Robert Mims will be hosting March Madness events in Malvern, Pa. and Las Vegas.
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What better place to enjoy March Madness than at Chickie’s and Pete’s in Malvern. That location opened a little over a month ago, the first restaurant and sports bar in Pennsylvania to have a sportsbook inside the venue. The Sports book is operated by Parx Casino, where Chickie's and Pete's has a great relationship as they've had an outlet in the Bensalem property for over a decade. So, this business partnership works and makes sense.
Marc Oppenheimer, the Chief Marketing Officer at Parx, indicated that betting business has been better than anticipated. The partnership had great timing with their opening date as the location opened the week of the Super Bowl. The restaurant is also doing strong business according to manager Chelsea Moss. The kitchen closes at 10 pm on Sunday thru Thursday and 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The bar closes one hour after the kitchen every night. The most popular menu item is, you guessed it, the crab fries. The chicken sandwich and the pork sandwich are also favorites. Moss recommended the mussels with white as very appetizing. The beverages that the patrons love are the Flying Hawaiian and the Pomegranate Margarita.
For March Madness there will be a $47.99 per person special that consists of all you can eat for select items. Reservations are strongly suggested and on game nights involving the Sixers, the crowd is standing room only.
Tim Clark is the sportsbook manager and says that women are becoming more interested in betting. He also sees a trend of younger people between 21 –35 that are trending slowly toward horse racing. Since Parx has a racetrack associated with its property, that allows the operation at Chickie's and Pete's to offer wagering on horse racing. Clark and his assistant, Becky Pauley, take the time to explain the terminology of horse wagering to the patrons. Clark went on to say that when the Sixers are playing an away game, there is nothing but Sixers garb, jerseys, and hats all over the room.
Clark and Moss are equally excited about the NCAA Tournament and the restaurant's hosting of March Madness with Mims. This is going to take place at 7 pm on Sunday, March 13 at the conclusion of the NCAA Men's Basketball Selection Show. Participants from some of the top sportsbooks will share their thoughts about the tournament. Two of the confirmed panelists will include Sport Book Director Tom Gable from Borgata Hotel and Casino and sportsbook Manager Max Schmerin from Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. They will provide insight into this year's tournament. Tim Clark and I will round out the panel. I may surprise you with a special guest.
After the event, I will be heading to Nevada to continue March Madness with Mims at two of the top sportsbooks in Las Vegas. Those venues are Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino and Circa Resort & Hotel. I will provide opening day tournament coverage of the action starting on March 17. I want to thank Jay Kornegay, John Murray, and Rosemary Rocco from Westgate for their gracious welcome and participation. Westgate has a stellar reputation for service and sports wagering. I also want to thank Derek Stevens, Matt Metcalf and Jeffrey Benson from Circa Sports & Circa Las Vegas for allowing me access to what many consider to be the sportsbook of all sportsbooks. I cannot wait to show you Stadium Swim.
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram as I cover The NCAA Men's and Women's Tournaments. Tomorrow, look for my NBA Preview of the Sixers and the Nets right here on Bettors Insider.