Standish's Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino Opening Delayed Until Mid-February, 2008?

A new post on a Bay City news site reports that the opening of the new Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino, located near Standish, Michigan, has been delayed from the previously-reported December 31, 2007 until at least mid-February 2008, at the earliest. No explanation for the delay has been made. In fact, the casino has never announced an "official" opening date, although the December 31, 2007 date was previously confirmed by Tribal sources.

Columnist: Harry Reid Responsible For Pulling Of Port Huron Casino Bill From Committee Agenda

According to a radio host writing a column in the Port Huron Times Herald, Nevada Senator Harry Reid is responsible for the "off-again" status of the on-again/off-again bill before the Natural Resources Committee, sponsored by Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak, which would allow the Bay Mills Indian Tribe to open a casino at the site of the Edison Inn in Port Huron. Reid allegedly pressured Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who pressured Committee Chairperson Nick Rahall of West Virginia to pull the bill from the Committee's agenda, thus preventing it from reaching the floor for a vote. The columnist speculates that Reid's motivation may derive from one of his largest corporate constituents, MGM Mirage, which owns and operates the MGM Grand Detroit, which would theoretically suffer from competition in Port Huron.

Saginaw Chippewa Tribe Purchased Marina Near Saganing Eagle's Landing

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe has purchased a marina approximately two miles from the Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino, which is opening near Standish, Michigan. The marina, formerly known as the Great Lakes Shores Marina, has been renamed Eagle Bay Marina. The marina contains 50 slips, with the potential to add 50 more slips, and potentially RV and camper lots.

This purchase is a part of the Tribe's continual attempts to diversify the economic impact of the Tribe's gaming ventures.

MGM Grand Detroit And MotorCity Casino Hotels Full During Auto Show?

Contrary to prior reports, the Detroit News is now reporting that both the MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino hotels will be at full occupancy during the North American International Auto Show. Perhaps the hotels' vacancy issues will cure themselves, or perhaps the Detroit News is an unwitting servant of a good public relations agency.

Chairman of Greektown Casino Board Resigns; Faces Trial For Misdemeanor Assault

The Free Press reports today that Fred Paquin, chair of the Greektown Casino Board of Directors has resigned under pressure from the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and faces a trial for misdemeanor assault in February in Chippewa County.

The assault charge arises out of a dispute he had with a 34 year old woman who was a secretary in the Tribe's Prosecutor's Office. Paquin, 50, also the Chief of Police for the Tribe (and now suspended with pay), alleges that he was having an affair with the married woman, and they had a dispute over money she wanted. The woman denies a relationship, and claims Paquin assaulted her, including shoving his hand down her shirt.

Yet another interesting twist in the management of Greektown Casino. Of course, that is a post for another day.

New Tool To Track Detroit Casinos' Monthly Gaming Revenues

I have prepared a table to track the monthly gaming revenues at the three Detroit casinos, which will be updated as more information becomes available. All revenues are in millions:

	11/06	11/07	10/07	11/07
MGM Grand Detroit	40.8	47.0	54.9	46.8
MotorCity	39.8		37.7	38.3
Greektown	27.7		25.6	28.1

Women Trapped In MGM Grand Elevator, Score Jackpot

Four women who intended to enjoy a night at the MGM Grand Casino, and then attend a performance of the Lion King in Detroit, were instead trapped in an elevator at the casino.

In a move that should be noted by public relations departments at other casinos (and businesses), the casino immediately made matters right by offering a night's free accommodations, dinner, and tickets to another Lion King performance for the ladies AND THEIR HUSBANDS.

Nice move. Much cheaper than bad publicity.

Detroit Free Press Reports On Vacancy Issues At MGM Grand

The Detroit Free Press published a story today which reports the vacancy issues plaguing MGM Grand Detroit in its first months open. Of course, Michigan Casino Blog first reported about the vacancy issues involving both MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino hotel on October 29, 2007, with follow up reports on November 21, November 28 (including a second post), and December 11, 2007.

As we noted on October 29, 2007, the opening of the three casinos alone will add 438,000 room nights to Detroit's hotel inventory, a vast increase that makes these vacancy issues inevitable until demand increases to match the vast new supply.

Saganing Eagle's Landing Has Website Operational

It's a bit bare bones, but the new Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino near Standish, Michigan now has its website up and running. The only nuggets to be gleaned from the website are an artist's depiction of the completed casino, and the casino's address: 2690 Worth Road. Site plans and elevations from the Tribe's website are shown at left. In addition, the connection to Soaring Eagle Casino and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe is clear, with the eagle's wing logo shared by both casinos.



Here is an updated location map, based upon the address:


View Larger Map

MGM Grand Detroit Having Occupancy Issues?

This little tidbit from a report of the November meeting of the Michigan Gaming Control Board:

"Also, using some language that might be interpreted as inexact, MGM Detroit indicated hotel bookings in the first two months of operation did not meet expectations."

Perhaps MotorCity Casino is not the only casino hotel with occupancy concerns among the new permanent casino hotels.

November Detroit Revenues: MGM Falls Back To Earth; Parking Helps Greektown; MotorCity Treads Water

The November revenue report is now out for the three Detroit casinos.

MGM Grand Detroit fell back to earth a bit from its gargantuan October numbers. MGM's November revenue was $46.8 million, down from $54.9 million in October, but still up $6 million from November 2006.

Greektown's new parking structure was only open for half of the month, but it still led to an approximately 10% increase in monthly revenues, to $28.1 million from $25.6 million in October.

MotorCity, which opened its hotel at the tail end of November, essentially stayed static, with its revenues at $38.3 million, compared to $37.7 million in October.

NY Times Lists Detroit As One Of Top 2008 Travel Destinations; Cites MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity Casino Hotel

The New York Times has identified Detroit as one of its top travel destinations for 2008. The Times specifically noted the opening of the MotorCity Casino Hotel and the MGM Grand Detroit in its article.

Teamsters Seek To Organize Soaring Eagle Employees

As noted previously, the Teamsters union has filed a request with the National Labor Relations Board to organize the employees at the Soaring Eagle Casino Resort in Mt. Pleasant.

The casino is owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which is also building a second casino near Standish, Michigan, to be called Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino, which is scheduled to open December 31, 2007.

Little River Casino Revenues

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, which owns the Little River Casino Resort, paid $991,000 to the Manistee County Local Revenue Sharing Board. The amount, which is 2 percent of slot machine net win for a six month, corresponds to annual slot net win of $99.1 million from the Little River Casino Resort. This compares to anticipated annual slot net win at the newly opened Four Winds Casino of $167.5 million.

Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino To Open December 31, 2007?

The Bay City Times reports that the new Saganing Eagle's Landing Casino, located near Standish, Michigan, is scheduled to open on December 31, 2007. The casino, owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will include a 32,000 square foot gaming area, with arond 700 slot machines and 40 table games. It will reportedly have approximately 300 employees at opening.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe has purchased approximately 418 acres, including a marina, gas station, and convenience store, this year in Arenac County, where the new casino is located.

This map shows the reported location of the new casino:


View Larger Map

Administrative Complaints Cause Four Winds To Withhold Local Tax Payments

As further evidence that money can cause disputes, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Tribe, which owns the Four Winds Casino, is withholding its required 2% payment to local governments while the local governmental entities continue to fight with each other and the Tribe over the composition of the board that will distribute the local payment.

The Tribe has instead deposited the local revenue payment for the first two months of operation of the casino into an interest-bearing escrow account, until the dispute with the local board is resolved.

One interesting note from the articles is that based upon the local revenue payments, which are 2% of net win from electronic gaming (presumably slots), the Four Winds Casino is estimating its annual net win from slots at approximately $167.5 million.

Three Restaurants At MotorCity To Feature Kiosk Order System

An industry publication is reporting that the MotorCity Casino will feature a kiosk, touchpoint based ordering system for three of its restaurants. One natural fit would be the buffet. I would be surprised if Iridescence featured a kiosk-based reservation/payment system. So, the identity of the other two restaurants that will feature the kiosk-based system is a mystery.

MotorCity's Iridescence To Open In 2007, Hopefully

Not a lot of confidence emanating from today's article about the MotorCity Casino's signature restaurant, Iridescence.

The casino's executive chef, Greg Carroll, was hired in September of this year, after the speedy departure of his predecessor (who left to become executive chef at Chicago's McCormick Place). In two-and-a-half months, Carroll has had to plan for the re-opening of Iridescence MotorCity's signature restaurant, which is being relocated to the 17th floor of the new hotel tower. He also has to plan the opening of Amnesia (the new nightclub), a bistro, and a new buffet.

The photos of the restaurant's current construction status seem to cast doubt on the planned opening of Iridescence in late December. In fact, MotorCity's spokesperson was unwilling to commit to an opening date. December 31, 2007 or January 1, 2008 are mentioned as hopeful opening dates. But "definitely [they] plan" to have Iridescence opened by the 2008 North American International Auto Show the second week of January, 2008.

After getting burned by the one month delay in opening the hotel, MotorCity's staff seems reluctant to commit any definite opening dates for the remaining openings of the casino's staged expansion.