The Queen Baton Rouge and DraftKings Sportsbook celebrate grand opening

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Queen Baton Rouge and DraftKings Sportsbook officially opened at 9 p.m. tonight, welcoming more than 1,000 guests who lined up outdoors to be the first to welcome the stunning, 100,000-square-foot casino to Baton Rouge. The opening was preceded by a ribbon cutting and welcoming remarks by Terry Downey, CEO and President of The Queen Gaming & Entertainment, Inc., Mayor-President of Baton Rouge Sharon Weston Broome, The Queen Baton Rouge general manager, Matthew Shehadi, former LSU Tiger and NFL quarterback Matt Flynn and Ronnie S. Johns, Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

The ribbon was officially cut by Lydia Chenevert, a 30-year employee of The Queen Baton Rouge, which, before tonight, had been the Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, a historic riverboat casino. An $85 million redevelopment, The Queen Baton Rouge unveiled an entirely new and Baton Rouge’s first land-based casino.

A spectacular drone light show immediately followed the ribbon cutting, synchronized to a playlist that aired on Talk 107.3 and 98.1 FM. The drones lit up the sky with a countdown revealing the logo for The Queen Baton Rouge, as well as all the incredible destinations found within the property: the DraftKings Sportsbook, 1717, a dynamic bar and restaurant with a stage for live entertainment; three exciting quick-service restaurants: Big Chicken, 3 Woks Noodle Bar and Capitol Coffee Baton Rouge; and a dedicated smoking patio, LIT Casino & Bar.

Immediately after The Queen opened its doors, Flynn led a ribbon-cutting ceremony and placed the ceremonial first bet inside the DraftKings Sportsbook.

As of 9 p.m. tonight, The Queen Baton Rouge is now open 24 hours daily.