Universal bringing horror venue to Chicago River

Zoom in: Universal is promising "terrifying mazes, unforgettable scares, themed bars and unique food and beverage offerings, and a retail space featuring exclusive merchandise" at the new facility, which will be across from the expected Bally's Casino.

• Officials say the venue will create more than 400 permanent jobs in roles that include operations leaders, merchandise hosts, entertainers called scareactors, and make-up and prosthetics artists.

What they're saying: "This is exactly the kind of creative, high-impact investment we're working to attract — one that brings new life to a vacant site, creates hundreds of jobs, and cements Chicago as a must-visit destination for entertainment tourism," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement.

Between the lines: Illinois officials tell Axios the project is getting more than $7 million in state incentives through the Illinois EDGE program, and they predict Horror Unleashed will generate $1 billion in economic impact.

• "Universal choosing Illinois didn't happen by accident — we were proud to support this project through our EDGE incentive program, which has helped fortify a positive business climate that draws world-class companies to the state," Gov. JB Pritzker said.

What's next: Construction on the project is expected to start in early 2026, with an opening in 2027.