People lined up outside and then swarmed into the new Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., about 11:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

   Hundreds of people streamed into the new Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3, in Kansas City, Kan., to be among the first to see the $411 million gaming facility.

   People were lined up at the entrances, through the parking garage, and in the hallways waiting for the new casino to open. Stop-and-go traffic on Village West Parkway approached the new casino, which is near I-70 and I-435 in Wyandotte County. The parking garage was full and the surface parking lots were filling up. Thousands of people were estimated to have shown up today.

   Dignitaries at the casino opening included state and local government officials, NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne, Penn National Gaming officials and International Speedway Corp. officials.

   "I believe it is now the premiere gaming facility, not just in Kansas, but across the river," said Peter Carlino, Penn National Gaming chief executive officer.

   Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Corp., was also in attendance. ISC is a partner with Penn National Gaming in the joint venture that was developed and operated by Kansas Entertainment. The state of Kansas owns the actual casino games there. The casino overlooks turn two of the Kansas Speedway track.

   Casino officials expect 4 million persons to visit this casino annually, according to a spokesman. The casino also includes five restaurants inside. The new 95,000-foot casino gaming floor includes 2,000 slot machines and 52 table games. It is expected to produce $220 million in revenues annually.

   Mayor Joe Reardon told the audience at the ribbon-cutting that the Unified Government wanted to make sure there was a quality facility.

   "This completely exceeds anything I think we had in mind," he said.