The Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of Enterprise Rancheria has broken ground on the Hard Rock Sacramento on 40 acres in Yuba County, Northern California 35 miles from the state capital. The tribe has wanted to build a casino since 2002, but legal challenges slowed it down.
Two years ago, the tribe broke ground on Fire Mountain Casino, but legal and financial roadblocks caused the construction to cease. The tribe won the right the move forward because it could be shown that its original homeland was inundated by the building of the Oroville Dam and the U.S. Department of the Interior imposed a tribal state gaming compact, despite the state’s declining to do so.
The $440 million casino is expected to open October 2019. Neither the tribe nor Hard Rock have released details on the project.
Tribal Chairman Glenda Nelson said in a statement, “The Enterprise Rancheria is thrilled and honored to work with Hard Rock International, one of the world’s most recognized brands.”
Yuba County Supervisor Gary Bradford predicted “Hard Rock Fire Mountain will bring significant construction and permanent jobs, entertainment and dining options, and spur economic development in south Yuba County.”
Hard Rock International, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida operates 11 casinos in the U.S., including two casinos under the Hard Rock brand.
Industry experts expect the new casino to intensify competition with the existing Thunder Valley in Lincoln and Cache Creek. Ken Adams, a Reno casino consultant, called Hard Rock, “an entirely different competitor,” adding, “Their corporate resources are so much larger than anybody else’s.”
Thunder Valley, which is 20 miles from where the new casino will be built, recently completed $56 million in upgrades, which included expanding the hotel and adding a bingo hall. Thunder Valley spokesman Doug Elmets stated, “We’ll continue to be the dominant player in the region, given our location and our established customer base. We don’t believe that the Enterprise casino will have a significant impact on Thunder Valley given its isolated location.”
Other tribal casinos are coming, including a $168 million property being developed by Caesars Entertainment Corp. and the Buena Vista Band of Me-Wuk Indians and a $400 million casino resort planned by the Wilton Rancheria in Elk Grove.
