Safety measures taken at Live! Casino Pittsburgh prior to opening
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb in Westmoreland County, Live! Casino Pittsburgh officials are taking extra precautions as their opening date nears.
Hand sanitizer, signs promoting social distancing and plexiglass dividers placed around table games and slot machines dominate the casino floor, located in the former Bon-Ton department store at Westmoreland Mall. The $150 million facility in Hempfield, owned by The Cordish Companies in Maryland, features restaurant and entertainment spaces. It is set to open Nov. 24.
“We don’t want anybody getting anything, even a cold,” General Manager Sean Sullivan said. “We’re going overboard to make sure you’re in a safe spot.”
The casino is following a Play It Safe plan, which focuses on face masks, temperature checks, social distancing and cleaning of high-traffic areas such as slot machines and table game equipment, said Rob Norton, president of the Cordish Gaming Group.
“There are a lot of things that go along with that,” Norton said. “You’ll see throughout the facility sanitizer stations are going to be everywhere. You’ll see signs on the floor reminding people to social distance, you’ll see plexiglass used at all … points where a team member and customer will come in contact, including every slot machine, every table game.”
Entering the building from the outside entrance, guests will be met with signs promoting social distancing, wearing face masks and reminders to wash hands. Thermal cameras are placed at each entrance to take temperatures. If a guest’s temperature exceeds 100 degrees, the guest will not be permitted to enter.
In all, 1,900 people will be allowed into the facility at a time, including staff, per state guidance that permits restaurants and facilities to operate at 50% capacity.
In the casino, plexiglass is placed along the 30 table games separating guests from each other while also protecting the dealer. Tables and seats will be cleaned after a guest leaves the area.
All 750 slot machines also are separated by plexiglass. Casino officials have utilized technology that shuts down machines on either side of one where a guest sits. The technology also turns off a machine when a guest leaves so it can be disinfected.
“This new system gives us all kinds of tools, all kinds of next-generation kind of things,” Sullivan said. “We will be on the forefront of that.”
The more than 100,000- square-foot facility also is home to a high-limit area and a sportsbook, which is in partnership with FanDuel, as well as three restaurants.
Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar is on the first floor of the casino. Plexiglass separates booths located in the restaurant. Sports & Social Steel City, a 445-seat bar and restaurant featuring a 45-foot television screen, makes up most of the second floor. Plexiglass has been installed between booths, hostess stations and other spots in the restaurant.
The second floor also has a banquet space and PBR Pittsburgh, a country bar scheduled to open next year.
“In this facility, we’ve even added things that are above and beyond,” Norton said of safety measures.
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