The New Orleans Fair Grounds Opens Permanent Slots Facility

On January 2nd, 2008, the New Orleans Fair Grounds opened their permanent slot machine establishment. The slots facility, attached to the grandstand near the Gentilly Boulevard entrance offers 700 games on a 15,000 square gaming floor, a buffet that can seat around 140 people and two "grab-and-go" dining options. The temporary establishment, which offers around 250 games in a space just less than ten thousand square feet, will become the office space to accommodate additional staff, according to Fair Grounds spokesperson Larry Vangilder.

Pauline Yoshihashi, the spokesperson for the Pinnacle Entertainment, which is Boomtown's parent organization, said that on the West Bank, a $200 million expansion at Boomtown Casino first announced on November 2006 is still on indefinite hold.

Yoshihashi said that is an expansion and not a new construction, so with the present condition of the credit market, the question is what is going to get us the best return.

It called for a new gambling boat, a 220-room hotel facility, a parking area, an expanded retail space, a restaurant and a concert facility. The plan was for Boomtown to compete effectively with the Harrah's casino and the Mississippi Gulf Coast casino facilities as a prime gaming and leisure destination.

Sunday, 08 March 2009
Caroline Mitchell