The Cordish Company’s proposal for a $600 million casino facility in Kansas City remains well-liked with local officials, who dismissed a competing casino proposal from a Las Vegas hotel owner. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, board of commissioners approved the Planning Commission’s dismissal of a $500 million casino proposal by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, the owner of the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. That leaves four casino proposals for commissioners to review thoroughly on December 10th, 2007.
1st, the Kansas Speedway/the Cordish Company. The company, which is based in Baltimore, is constructing the Kansas City, Mo., is collaborating with the Kansas Speedway to construct an estimated $600 million casino facility, hotel, condominiums, retail and entertainment center near the Turn 2 of the racing track. The plans also contain 3,000 slot machines, 100 casino table games and 300,000 square feet of merchandise, entertainment and restaurants.
2nd, the Kickapoo-Sac and Fox Tribes. The two Indian tribes are proposing a $300 million casino development located at 118th Street and State Avenue. The casino plan states an 80 acre hotel, casino and resort facility. Pinnacle Entertainment I-Pinnacle, which is a Las Vegas-based organization, proposes a $650 million casino on 60 acres of land at Interstate 435 and Parallel Parkway on the northwest corner of the Schlitterbahn Vacation Village site.
The plan also calls of 100,000 square foot casino establishment, 500 hotel rooms, different restaurants and lounges, a 100,000 square foot convention facility and retail shopping. 3rd, Legends Sun. RED Development LLC, Olympia Gaming and the Mohegan Tribal Authority proposed a casino development at the 110th Street and Parallel.
The casino plan also calls for 3,500 slot machines, ninety casino table games, a poker and keno facility. It also contains a plan for 1,000 room hotel, 1,200 seat entertainment facility, a 35,500 square foot convention facility, a 200,000 square feet of retail area, residential units and an 18 hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones.
Wyandotte County became eligible for a destination casino location because of a Kansas Legislation approved this spring. The local governments can now endorse one or more proposals to give to the Kansas Lottery Commission. Only one will be picked by the Lottery commission. The legality of the gambling expansion is currently being challenged in the Shawnee County District Court.
The Judge expects to give a decision by February 2008, when the case will be presented to the Kansas Supreme Court. Cordish commented that they are collaborating with casino official Dennis Gomes to form a new gambling management.
Gomes, who is previously from the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Gomes-Cordish Gambling Management LLC, which was formed in Maryland. Gomes has served as the president of Steve Wynn’s Golden Nugget in Las Vegas and the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
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