Thousands of people came to northwest Ohio to check out Toledo's newest attraction. Hollywood Casino expected 20,000 people Saturday.
Casino officials are happy, bracing for their largest crowd yet this weekend. But, as the parking lots fill up, it's causing a parking problem for some area residents.
The crowds are expected to be bigger this weekend than on opening day.
Casino staff and law enforcement have had a few days to work out some of the kinks after opening day. Now the big focus is on traffic control and parking.
Rossford Police Chief Glenn Goss says the department has been preparing for months.
The plan is to station officers at intersections where traffic will be stop and go, in addition to stepping up their presence on the streets.
"We've put on some overtime shifts of our own officers to do extra patrols around the area where the traffic will be rerouted," says Chief Goss.
"There's definitely a partnership there that is being promoted," says Hollywood Casino VP of Marketing Jason Birney. "As you come on to the site, you can see the police presence all the way from the highway and into the building."
With 20,000 casino-goers expected over the weekend, there will be back-ups and a full parking garage, but staff says they're working to make sure everyone is happy, regardless of the hurdles they may have to clear.
"I think that's really what where we're focusing our energy on, to make sure people are comfortable as they get in and onto the site," says Birney.
If you don't like the crowds, casino officials say a good time to come in and check out the casino are late mornings, when the crowds are much thinner.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:33:21 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am.
Lakota Local Schools were dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades were dismissed at 11:45am. There was also no afternoon preschool.
Rescue crews are working through the night after a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least...
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:03 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:03:08 GMT
Heartbreaking photos are coming out of Moore, Oklahoma after a tornado flattened much of the town Monday, killing dozens.
The Governor of Oklahoma says an untold number of people are still missing following the Moore tornado. Emergency crews continue the search for survivors. At least 24 were killed including nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:54:25 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:11:35 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened 14 years ago.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:53:28 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled two house fires on the east side of Toledo Tuesday. A home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue was firebombed. Three adults and two children made it out safely. Firefighters also put out a house fire in the 700 block of Euclid Avenue near Starr Avenue.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:30 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:30:27 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews found a boater reported to be missing on Lake Erie Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:15 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:15:41 GMT
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.The fire started before 4:30 this morning on Euclid near Starr.Investigators say it was a vacant
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:06 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:06:31 GMT
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were reported killed.
Emergency crews searched through debris in Oklahoma searching for survivors and the dead. At least 24 people were killed in Moore. Many others remain missing.
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