u/TheDevolution27

I wandered over to NewBo City Market's yard on a light breeze shortly after 4:00 yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

The main grass space by the stage was mostly full with a collection of city leaders, casino executives, and citizens, with only a smattering of people in the bigger rear grass section.

Just in time to hear Mayor O'Donnell beg for a smattering of cheers as she spoke about how long and how much work it'd taken to get to this day.

Casino Executive Vice President Kim Pang was next, telling the gathered crowd about the now mid-November opening and that, “We are a local casino. We draw from a 45-mile concentric circle. And locals are very important; they show up for work."

Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (Cedar Crossing's parent company) Chief Marketing Officer Todd Moyer followed, once again begging for cheers after he was surprised there wasn't more excitement for "Fight Night."

Before they revealed the casino's preliminary entertainment lineup, the crowd was treated to the Pork Tornadoes' off-key, muffled renditions of "Whiskey Glasses" and some 80s song that slips my mind. They kicked everything off by asking, “Where my country music fans at?” The response was uninspired. It was at this point that I realized not bringing a flask of strong booze had been an oversight on my part.

The entertainment was then unveiled through a produced video on a projection screen, and included acts varying from the aforementioned Pork Tornadoes (scheduled to be the first show in the casino) and Old Dominion to the Commodores and Carrot Top. Yes, Carrot Top.

I grabbed a seat on some stonework toward the back, and at one point was taken by an uptick in cheers, followed by an audible groan from the crowd. I later learned that occurred when a slide unveiling one of the featured entertainers was briefly mistaken for the world-famous Red Hot Chili Peppers before the realization that it was actually the Red Hot Chili Pipers.

The conclusion of the unveiling was met with more half-assed cheers before the Pork Tornadoes once again took the stage. One man, visibly disgruntled, walked through the parking lot and angrily tossed half a beer on the ground. At the same time, I overheard one man in a group walking behind me say, "Oh that's the Pork Tundras!" That was also my cue to leave, the parting sounds of a rock-heavy version of "Pink Pony Club" ringing in my ears as I briskly walked away.

P.S. Out of morbid curiosity, I later checked the casino's website for listed entertainment only to find a 404 page.