The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s Foxwoods Resort Casino and Chris Ferrara, managing director of Biloxi Boardwalk Ventures, have hired Las Vegas-based architectural firm Friedmutter Group to design and engineer the new 5 million Foxwoods Resort Casino at Biloxi Pointe in Mississippi. The 23-acre former Heinz plant site in Biloxi’s Back Bay area is adjacent to the Biloxi Boardwalk Marina and The Biloxi Lugger restaurant.
Scheduled to open in spring 2019, the 781,000 square foot resort will reflect an “Old Biloxi” theme and have a casino, 500-room hotel, 71,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, theater, six restaurants and bars, retail, spa and fitness center, swimming pool and bowling and shuffleboard areas. Other attractions will be announced later.
Biloxi Pointe will be the tribe’s first casino property built outside Connecticut, where its 9 million square foot Foxwoods Resort Casino is the largest casino resort in the U.S.
Ferrara said Friedmutter Group will complete the project designs by the end of September. The Mississippi Gaming Commission could grant permission by the end of the year to proceed with construction. Ferrara has pledged $7 million and rights of way across his land for the road, expected to cost about $22 million. The city still must finalize a $5.6 million grant from the state and arrange the financing to complete the loop.
Founded in 1992 by architect Brad Friedmutter, Friedmutter Group has provided award-winning design services for regional casino properties and tribal enterprises throughout the U.S. and in China. The firm has worked on other notable Biloxi-area casinos, including Island View Casino Resort, IP Casino Resort and Spa, plus the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and Studio City Macau in China.
Foxwoods Chief Executive Officer Felix Rappaport stated, “On behalf of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino, we couldn’t be more thrilled to work with our new partner, Gulf Coast businessman Chris Ferrara and his team, in developing and building the brand new Foxwoods Resort Casino at Biloxi Pointe in the vibrant and growing Biloxi, Mississippi market. We are particularly enthused to be working with Friedmutter Group of Las Vegas as the architect of record for the project. Not only has Brad Friedmutter and his team worked for the tribe and Foxwoods on many past projects during our nearly 25-year history in the casino gaming industry, but Friedmutter Group has delivered preeminent design solutions to clients around the world. Brad’s involvement will ensure that the Foxwoods brand is fully integrated into the facility design, creating an authentic and compelling hospitality experience that captures the essence and ethos of the Gulf Coast.”
Friedmutter added, “We look forward to partnering once again with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino as they expand their brand into the Biloxi, Mississippi market. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe is rich with indigenous culture, and Foxwoods Resort Casino Biloxi Pointe will reflect that among many of the elements that make it a premier resort destination.”
Ferrara commented, “I am very excited to continue the planning process for the Foxwoods Resort Casino at Biloxi Pointe with the addition of Friedmutter Group to our development team. I look forward to creating a dynamic, regional casino destination that the honors the historic city of Biloxi.
