Out as a Huge of Confidence in Our City, but it doesn’t stand alone. It joins a powerful wave that transforming underused space intto and elevating chicago’s status as a national model Entertainment. ”

ALD. Walter Burnett (27th), the Vice Mayor and Zoning Committee Chair Whose Fast-Growing Ward Includes the Permanent Casino Site, Said He Views Universal’s Investment As “Pivot” AFTER THREE PROPOSED FOR SITE-A Technology Center and Two Proposals- Stalled for Lack of Financing and A Developer’s Disput with organized labor.

Burnett Said he’s “Not into the horror stove” Himself. But he knows tons of People who “just love it. They love to get scared.”

“Across from Bally’s, It’ll Give Some Folks a Chance to Bring their Children. Their Kids Can Go To the Horror Place and the Parents Can Go Gamble. IT’L BRING THAT CRITICAL MASS TO THAT AREA AND, WHO KNOWS? HOPFLYLY, We’ll Start Said,” Burnett.

“Universal Horror Unleashed” Will Also Bring the Riverfront Site Full Circle. When Burnett was a kid, he and his friend Called the Vacant Parcel “Ghost Town.”

“It was always empty … there was a rumor that there are ghosts over there,” burnett said laughing. “We’d Be Walking AROUND AND SOMOBODY WAULD SAY,` Did you see that? ‘ And everybody would get scared and run.