Demolition work for Bally’s Casino and Hotel at the former Chicago Tribune publishing site begins Tuesday

CHICAGO (WLS) — Demolition work will begin on Tuesday at the future site of Bally’s permanent casino in Chicago.

An excavator will begin removing parts of the former Chicago Tribune publishing center at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street. The facility was closed in May.

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Bally’s expects to open its permanent casino and 500-room hotel in fall 2026.

It also currently operates a temporary casino in the Medinah Temple in River North.

The company accepted a takeover offer from its largest shareholder for more than $4.5 billion late last month.

Standard General, a hedge fund led by Bally’s CEO Soo Kim, will buy the company’s remaining shares so the company will continue to trade on the stock exchange.

Bally’s recently released new renderings of the proposed casino after announcing that financing for the complex had been secured. The site plan calls for a 34-story hotel tower, which still needs to be approved by the Chicago Planning and Development Department.

The Illinois Gaming Board said it was aware of the takeover and was reviewing it.

Bally’s told the Chicago Tribune that plans for the Chicago casino remained unchanged.