Everyone in Erie knows people who can't wait for the doors of the new Presque Isle Downs to open. The casino is expected to open Feb. 15, though delays by two state bodies threaten to push back the official starting date.

I've never been around when a casino opened, but when it's happened in other parts of Pennsylvania, the crowds came streaming in. I think it's simply understood it'll happen that way in Erie, too, except Presque Isle Downs leaders would be wise to recall the experience of the owners of Commodore Downs, which opened here in 1973.

Now, Commodore Downs was a thoroughbred race track, which Presque Isle Downs will open in September. Slots and race tracks are two separate entities. All you haver to do is go to Buffalo, N.Y., drive across the Peace Bridge to Canada, and turn left into Fort Erie's parking lot. Fort Erie boasts a lovely race track and a booming slots parlor. The racing is first rate, but the big crowds go to the slots parlor.

That will probably happen in Erie, too, though I'm getting a bit concerned about the lack of marketing for Presque Isle Downs' slots operation. I could be all wet. Erie people love new restaurants and, really, anything new, and the newness of the slots center will probably be enough to fill the place -- at least in the early days.

Still, back when Commodore Downs opened, the owners threw open the doors and said "Come and get it." And the big crowds never came. The owners predicted an opening night crowd of "10,000 or more." It was barely half that number, and things quickly grew worse. The problem was that most Erie people weren't as familiar with horse racing as the track's owners assumed they would be.

As I say, the slots center and the track are different, and perhaps the slots center won't require heavy marketing. The new race track will definitely need a major campaign to lure customers. It should probably start such a sales effort soon.

My big fear is that Presque Isle Downs might have missed an opportunity to sell local folks on the pleasures of playing slot machines, etc. The people who are into this sort of thing are really into it, but how certain are P.I.'s owners that enough people here will be into it?

At any rate, I'm excited about the slots and, especially, about the race track. I'll be there, and I hope my fears are groundless. They probably are. I guess I've always been an old worry wart.

-- Kevin Cuneo

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