A cure for “Deadmonton”?
A new $32 million casino is coming to Edmonton, Alberta’s downtown arena district. Gateway Casinos and Entertainment announced last week it will move the existing Baccarat Casino into a 125,000-square-foot facility next door.The new Grand Villa Edmonton Casino is expected to be complete sometime in the summer of 2016, reported the Edmonton Sun.
After the new gaming hall opens, the old Baccarat?described by Councilor Scott McKeen as “ugly”?will be demolished.
“As good of news as the new casino is, that old one coming down is fabulous,” said McKeen. “It was once described as the ugliest building in Edmonton, and I did not disagree with that.” The councilor added that the new arena district will put an end to Edmonton’s reputation as “Deadmonton.”
The Metro News reported that the new casino will include a 60,000-square-foot gaming floor, almost twice the size of the Baccarat’s, along with restaurants, bars and a buffet. It will be part of a new downtown hockey and concert arena that will be home to the Edmonton Oilers.
“It’s much more of an entertainment space,” said Tony Santos, CEO of Gateway Entertainment. “This isn’t just a casino.”
The Baccarat was built for $2.2 million and opened in 1996. In 2009, the Katz Group announced plans for the new arena, which will cover some three square blocks.
