Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood isn’t just a place to play, it’s a lively community hub designed to create fun experiences and bring people together. While the city of Inglewood has gone through a major transformation over the past few years, Hollywood Park Casino has evolved right alongside the thriving city. We chatted with the venue’s marketing director, Maria Canchola, to find out more about the historical entertainment venue.
Whip smart and charismatic, it’s easy to see that Maria absolutely loves her role as head of PR, promotions and marketing for Hollywood Park Casino (HPC).
“Our job is to create fun! We’re the place people gather, so we’re kind of like the community home for the pre-party and the post-party for everyone in this area. When all you have to do all day is create fun it can be exhausting, but also rewarding,” she says with a winning smile.
Maria started working at HPC just over 10 years ago. At the time, the horse racing track was still standing, surrounded by huge grandstands that evoked its former Hollywood glamour, but it was in desperate need of a renaissance.
Originally called The Hollywood Turf Club, the Hollywood Park Racetrack first opened its gates way back in 1938 and was under the guidance of Chairman Jack L. Warner, president of Warner Bros. Studios. The Hollywood Turf Club’s original shareholders included showbiz heavyweights like Walt Disney, Bing Crosby and Samuel Goldwyn. In those days, horse racing appealed to the jet set and attracted celebrities of all kinds. Even the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit raced there, winning 1938’s Hollywood Gold Cup, the track’s signature race. Hollywood Park was a place to see and be seen.
But over time, the public’s taste in entertainment changed. The original Hollywood Park Casino was added in 1994 as interest in horse racing declined. The racetrack eventually closed for good in 2013. As professional sports like football and basketball–especially the Lakers and Clippers–became more and more popular, savvy developers set their sights on making Inglewood L.A.’s sports and entertainment destination.
Wanting to be part of Inglewood’s metamorphosis, Hollywood Park Racetrack sold off a big portion of land to the Kroenke Group who built SoFi and the YouTube theater.
“Inglewood has blossomed over the last few years,” Maria says. “There’s been a real focus on revitalization, from improved infrastructure to a growing arts and culture scene. The energy in the city is palpable, and we’re proud to contribute to that positive momentum.”
The all-new Hollywood Park Casino had its grand opening in 2016 and Maria was there through all the planning, design, and development phases of the transformation. “We were involved from the groundbreaking to the final touches of the new design,” she says. Those fluffy pink pillows at Raise Lounge, HPC’s signature bar, were intended to add a touch of femininity and pop of color–a detail Maria loves.
The original building that once reflected the charm of old Hollywood is now a modern, stylish facility with sleek lines and colorful, geometric light fixtures. The casino is divided into two distinct areas: one side dedicated to classic table games like poker, blackjack, and baccarat, and the other a spacious area for off-track horse race betting and community events. The environment feels welcoming, yet elegant, and was meant to fit in with state-of-the-art facilities likes SoFi Stadium and the ultra-modern Intuit Dome.
“They built us with the rest of the development in mind. So if you come here, initially the design of Hollywood Park was really meant to give you the insight to what the rest of the development in Inglewood was going to be. If you drive into the casino you’ll notice our big entryway. It gives you that grand feeling, like you’re in a grand casino. You almost don’t realize you’re in the middle of Inglewood,” she says.
Maria says it was important not to erase Hollywood Park’s history; instead, they wanted to bring it into the 21st century. If you walk through the casino today, you might notice vintage photographs or design elements that harken back to those golden days of horse racing, blending in with the modern architecture and walls that boast works of art from local artists.
Entertainment at Hollywood Park Casino goes far beyond the gaming tables. The venue regularly hosts all kinds of eclectic events, from speed dating to ‘90s trivia nights and even a Snoop Dogg pop-up.
“We partner with one of the radio stations, SBS Mega, and we’ll give tickets away to some of the concerts that are happening here in our area,” she says.
The casino even plays host to community gatherings like Super Bowl parties, which Maria believes put Inglewood, “on the map,” by bringing in crowds from across Los Angeles.
As you enter the casino, one of the first things you see is a gorgeous, giant chandelier inviting you into the Century Bar and Grill. Maria says that was by design.
“We don’t want anyone to be intimidated when they walk in, especially if you don’t play card games like poker. That’s why as soon as you walk in the door, there’s a nice restaurant right in front of you.” Maria says.
Courtesy HPC
The restaurant serves everything from burgers and nachos to steaks and seafood, making it a perfect spot for a quick lunch or a relaxed dinner before or after a show at nearby venues like SoFi Stadium. Happy Hour is Sunday through Thursday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of Hollywood Park Casino is its sense of community. Maria is quick to highlight its welcoming atmosphere.
“We are focused on providing safe spaces for creating community. A lot of people don’t realize how beautiful it is until they get here. The first thing people say is, ‘This is incredible!’ They also see that the people who work here are just incredibly nice and kind and it is really friendly. We treat everybody like family when you come here. I think that that’s one thing that’s important for people to know,” she says.
Looking ahead, Maria is optimistic about future partnerships, including potential activations surrounding LA28 and the upcoming Olympic events at SoFi. She’s excited to welcome the world to Inglewood and show off Hollywood Park Casino to sports fans who want to play some games, grab a bite to eat or just relax before and after Olympic events. It will no doubt be an exciting time in Hollywood Park’s history.
Story by Shanee Edwards. Photos by Robert Higgins.
