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VEEPIO Announces Landmark Partnership Between NFL Alumni Association and HBCU Week Foundation

VEEPIO Holdings, LLC

VEEPIO Holdings, LLC (VEEPIO), the integrated ecommerce platform using technology to change how athletes can earn money from their names, images, and likenesses (NIL), has announced the formation of a three-way partnership, entitled Project Unite, that includes the NFL Alumni Association (NFLA) and the HBCU Week Foundation, Inc. Using its status as digital agency of record for both parties, VEEPIO will create digital infrastructure and evergreen programs linking NFL Alumni with all HBCUs to activate brand sponsorship dollars and create lasting economic equity for these schools and their students. Project Unite will promote HBCU sports, entertainment, and education through NFL alumni and player stories highlighted during NFL and HBCU tentpole events. These tentpole events include (among others) Super Bowl week, the HBCU Battle of the Bands, and the annual CIAA basketball tournament. In addition, the NFLA will co-host multiple events each year to raise funds for HBCU Week’s scholarship initiatives. Project Unite will rely on VEEPIO's best-in-class digital tools, including an ESPN-like app that will house content from all 101 HBCUs, to fulfill its mission. The app will serve as a mobile command center for HBCU sponsor activation, including sponsored content between the NFLA and HBCUs. These sponsor activation opportunities will extend from HBCUs through to their students and student-athletes, who will have the opportunity to earn sponsorship money through the NCAA’s new NIL rules, while maintaining ownership of their personal and sponsorship data. “Finding unique ways to support and empower HBCUs is a critical part of our mission to serve NFL alumni,” said NFLA President Beasley Reece. “Finding a way to leverage the numerous HBCU graduates in our organization for the betterment of their alma maters is one of our top priorities. VEEPIO’s plan to link the NFLA with HBCU Week will allow us to raise funds for causes close to our players’ hearts and create a lasting economic impact for future generations of HBCU students.” In addition to forming Project Unite, VEEPIO is proud to announce the creation of the Jack Spinks Scholarship, in honor of the first player from an HBCU to be drafted into the NFL. On behalf of Project Unite, VEEPIO will donate a $50,000 scholarship to HBCU Week for every $1 million in sponsorship money raised by the partnership. VEEPIO will also work with HBCU Week and the NFLA to provide internship opportunities for HBCU students. “It is truly an honor to facilitate a partnership between NFL alumni and HBCUs,” said Najee Goode, co-founder of VEEPIO, president of the NFLA’s Jacksonville chapter and Chairman of the National Programs Committee. “Creating lasting economic change through technology is a core part of VEEEPIO’s mission, and working in tandem with the NFLA will allow us to transform the sponsorship and fundraising opportunities that are currently available for HBCUs.” Project Unite will extend the reach of HBCU Week activities exponentially by giving all HBCUs access to the NLFA’s large media network, across platforms including broadcast, radio, podcasts, and social media. Leveraging NFL tentpole events, NFLA chapter reach, and HBCU Week reach, VEEPIO will enable the partnership to highlight and promote key accomplishments and new initiatives. HBCU Week fundraising opportunities will be supported by individual player and school stories that will be distributed through the HBCU Week digital platform and echoed by the NFLA player community. About VEEPIO Holdings, LLC VEEPIO is an integrated ecommerce platform, founded by West Virginia University grads, aimed at transforming how athletes monetize their personal brands. Co-founded by NFL linebackers Najee Goode and Grant Wiley, along with finance and tech expert Jonathan Ohliger, VEEPIO is changing the way fans interact with teams through mobile apps. VEEPIO integrates seamlessly into existing applications, and allows content publishers to link any moving object in video within the app to additional content on the web so that the end user never leaves the platform when browsing. For more information, visit: https://veep.io or follow VEEPIO on Twitter: @VEEPIO, Instagram: @VEEPIO, and LinkedIn. About the NFL Alumni Association The NFL Alumni Association is a nationwide group of former National Football League players, coaches and other employees whose mission is to serve, assist and inform former players and their families. The association offers a variety of health, financial and learning programs to help its members. For more information, please visit: nflalumni.org. About HBCU Week Foundation, Inc. The mission of HBCU Week Foundation is to encourage high school-aged youth to enroll into HBCUs, provide scholarship dollars for matriculation, and sustain a pipeline of employment from undergraduate school to corporate America. HBCU Week is an annual, week-long, programmatic initiative, designed to encourage high school-aged youth to enroll into HBCUs, through exposure to their proud legacies and historical significance. HBCU Week occurs annually, in the Fall. In 2022, HBCU Week will consist of a multi-city tour. The Foundation recently formed a partnership with Disney. HBCU Week will be hosted at Walt Disney World in October 2022. The most impactful event during HBCU Week is the College Fair. This fair is unique in that the majority of the participating colleges engage in an “on the spot” acceptance process, whereby, if the student attends with a copy of their school transcript and a report with the requisite SAT/ACT score, they could be admitted into college on the spot and offered a scholarship award. Since 2017, more than 3,500 acceptances on the spot have been offered and more than $25,000,000 in scholarships have been awarded. The Foundation's brand ambassador is ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. For more information, visit: www.hbcuweek.org Contact Details Caliber Corporate Advisers Josh Eichenbaum +1 203-974-3645 josh@calibercorporateadvisers.com Company Website https://veep.io

February 10, 2022 11:32 AM Eastern Standard Time

Canadians projected to consume 76 million wings for Super Bowl LVI

Chicken Farmers of Canada

Every year, Chicken Farmers of Canada fields the same question: Will there be enough chicken wings in Canada for the Super Bowl? The answer – is yes. In fact, Canadians will consume 76 million wings during the game this year! Chicken continues to be the first choice of Canadians and has been for over a decade. Not much has changed, and chicken wings remain at the top of the list when it comes to Super Bowl food. “Wings are a great choice for the big game, whether you are making them at home or have the means to order them in from your favourite local restaurant,” said Benoît Fontaine, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada. “Canadians want Canadian chicken and we do everything in our power to make sure there is enough fresh, safe, high-quality chicken available.” Canadians care deeply about their food, about knowing where it comes from and that what they’re serving to their family is of the highest quality. Around 93% of Canadians seek out foods of Canadian origin, and over half will be doing that more than ever. 76 million wings is equal to: 2.4 years, if each wing is counted as one second Roughly 3,800 km if laid end-to-end, the distance to drive from Quebec City to Calgary About 27,142 wings per chicken farmer (there are 2,800 in Canada) Consumers are reminded to ask for the Raised by a Canadian Farmer logo at their favourite grocer or restaurant and buy the wings that are raised with care, quality, and freshness in mind. So, get your favourite Canadian wings, safe in the knowledge that there are plenty to go around. Enjoy the game! For great game day wing recipes and other appetizer to make your Super Bowl experience great, visit www.chicken.ca! Contact Details For more information, please contact Marty Brett, Senior Corporate Communications Officer +1 613-566-5926 mbrett@chicken.ca Company Website https://www.chicken.ca/

February 10, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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FreshEdge Launches New Website

FreshEdge

FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies, has launched a refreshed and expanded www.freshedgefoods.com. FreshEdge partnered with DMA Solutions (Dallas, Texas), a marketing agency dedicated to exclusively serving the fresh produce industry. The website creates opportunities for connecting with FreshEdge’s operating companies and engaging in what makes their family unique. FreshEdge now operates with 1,640 employees, approximately 700,250 square feet of warehouse space, with a fleet of more than 650 trucks, delivering fresh food to customers in 22 states. Through rapid growth and consistent execution, FreshEdge has quickly amassed a reputation for adding value throughout the fresh foods industry. “FreshEdge’s new website is a splash of freshness,” said Steve Grinstead, CEO of FreshEdge. “It also symbolizes who we are – a growing family of customer-obsessed fresh food companies who care.” Greg Corsaro, President and COO of FreshEdge, added, “The revamped website reflects FreshEdge’s value proposition of providing dependable, customized solutions with cutting-edge technology for consistent, reliable delivery of fresh food with a sense of family and trust.” “We’re excited about the unique space this new website delivers for connecting FreshEdge, its family, and our industry partners,” said Daniel Corsaro, President of Indianapolis Fruit (FreshEdge retail operating company) and participant in the development of the new site. About FreshEdge FreshEdge was formed in 2019 through the combination of Get Fresh Produce (Bartlett, IL, founded in 1982) and the IF&P Foods family of companies, primarily composed of Indianapolis Fruit (founded 1947) and Piazza Produce (founded 1970). McCartney Produce (Paris, TN) joined the FreshEdge family in November 2020 followed by Valley Produce (Knoxville, TN) in June 2021, Vine Line (Grand Rapids, MI) in October 2021, and Monteverde’s (Pittsburgh, PA) in November 2021. Collectively, these leading fresh food distribution companies have several hundred years’ combined experience serving the grocery and food service industries. In addition, FreshEdge includes two Garden Cut branded fresh-cut processing facilities, a tomato re-packer, a USDA fresh kitchen (CIBUS Fresh), and two transportation companies. Today, FreshEdge is a category leader in providing both the foodservice and retail industries with fruit, vegetables, fresh grab-n-go offerings, dairy, floral and specialty products. For more, visit www.freshedgefoods.com. Contact Details FreshEdge Greg Corsaro +1 317-981-3440 gcorsaro@freshedgefoods.com Company Website https://www.freshedgefoods.com/

February 10, 2022 07:43 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How to Bet podcast Super Bowl LVI extravaganza

HowToBet.com

What a year it has been in the National Football League, and for the How to Bet podcast. But neither are done for the season just yet: if you have not heard, there is still one game left in the 2021 NFL season. Super Bowl LVI will pit the Los Angeles Rams, playing at home in their brand new state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium, against the upstart Cincinnati Bengals and their ice cold quarterback Joe Burrow. While Sean “The Genius” Miller was on the Rams at the very start of the 2021 campaign (you can go back and look in the How to Bet archives here ), neither he, nor How to Bet co-host Daryl Fein, thought the 125-1 Bengals were going to do anything this season until very late. But that is what dreams are made of, right? The bettors that backed the Bengals to win the AFC are now richer, and if they took Cincinnati to win the Super Bowl, they could be in for a huge windfall. Miller has multiple stories posted this week in the lead up to the game Sunday, including the best way to bet prop bets, the game picks, and a story about where bettors can find the best Super Bowl LVI offers from sportsbooks through How to Bet. With so much information out there for this contest, it is more important than ever to make sure you are getting the best advice. “We went over the Caesars Sportsbook prop bet sheet before our final NFL shows of the season–which you can see Wednesday, by the way–and tried to pick out the best ones for bettors,” Miller said. “Of course, I always take tails on the coin toss before the game to try to get up a few bucks early. But obviously, you cannot bet 30-40 prop bets on this contest: you will end up losing money. “Much like the regular season, you have to target a few that you think are going to come in, and take them. I like a few of them tied to Rams’ WR Cooper Kupp: I just think he is unstoppable. As for the game, you are going to have to tune in to How to Bet to see which way I go in this intriguing contest.” With so many new states legalizing online sports betting over the last year, sportsbooks are expected to see over $8 billion wagered on the Super Bowl: a staggering number that bodes well for upcoming events like March Madness and the World Cup. That means you are going to be able to get bonuses galore, which is always good for bettors. As always, the How to Bet website has you covered, with a whole page filled with great promotions from various sportsbooks. “This is the time for new bettors, and ones looking for a new sportsbook, to clean up with the promotions and free offers,” Miller said. “Books always do this around big events: you will see it next month when March Madness tips off, and once again for the 2022 World Cup in November, among others. “Just look at some of the great value plays you get. Caesars has a 100 percent deposit match and a $1,500 risk-free first bet. FanDuel and DraftKings have similar offers: bet $5 on the Super Bowl and get up to $280 in free bets. PointsBet is giving bettors up to $2,000 in risk-free wagers. This is the time to get in on the bonuses, for doing something that you would be doing anyway: betting on games.” So while there is the return of the USFL to look forward to as a football fan very soon (April 16!), this will be the final NFL game until September 8. Will it be the Cincinnati Bengals hosting the Thursday Night Football opener and raising the championship banner, or will it be the Los Angeles Rams? Tune in to the How to Bet podcast to see who Fein and Miller pick as the Super Bowl LVI winner, then watch the big game on Sunday. And stay tuned to How to Bet, because there will be some exciting announcements in the very near future (hint: are you ready for some football, as in UEFA Champions League, and make sure you have your dancing shoes on for March!) About HowToBet.com HowToBet.com offers one of the world’s most comprehensive betting guides that can be accessed via a user-friendly web app. Its mission is to help make online betting safe, fun and as easy as performing a search on the web. There are already more than 400+ how-to guides freely available, all written by seasoned betting professionals. More guides are being added on a weekly basis in a continued effort to educate anyone interested in what is now a $199 billion betting industry. For more details, visit: https://www.howtobet.com/about-us/. Contact Details How To Bet Cristian Campan +45 50 30 42 66 cristian.campan@raketech.com Company Website https://www.howtobet.com

February 09, 2022 07:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

Velocity Global becomes Official Partner of the DP World Tour

Velocity Global

Velocity Global becomes first global technology company to sponsor the DP World Tour, PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour DP World Tour to utilise the Global Work Platform from Velocity Global to enable employees to work anywhere in the world Multi-year agreement with elevated partnership status at three additional tournaments The DP World Tour today announces that Velocity Global, the world’s leading provider of global talent solutions, has become an Official Tour Partner in a multi-year agreement. Velocity Global serves as the Official Global Work Platform of the DP World Tour. Speaking about the partnership Rob Wellner, Chief Revenue Officer of Velocity Global said; “We are excited to become an Official Tour Partner and the Official Global Work Platform for the DP World Tour. Golf is truly a global game that spans national boundaries, leading to increased competition in an effort to find the best golf talent wherever it is. Finding and hiring top talent - anyone, anywhere - is at the heart of what Velocity Global provides to our customers. We give a competitive edge to leading companies to get ahead in the global marketplace. This partnership is a perfect embodiment of that work." Max Hamilton, Commercial Director of the European Tour group, added; “The DP World Tour has a truly global footprint, with 45 tournaments across 25 countries in our 2022 schedule - and in Velocity Global, we have found a partner who matches that globality. As an ever-expanding Tour, their Global Work Platform will support our business operations for DP World Tour personnel working abroad. Their footprint in golf is substantial and given our close ties to the PGA TOUR and both the LPGA and Ladies European Tour with our mixed events, Velocity Global can create synergies through its deep partnerships across golf’s biggest tours. We look forward to supporting each other in the years ahead.” As an Official Tour Partner, Velocity Global benefits from a range of marketing opportunities to grow its brand, including on-course signage and live television branding during DP World Tour events, bespoke social media content and access to tournament hospitality services. Throughout the partnership Velocity Global and the DP World Tour will develop a multi-channel content series to showcase some of the top players in the world and share their Work from Anywhere story. Velocity Global also enjoys elevated partnership status at three of the DP World Tour’s premier tournaments each season. These are two Rolex Series tournaments - the BMW PGA Championship and the DP World Tour Championship - plus the ISPS Handa World Invitational, which is an innovative mixed gender tournament run in partnership with the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour. The company’s Global Work Platform TM enables employers to grow compliant distributed workforces in more than 185 countries. Serving as the Official Global Work Platform for the DP World Tour, this partnership will see the Tour use Velocity Global’s services to help its employees work anywhere in the world. With this announcement, Velocity Global is now a partner of the four leading Tours in the men’s and women’s professional game – the first global tech company to have such a presence in elite golf. The company is already the Official Global Workforce Solutions Platform of the PGA TOUR, as well as the presenting sponsor of the PGA TOUR University. Last month, Velocity Global also announced a new agreement as the Official Global Work Platform of the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour. In addition, Billy Horschel, the winner of the 2021 BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour and a six-time PGA TOUR winner, is a Velocity Global brand ambassador, along with 12th-ranked Lexi Thompson and Albane Valenzuela on the LPGA Tour. Kevin Hall, a four-time APGA Tour champion, is also a Velocity Global brand ambassador. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work for anyone, anywhere, anyhow. Its Global Work Platform simplifies the employer and talent experience through its proprietary cloud-based talent management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. With talent solutions in more than 185 countries and all 50 United States, the platform combines global Employer of Record and Contractor Management to onboard, manage, and pay talent worldwide. More than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. Velocity Global was named a "Leader" in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. About the DP World Tour The DP World Tour is the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group, with a global schedule featuring a minimum of 45 tournaments in 25 different countries across the 2022 season. Formerly known as the European Tour, which was established in 1972, the 2022 DP World Tour schedule includes five Rolex Series events, along with four Major Championships, two World Golf Championship events and three tournaments co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR, as well as tournaments staged around the world with a minimum prize of $2million for all events solely sanctioned by the DP World Tour. The season concludes with the final Rolex Series event, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, where the winner of the Tour’s season-long competition, the DP World Tour Rankings, will be crowned. DP World, the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, is the title partner of the DP World Tour, which is administered by the European Tour group. Contact Details Velocity Global Chris McGrath +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

February 08, 2022 07:01 AM Mountain Standard Time

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Pickswise Curates the “Top 10 Super Bowl Betting Moments & Controversies” List

Pickswise

Pickswise, the fastest growing independent sports betting content provider in North America, today announced the creation of the “Pickswise Top 10 Super Bowl Betting Moments and Controversies” ahead of Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. The list takes a deep dive into some of the most notable betting events of the past 20 years, exploring everything from spectacular plays that drastically swung the balance of the game to wholly unique Super Bowl situations, including Gatorade confusion and national anthem controversies. The Top 10 Super Bowl betting moments and controversies 10. Patrick Mahomes’ victory kneel down chaos (Super Bowl LIV) 9. Philly Special - Foles & Eagles trick Pats (Super Bowl LII) 8. Controversial Gatorade bath (Super Bowl XLVI) 7. Malcolm Butler goal line interception - Patriots vs Seahawks (Super Bowl XLIX) 6. Devin Hester opening kickoff touchdown return (Super Bowl XLI) 5. Christina Aguilera and Gladys Knight National Anthem controversies (Super Bowl XLV) & (Super Bowl LIII) 4. Steelers come back to beat Cardinals (Super Bowl XLIII) 3. Kurt Warner leads the longshot Rams (Super Bowl XXXIV) 2. Underdog Giants ruin Patriots perfection (Super Bowl XLII) 1. Patriots 28-3 comeback, win in OT vs Falcons (Super Bowl LI) “The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of sports betting since almost every aspect of the event can be bet on, from the coin toss to the final score. All these moments are then amplified as an estimated 24 million Americans will bet nearly $5 billion on the game,” said Jared Smith, lead betting analyst at Pickswise. “It was important for us to develop an inclusive list showcasing how fortunes have swung on everything from the Patriots historic comeback in Super Bowl LI to Gladys Knight causing a stir by hitting some extra notes in Super Bowl LIII. Anything and everything can happen during the Super Bowl, which makes it so compelling and exciting.” In addition to the list of memorable betting moments, Smith and Pickswise host Lauren Jbara have provided key analysis to this year’s most popular Super Bowl betting markets, found on Pickswise’s Super Bowl Hub. “Our Super Bowl Hub serves as a one-stop destination for all those looking to make a more informed decision come Super Bowl Sunday,” said Jbara. “With breakdowns on everything from sides and totals to key props and betting trends, we have been able to put all a bettor needs ahead of the big game in one place.” Pickswise is owned by Spotlight Sports Group, a world-leading technology, content and media company specializing in sports betting and fantasy sports. ABOUT PICKSWISE Pickswise is a digital platform that provides free wagering research, insights and analysis from experts in every major sport. Based in New York and part of Spotlight Sports Group, Pickswise is one of the fastest-growing publishers of sports betting content in the U.S. For more information, visit Pickswise.com. ABOUT SPOTLIGHT SPORTS GROUP Spotlight Sports Group (owned by Exponent Private Equity) is a leading technology, content and media business specializing in sports betting. Evolved from the Racing Post Group, Spotlight Sports Group engages millions of people directly through Racing Post, Pickswise, Free Super Tips, Fantasy Alarm and myracing. The company also has decades of experience in powering growth and conversion for the world’s biggest sportsbooks and media companies, delivering best-in-class technology and expert scalable content experiences in more than 70 languages. Contact Details Hot Paper Lantern Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.pickswise.com/

February 08, 2022 08:31 AM Eastern Standard Time

Kramer enriches its end-to-end solutions for Enterprise and Education applications with the new Kramer Collaboration Devices

Kramer Electronics

Kramer Electronics Ltd. is pleased to announce the release of its new Kramer Collaboration Devices, the latest addition to its end-to-end Pro AV solutions for Enterprise and Education applications. The new product line, which includes advanced cameras, a communication bar and a speakerphone, offers outstanding AV quality, flexibility and simplicity. Kramer’s complete solutions for Enterprise meeting spaces, schools and universities meet customers’ needs for complete, integrated solutions from a single, trusted partner that provides certified solutions, market-leading warranties and end-to-end support, all under one roof. Offering simple setup and seamless use, it is agnostic to all UC applications, and supports multiple conferencing platforms. Kramer Collaboration Devices are designed for varied spaces from small huddle rooms up to large boardrooms, classrooms and auditoriums. They ensure all participants, whether in the room or connecting remotely, consistently enjoy superb interactions, with an immersive audio and video experience. With Kramer Collaboration Devices, all participants can see and be seen as well as hear and be heard clearly – enabling meaningful and effective collaboration. An integral part of Kramer end-to-end solutions for Enterprise and Education applications, Kramer Collaboration Devices are fast and simple to deploy. They can easily be combined with Kramer's in-room A/V signal management and control products for a complete collaborative, hybrid experience. “With workplace norms and needs changing across business and education markets, our end-to-end solutions are building the foundation for truly inclusive hybrid interaction spaces,” says Gilad Yron, Kramer’s CEO. “The addition of the new line of Kramer Collaboration Devices is the latest step towards this vision, helping ensure engaging experiences for all participants and successfully bridging the gap between in-person and remote interactions.” The new Kramer Collaboration Devices product line includes: K-Speak – A compact speakerphone with 360° omnidirectional audio pickup that enhances the audio experience for everyone. Perfect for any room size where additional audio coverage is needed. K-Bar –An all-in-one video and audio communication bar that allows participants to quickly start collaborating. Ideal for small to mid-sized spaces where an all-in-one device saves space and cable clutter. K-180Mini – A smart, 4K wall-mount panoramic camera with integrated microphone, that captures clear video across a full 180° field of view. Designed for small rooms and huddle rooms. K-CamHD – A professional HD PTZ camera for versatile video capture that ensures a clear view of all meeting attendees, with special attention wherever needed. Ideal for varied spaces and use cases, ranging from medium sized rooms up to board rooms, classrooms and auditoriums. K-Cam4K –An ultra-HD PTZ camera for premium-clarity video in large spaces that puts every meeting in sharp focus, with crystal-clear, ultra-high-definition video capture. Supports the most advanced and challenging setups in large meeting rooms and educational spaces. About Kramer We are dedicated to delivering better, smarter solutions that enhance physical-digital engagement and collaboration. Kramer solutions are based on our cutting-edge products and technologies for traditional AV, AV over IP, unified communication and collaboration (UCC) and wireless collaboration, and advanced management and control. www.kramerav.com Contact Details Ornit Sade Benkin +972 52-332-7700 osade@kramerav.com Company Website https://www.kramerav.com/

February 08, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Party Casino Reveals the Most Fascinating Abandoned Gaming Halls

Party Casino

Temporarily abandoned Fontainebleau casino in Las Vegas set to finally open in 2023 Vacant since 2009, the building echoes urban adventurer fascination in abandoned spaces Four still-standing but abandoned casinos profiled by online gaming site, Party Casino The tallest building in Nevada – the 76-storey Fontainebleau casino in Las Vegas – is set to finally open by the end of 2023, having sat vacant since its construction was halted in 2009. After the recession put a stop to construction of the $2.9 billion structure, it changed hands several times before being reacquired by Fontainebleau in February this year. While the enormous structure has hardly been abandoned since 2009 – interim owners pumped tens of millions into keeping the infrastructure in mint condition – the story of the Fontainebleau casino highlights the changing fortunes of the gambling industry and shows that, just sometimes, the house doesn’t win. Online Gaming company, Party Casino, has researched the most fascinating abandoned casinos from around the world for, while the Fontainebleau casino is now set to open after all, other establishments have not been so lucky in the hands they have been dealt. Casino di Consonno, Italy In the 1960s, the eccentric entrepreneur Count Mario Bagno bought the entire town of Consonno for 22.5 million lire (around £10,000) and razed it to the ground in order to build his brainchild, Citta dei Balocchi – the City of Toys. Designed to be a playground for the wealthy of nearby Milan, the City of Toys was supposed to include everything from a car racing circuit to football fields, a zoo and even a fake castle. The Casino di Consonno was one of the few elements that actually got built and enjoyed a short period of success until the mid-1970s. But the Count’s constantly changing plans meant the ‘city’ was never finished and he abandoned it in 1985. After his death in 1995, his estate shut the whole town and it has been slowly decaying ever since, with the casino the spooky centrepiece of an urban explorer’s dream site. Penthouse Adriatic Club Casino, Croatia Opened in 1972 at the Haludova Hotel, the brainchild of Penthouse founder Bob Guccioni who spent $45 million on the complex, the casino went bankrupt the following year and closed. The hotel fared little better, going through several ownerships; during the Yugoslav civil war, it was used to house refugees before being privatised in 1995 and hosting its final guests in 2001. Since then, it has lain dormant and decaying. Casino Constanta, Romania Casino Constanta, Romania – Built in 1910 on Romania’s Black Sea coast, this art nouveau palace featured two games rooms, reading rooms, a dance hall, theatre, restaurant and terrace with a sea view. During the First World War, it was used as a Red Cross hospital and during WWII, German troops were stationed there. It was renovated twice but ultimately closed in 1990 because of high operating costs. Since 2014, the building has been slowly crumbling, leaving it a dilapidated shell of its former self. Rhyolite Ghost Casino, USA Rhyolite Ghost Casino, USA – The Nevada town of Rhyolite was founded in 1905 and rose to prominence swiftly as a ‘gold rush’ mining town. However, its fortunes did not last long – the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and financial crash of 1907 quickly put paid to the settlement’s fortunes. By 1910, the mind was operating at a loss and, by 1920, population had dwindled to a handful. Since then, the town has been a tourist attraction and movie set. Now one of the most photographed ‘Wild West’ ghost towns, Rhyolite’s buildings are largely in ruins but the old train depot, now privately owned, was briefly converted into a casino and bar, as well as a small museum, but even that has lain derelict and broken down since the 1970s. Although the four highlighted sites still stand, albeit derelict, there have been many more casinos across the globe that were also abandoned and spent many years empty and decaying. Among the best-known of these were the fabulously ornate Bokor Palace casino in Cambodia – once the haunt of the French colonial elite; Asbury Park Casino on the Jersey shore in the USA which succumbed to eroding shorelines and urban development before being demolished. There have even been a couple of floating casinos that lay abandoned for years, including the New Orleans-themed Big Easy Casino Boat, which spent most of its short life unoccupied, being moved between various Florida ports. Meanwhile, the Jubilation Casino boat in Mississippi opened in 1995 and lasted just seven months before closing, before spending years being trashed and forgotten, ending its days listing sadly in the water. David Winter, marketing manager of Party Casino, said: “Abandoned buildings are often eerie, slightly foreboding, spaces but casinos hold a special fascination. That’s because these buildings were once filled with glamour, luxury, laughter and the thrill of the games. “The juxtaposition of what they once were compared with the dark, decaying, silent places they are now is such a stark one that it’s hard not to hear the echoes of the past when you see pictures of the ruined buildings.” Download images here Contact Details Intelligiants Ltd J Cain media@intelligiants.com

February 07, 2022 08:32 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Loveland, Colorado's Sweetheart Festival Brings Free Family Fun Valentine’s Day Weekend Feb. 11-12

Loveland Chamber of Commerce

Spend Valentine’s Day weekend in the nation’s Sweetheart City at the Loveland Sweetheart Festival from 5-9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 11, and 1-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12. Downtown’s Foundry Plaza will come alive with a special effects light show, live entertainment, the Palace of Sweets, kids zone, Tunnel of Love, interactive art projects, Loveland Pub and Beer Hall, Sweetheart Classic 4-miler race, and the Little Miss Valentine and Little Mr. Cupid contest. The festival, an extension of Loveland’s 76-year history of celebrating love through its internationally-recognized Valentine Re-Mailing Program, features something for everyone – families, couples, beer, and chocolate lovers, running lovers, art lovers, and forever loves. Things to See and Do Travel through the Tunnel of Love Interact with performers including a stilt walker, LED hula hoopers, and fire show Watch live music and entertainment Enjoy the light show and pyrotechnics See heart-shaped ice sculptures and giant inflatable heart Explore history through the Loveland Museum Valentine history pop-up exhibit Purchase delectable eats at the Palace of Sweets from “B” Sweet Cupcakes, Cupcake Gypsies, Loveland Chocolate, and Red Branch Bakery Enjoy the Loveland Pub Beer Garden featuring Grimm Brothers, Loveland Aleworks, Crow Hop, Sweetheart Winery, and the OBC Wine Project Sign the graffiti ice wall Pose at the neon photo-op stations Cheer on the Little Miss Valentine and Mr. Cupid Contest Participate in the Loveland Sweetheart Classic 4 Miler race Purchase and engrave love locks at the Visitors Center Shop Enjoy vendors and food trucks Enter to win Avelo Airlines tickets to Burbank, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada Bring the kids for fun and games including: Meet and greets with a princess and other characters Face painting Colorado Eagles shoot booth hockey games Ice penguin ring toss Loveland Parks & Recreation brick creation station The full schedule of events is available at visitlovelandco.org/sweetheartfestival/. Follow the event on Facebook at Facebook.com/LovelandSweetheartFestival. About Visit Loveland The mission of Visit Loveland is to enthusiastically promote, market, and sell Loveland, Colorado as a destination for meetings, conventions, and individual travelers, fostering economic development and benefiting and supporting members and the overall business community. It is Visit Loveland’s goal to promote tourism, conventions, and related activities within the city by marketing the city and sponsoring destination and community events. Learn more at VisitLovelandCO.com. About the Loveland Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1902, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce is northern Colorado’s “driving force for business.” Comprised of more than 750 local companies, the chamber offers a vast array of educational and networking programs to help its investors, both large and small, gain the skills and resources necessary to thrive and prosper in today's economy. As a founding member of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance (NCLA), the chamber also serves as an advocate for business, working on behalf of entrepreneurs to lead and influence local, state, and federal policy on issues affecting the unique interests of business in northern Colorado. For more information on the Loveland Chamber, please call 970-667-6311 or visit loveland.org. Contact Details Visit Loveland Colorado Cindy Mackin +1 970-290-8810 Cindy.Mackin@CityofLoveland.org Company Website https://visitlovelandco.org

February 07, 2022 08:10 AM Eastern Standard Time

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