Casino news source: Auburn Journal - http://www.auburnjournal.com
Casino expansion would add luxury hotel
Performing arts center, more gaming space also planned at Thunder Valley
By: Jenna Nielsen, Journal Staff Writer
Sunday, June 17, 2007
This rendering shows what Thunder Valley Casino would look like after construction of a nine-level parking garage, 23-story hotel and performing arts center. Photo courtesy to the JournalThe United Auburn Indian Community announced plans Friday to expand Thunder Valley Casino near Lincoln, adding a five-star, 23-story hotel, performing arts center and more gaming space.
The expansion will also include a 5,000-vehicle parking structure, spa, ballrooms totaling 30,000 square feet, exhibit space, three new restaurants and a tribal cultural exhibit area that will house authentic artifacts.
The performing arts center will accommodate 3,000 people and will be versatile enough to handle concerts, comedy acts and trade shows.
The project would bring more than 1,200 new jobs to the area and more than 1,000 jobs will be required for the construction phase, tribal leaders said.
Scott Garawitz, general manager of the casino, said that the decision for the expansion resulted from customer feedback.
"From the day we opened, our customers have been asking for various amenities," Garawitz said. "We have been open for four years now and it's time to give the customers what they have been asking for."
The hotel will feature 650 hotel rooms, an exercise facility, spa, pool deck, family center and arcade.
Upon completion, the casino will pay the county about $1.4 million a year in room occupancy tax for the hotel.
The United Auburn Indian Community pays Placer County roughly $2.7 million a year in lieu of property taxes. After the expansion, that number would grow to $10.7 million.
The United Auburn Indian Community is in the process of filing paperwork for a tribal environmental impact report, which will determine what the casino can move forward with in the construction phase.
Thunder Valley houses a 200,000-square-foot entertainment facility that includes a casino with 2,700 slot machines, 98 gaming tables, a VIP gaming room and two private gaming salons. The casino also has a center pit bar, 500-seat buffet, food court with five quick-service outlets, three full-service restaurants, six bars and parking for 3,000 vehicles.
Lincoln City Councilman Spencer Short said he is looking forward to the project.
"Thunder Valley Casino has been a good neighbor," Short said. "I think they are doing what they need to do to be competitive."
Cache Creek Casino Resort in Yolo County has 200 hotel rooms. Officials announced earlier this month the resort would offer its own expansion, including 467 additional hotel rooms, more gaming and two formal restaurants.
Short said the only thing that concerns him about the expansion is the height of the hotel.
"Twenty-three stories in this area is a little jarring," he said. "It's hard to visualize 23 stories out in south Placer. But Thunder Valley seems to do a healthy business. And hopefully we will be the beneficiaries of more traffic coming through our area and eating in our restaurants."
Garawitz said the casino is planning on a 24-month construction schedule once the tribal environmental impact report comes back, which could take up to a year, he said.
"We have to be flexible to change whatever comes back as a result," Garawitz said. "But right now we are just finalizing our plans."
Garawitz said upon completion, the casino could be comparable to Vegas-style casinos, just on a slightly smaller scale.
"This is what customers are looking for," he said. "There are a lot of casinos and hotels in Vegas that are much larger, but four or five stars is four or five stars anywhere. Thunder Valley isn't second-rate to anything. We are keeping Thunder Valley as a leader - we're just taking it to the next level." The Journal's Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com.
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