Article updated: 1/24/2012 5:40 AM

Elgin casino wants to up its game against Rivers

Grand Victoria may team up with city for new entertainment venue

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The auditorium at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin is too small to attract big-name acts. And officials say the acoustics are subpar and the building itself has outlived its usefulness. The city may partner with the Grand Victoria Casino to build an entertainment complex at the casino. The casino will pay for a viability study.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

The Grand Victoria Casino is looking for a way to better compete with the shiny new Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, and the city of Elgin wants to replace its old concert hall. A partnership could result in an entertainment complex at the Elgin casino.

Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

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Owners of Elgin's Grand Victoria Casino are teaming up with the city of Elgin to explore whether to build a multipurpose entertainment facility that could help them better compete with the new Rivers Casino in Des Plaines. Assistant City Manager Rick Kozal said partnering with Grand Victoria could solve the problems of both organizations and mean an end to annual subsidies for the Hemmens Cultural Center.