Tom Via, Woodbine’s chief operating officer, unveiled some updated plans for the 684-acre Woodbine site at a meet-and-greet with horsemen this afternoon.

The special events tent at the east end of the grandstand will be removed in early July to make way for construction of a 600-room hotel, a new casino and entertainment center. Heavy construction on this portion of the grounds will begin after Nov. 1, and is scheduled to conclude late in 2021. A large area in front of the hotel, called “Woodbine Square,” will be constructed at the same time so that people can view racing while trackside in that area.

The initial construction on the grounds will be on the underground services: “municipal infrastructure.”

The second floor east grandstand will be ready to open for interim gaming in August, and will attract an estimated 6,000 patrons per day. The third floor east, which will be limited to VIP customers, will open in October.

Woodbine is working on a strategy for “adaptive reuse” of the rest of grandstand, and will entertain any suggestions as to how redo the area.