Angelina Listo, chairwoman of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise of Arizona, calls it a “beacon of hope” for her tribe: a 65-foot LED sign that lit up last week to announce the opening of the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley in Glendale, Arizona. The $400 permanent casino, which will replace a temporary property that went up several years ago, is set to open on February 19.
The double-sided LED sign can be seen from the highway. At a December 16 unveiling ceremony, Treena Parvello, director of public relations and communications for the tribe, echoed the beacon metaphor.
“This is more than just a sign,” she said. “It is a beacon of progress for the Desert Diamond Casino. It is also a testament to the hard work of tribal leaders and team members and will serve as a permanent fixture as we move forward in creating positive economic development for the Nation and the West Valley.”
Desert Diamond Casinos CEO Rudy Prieto said the sign is the largest of its kind in the state. “It’s very significant because it’s the first step in lighting up the future for this magnificent property,” he said.
The casino will have a 75,000-square-foot gaming floor with slot machines, poker and blackjack and live bingo. It will employ more than 2,000 people.
