Episode One with Greg Moore, Hollywood Casino Aurora

Wednesday, April 16, 2025, marked the start of a new initiative for the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (Alliance) with the recording of the first episode of Aurora, It’s Your Business, a new program on Aurora Cable Television (ACTV) geared toward shining a light on the people and companies shaping the future of the Aurora region.
 
Hosted by Kelly O’Brien, president & CEO of the Alliance, the program will air twice each month and feature business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who are driving growth, innovation, and opportunity in the Aurora region.
 
Episode One with Greg Moore, Hollywood Casino Aurora
On the first episode, O’Brien welcomed Greg Moore, General Manager and Vice President of Hollywood Casino Aurora to talk about the company’s new $360-million casino development and what it will mean for the future of the Aurora region.
 
Moore talked about the reasons for moving the casino from Downtown Aurora to a brand-new location at Farnsworth & I-88, citing the many spatial limitations of the current 30-year-old building as well as the effort and costs of maintaining the aging, still-floating waterfront facility currently in use.
 
Moore also noted some of the key features of the new state-of-the-art casino complex, including 225 hotel rooms and 12,500 square feet of multi-use event space able to accommodate everything from charity events and weddings to comedy and music headliners. The modular event space also will include a vast outdoor courtyard—bringing the total event square footage up to nearly 25,000 square feet—that can be used for larger summer festivals complete with food trucks and even an ice-skating rink in the winter.
 
Another wonderful addition to the project is the installation of a new Italian steakhouse, Sorella, by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis. The facility also will feature a top-tier spa featuring nontraditional and mellow “farm to spa” offerings as well as services ranging from hair to makeup and more.
 
Moore also talked about the economic job-creation boost for the region with the project currently seeking out and hiring local subcontractors for the build. At completion, Moore projects that the necessary casino staff will double from the current 400 to 800 jobs.
 
With the casino’s move out of the downtown area, the city will be taking control of the two parking garages and other properties left behind to offer downtown visitors more accessibility.
 
Watch the First Episode Now
Watch the first episode of Aurora, It’s Your Business at this link: https://youtu.be/_1H9NEDIEmQ. And stay tuned for upcoming announcements about business partners and more as the casino works toward its 2026 grand opening.
 
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The Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (Alliance) is an Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce corporation charged with fostering equitable and sustainable economic growth. By joining forces through the Alliance, the region will present a unified front in support of existing businesses, advocate for a positive economic environment, amplify the voices of women- and minority-owned businesses, and attract investment. Its work will support and complement Aurora’s development and redevelopment initiatives by marketing the city’s assets and competitive advantages and supporting existing businesses.
 
The organization was established to unite the efforts of Invest Aurora, the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce, and Aurora Downtown, forming an umbrella organization that provides the collaborative structure necessary for greater impact. It became officially operational in January 2025.
 
For more information: www.auroraregionaleconomicalliance.org