Tuesday, December 11, 2007
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.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
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.
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
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
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, December 03, 2007
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.
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.
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