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Live! Casino Pittsburgh is taking on an unexpected new role this spring: prom venue.
The Westmoreland County casino and entertainment complex will host prom celebrations for Derry Area and Mt. Pleasant Area high schools this year, offering students a nontraditional but tightly controlled setting as schools continue to face a shortage of large, affordable event spaces.
Live! Casino Pittsburgh GM Sean Sullivan told PlayPennsylvania that the partnership originated from direct outreach by school districts struggling to find suitable venues.
“Live! Casino has been approached by local high schools given the lack of premier event venues throughout Westmoreland County.
“Our property has become an entertainment destination for the region, offering our guests new and unique venues and services.”
Arcade games available to attendees
While the idea of a prom inside a casino may raise eyebrows, Live! officials emphasized that students will never be exposed to gambling areas.
Sullivan said proms will be held exclusively on the property’s second floor, which includes the Venue Live! event space and Sports & Social Steel City, both accessible to guests of all ages.
“The casino has hundreds of security cameras and an in-house security staff which prohibits underage guests to enter the casino floor. The district is also providing several chaperones.”
The second-floor spaces feature no gaming activity and instead focus on food, music, and interactive entertainment. Students will have access to attractions such as bowling lanes, a golf simulator, foosball, skee-ball, and other arcade-style games.
Casino security staff will work alongside school chaperones throughout each event.
Solving a growing venue problem
For many Pennsylvania school districts, prom planning has become increasingly difficult in recent years as traditional banquet halls and resorts either book far in advance or exceed school budgets. Live! Casino Pittsburgh’s ability to accommodate large groups, provide in-house security, and offer flexible event layouts made it an appealing option.
The move also reflects Live!’s broader effort to position itself as more than a gaming destination, Sullivan said.
“From the day we opened, our goal has been to deliver exceptional entertainment while being a true community partner.”
Community involvement beyond prom
Hosting high school proms fits into a wider community engagement strategy at Live! Casino Pittsburgh. Sullivan noted that the property has contributed heavily to local causes since opening.
“In the last five years, local charitable organizations have received more than $800,000 in contributions through direct donations, the Charitable Community Bingo Program and the casino’s The Giveback Box.
“Our executives also play a significant leadership role in dozens of nonprofit organizations throughout the community.”
While prom hosting may be new territory for a Pennsylvania casino, Live! officials see it as a natural extension of their entertainment-focused, community-first approach. It is a solution to a real local need.
Whether other casinos across the state follow suit remains to be seen, but for Westmoreland County students, prom night this year will come with a backdrop unlike any before.
