Esports Entertainment Center Could Come To Downtown Orland Park

ORLAND PARK, IL — A state-of-the-art entertainment theater may possibly be coming to town, after the newly shown plans for the downtown Orland Park development, otherwise known as "The Triangle," were shared earlier this week.

The village held an open house event for residents at the Civic Center Tuesday night, discussing development ideas for the decade's long Triangle project. The developers expect to create a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use destination for all to enjoy.

The Triangle is found west and northwest of the 143rd Street and LaGrange Road intersection. The area holds the 143rd Street Metra Station, University of Chicago Medicine Center for Advanced Care and Ninety7Fifty on the Park apartments. The property is a village-owned planned zone, primed for development.

On Tuesday, Ramzi Hassan, President of Edwards Realty Company, showcased plans for restaurants, a park, additional parking and commercial space for the site. Features for different parcels include five and six-story buildings that will house mixed use developments. The entertainment theater would be built on the grounds of the current Crescent Park location, just east of the Metra station.

Edwards Realty is a family owned and operated company based in Orland Park. The company owns the Orland Park Crossing complex, just across the street from The Triangle.

"Being in Orland Park, and being in the retail tenant business, finding tenants and promoting Orland Park non-stop, it only made sense to want to be part of this site in some way shape or form," Hassan said. "We always wanted to build on what we're already doing in Orland."

Hassan is the vice president of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce, which holds nearly 500 businesses. The company president said he wants to bring restaurants to town that are not typical national brands.

"I know we don’t need many more chain restaurants," Hassan said. "[We need] more of the local flavor. We need some specialty retail and dining."

Esports — competitive video game tournaments played by professional gamers for spectators to enjoy — was another hot topic at the open house meeting. Ken McGraw, CEO of Midnight Gaming Corp, an esports media company, said that esports competitions in the proposed entertainment facility could produce large amounts of revenue.

"What we intend to happen here is to be the energy and the excitement and the engine that drives a lot of eyeballs, a lot of attention and foot traffic and dollars to this particular triangle," McGraw said. "If you're familiar with the esports industry at all, you understand that those things are accomplished based on the activities that happen inside of any particular building."

The building would be three-floors and 96,000 square ft., McGraw said. One floor will hold a competition stage. The facility would also house gaming stations, concerts, a food court, retail, city gatherings and even a television production studio. It will be owned by Edwards Realty.

Residents can participate in a survey for the property by texting HELLO to 708-578-7675.

See the presentation held Tuesday night below: