By Levi J. Long
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.25.2006
Once used as farmland by the Tohono O'odham, some 33 acres on the San Xavier District will serve the tribe once again as the site for Southern Arizona's first casino-hotel complex, expected to open by fall 2007.
The Tohono O'odham Nation broke ground Monday at the Desert Diamond Casino 7350 S. Nogales Highway, making way for a $120 million project that will total more than 320,000 square feet.
"We are taking further steps toward self-reliance. Our goal is to jump-start the economy," said O'odham Tribal Chairwoman Vivian Juan-Saunders. "Our role in Southern Arizona is growing. With the hotel and casino, we're showing that we're part of the community and are taking our seat at the table."
Financed with casino revenues and a loan from Chase Manhattan Bank, the casino-hotel will be built in phases over the next 18 months.
Construction is expected to start this week. The site is just west of the current casino at East Los Reales Road and South Nogales Highway; the hotel will be adjacent to the casino to the south.
Once the casino and hotel are completed, the old casino will be torn down and land will be used for parking.
Scheduled to open by September 2007, the 170,000-square-foot casino will house 998 slot machines, a 500-seat bingo hall, a 35-seat keno area and will feature 25 poker tables and 24 blackjack tables. Other amenities include a 250-seat buffet, a high-end steakhouse, a sports bar with entertainment areas, a fast-food area, lounges and retail shops.
The 150,000-square-foot hotel is expected to open in October 2007. The 151-room, four-story hotel will feature standard and executive suites, with luxury touches including in-room fireplaces, spalike bathrooms, with a separate living and sleeping areas. Plans include a banquet and conference hall, with meeting rooms, a fitness area, a hotel coffee bar and additional shops.
"This is historic for Southern Arizona. It's an exciting time to be a part of the project," said John Gregory, chief executive officer of the Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise's three casinos. Hired in February, Gregory will oversee construction of the hotel-casino project.
"We're going to push as hard as we can. It's important to stay on schedule and communicate with everyone to keep the project going," Gregory said.
Connecticut-based JCJ Architecture Blackman Architecture Inc., whose projects include the Mashantucket Pequot tribe's Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, designed the Desert Diamond complex. Phoenix-based Kitchell Contractors, a privately held company with a dedicated Indian division, will build the project.
Once completed, the new facility will create more than 150 new jobs in the community, bringing total casino employees to about 1,350 people, the tribe said.
The Tohono O'odham Nation employs more than 3,665 people and was ranked 12th in the 2006 Star 200, the Arizona Daily Star's survey of major employers in Southern Arizona.
The O'odham also own a second Desert Diamond Casino along Interstate 19 at Pima Mine Road, which was built in 2001. That property cost $52 million to build and has three restaurants, a buffet and a 2,400-seat hall that hosts boxing matches and concerts. The tribe also operates the seven-year-old Golden Ha:san Casino, located in Why, about 100 miles west of Tucson on the western edge of the O'odham reservation.
The original Desert Diamond casino, just south of East Los Reales Road, started in 1984 as Papago Bingo. In 1993, casino gaming was added when the U.S. Interior Department approved gaming compacts between Arizona and tribes.
Abutted by concrete bunkers, the Nogales Highway Casino consists of a huge, white, oblong bingo tent and a casino with more than 800 gambling machines inside.
"We've 'Band-Aided' this facility as much as we can. It's time to move on to a new place," said Elizabeth Francisco, director of gaming operations for the casinos. "This is also an outstanding location. We couldn't ask for a better place to build."
Located within three miles of Tucson International Airport and 2.5 miles from Interstate 19 and Valencia Road, the casino-hotel will compete directly with the 75,000-square-foot Casino Del Sol, at 5655 W. Valencia Road, which opened in 2001.
Modeled after a Tuscan village, Casino Del Sol features 990 gambling machines and offers blackjack, poker and bingo. The complex also contains a retro diner, a restaurant and a 4,800-seat entertainment amphitheater.
"What we have is a friendly competition," said William Walsh, CEO of Casino Del Sol and Casino of the Sun, enterprises of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. "We're like sister casinos. There's no adversity at all. The more successful they are means we will be successful as well."
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