The Cordish Companies (“Cordish”) and Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN:Nasdaq) (“Penn National”) unveiled today the “Live! In The Hudson Valley” Art Contest to promote the vibrant history of the arts in the Catskills/Hudson Valley region. Winners of the contest – one sculpture, one painting, and one photo – will each receive a $10,000 award and their art will be prominently showcased at Live! Hotel & Casino New York, should Cordish and Penn National be awarded a gaming license. Additional pieces from participating artists will also be displayed for sale in the resort’s hotel, restaurants, and spa.

“We are dedicated to promoting the culture and beauty of the Hudson Valley at our facility, and our ‘Live! In the Hudson Valley’ Art Contest reflects our commitment,” said David Cordish, Chairman and CEO of the Cordish Companies. “Our ultimate goal is to host artwork from the area in every hotel room and throughout the resort so that our customers can both appreciate the immense artistic talent in the region and purchase their work directly at our facility.”

Working through the Orange County Arts Council, the theme of Cordish and Penn National’s “Live! In the Hudson Valley” Art Contest will be the life and beauty of the Hudson Valley. Additional specifications include:

  • Artists interested in participating in the contest will need to register @ www.livehotelcasinony.com by September 30, 2014.
  • The submission date for the artist’s work will be three months following award of the gaming license.
  • Winners of the contest will be chosen by a committee made up of representatives from Cordish/Penn; Cleo, the interior/public space designer of the proposed facility; the Orange County Arts Council; and one resident each from South Blooming Grove, Blooming Grove, and Washingtonville. The final awards will be issued upon receipt by Cordish/Penn of a gaming license.

“The Orange County Arts Council is happy to share this wonderful opportunity with the Orange County arts community,” said Dawn Ansbro, Executive Director. “We anticipate the benefits of a casino in Orange County will continue to include meaningful direct support of local artists and arts organizations and welcome the opportunity to encourage this collaboration.”

The $750+ million Live! Hotel & Casino New York will include an upscale boutique hotel with over 300 rooms and luxury suites; a destination spa and fitness center; over 3,000 slot machines; more than 250 live table games, including poker; several marquee restaurants including Bobby Flay Steak, Smorgasburg, The Cheesecake Factory, Fornino, and Bobby’s Burger Palace; as well as a live entertainment venue and a spacious conference center. The facility will serve as a regional economic engine, creating more than 4,000 permanent local jobs and nearly 3,000 construction jobs.

Live! Hotel & Casino New York will be owned and managed by a 50/50 joint venture between The Cordish Companies and Penn National Gaming who boast two of the strongest balance sheets in the industry and a proven track record in operating regional gaming facilities in highly competitive environments. The joint venture companies have built more ground up casino facilities over the past ten years than any other company in the country.

Live! Hotel & Casino New York renderings, additional information about the project, and Facebook and Twitter sign up for updates can be accessed at www.livehotelcasinony.com.

About the Cordish Companies

The Cordish Companies' origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately held, family ownership. During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into one of the largest and most successful operators of entertainment districts and concepts in the United States. Within its entertainment portfolio, The Cordish Companies owns and manages several Live! entertainment districts throughout the United States which welcome over 50 million visitors every year and are the most visited destinations in their respective regions. The Cordish Companies has received international acclaim for its hospitality developments. This division focuses on developing and operating best-in-class, high-profile gaming and lodging destinations. The Cordish Companies is proud to have developed several of the most successful gaming and resort destinations in the world including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, Florida; Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover, MD and Charleston Place in Charleston, SC.

About Penn National Gaming

Penn National Gaming, through its subsidiaries, owns, operates or has ownership interests in gaming and racing facilities with a focus on slot machine entertainment. Penn National Gaming presently operates twenty-seven facilities in eighteen jurisdictions, including Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ontario. In aggregate, Penn National Gaming's operated facilities feature approximately 31,000 gaming machines, 800 table games and 2,900 hotel rooms.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should” or “anticipates” or the negative or other variation of these or similar words, or by discussions of future events, strategies or risks and uncertainties. Such forward looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Penn National Gaming and its subsidiaries, including risks related to the ability to obtain local support for the project in New York; and accordingly, any forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors described in Penn National Gaming’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written and oral forward looking statements attributable to Penn National Gaming or persons acting on Penn National Gaming’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included herein. Penn National Gaming undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements contained or incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur.

For more information, please visit: www.livehotelcasinony.com