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TUCSON,
AZ - The face of gaming and entertainment in Arizona changed
dramatically this 4th of July, when the second of two casinos
owned by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Casino
Del Sol, opened its 213,000 square-feet gaming complex expansion,
making it the largest and most unique casino and entertainment
destination in the state. New amenities include 26 additional
blackjack tables, a new bingo hall seating more than 600 players,
four new distinctly-themed restaurants and a spectacular bar
and lounge area, all of which provide more than 400 new jobs
to the Southern Arizona community.
"Casino
Del Sol exemplifies the best in gaming design to offer customers
an overall entertainment experience; as a result we are well
positioned to expand our presence in Arizona," said Doug
Lentz, chief executive officer of Casino
Del Sol. "The beauty of the Tuscan Village motif, unique
architecture and amazing desert backdrop of the casino is significantly
raising the bar for gaming destinations throughout Arizona and
the country."
According
to an economic impact study conducted for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe
in Jan. 2002 by the Udall Center and Native Nations Institute
at University of Arizona, the Tribe provides an economic impact
of more than $100 million per year to the Southern Arizona economy.
This impact includes dozens of local vendors and contractors
hired in the building of the expansion, food and beverage distributor
contracts, community donations of over $300,000 per year to
southern Arizona non-profit organizations and more than 1,500
jobs created to operate the casino once the expansion is complete.
"The
additional jobs created by the Casino
Del Sol expansion is significant for the community,"
said Robert Valencia, chairman of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. "The
mission of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe is to provide new employment
opportunities that offer higher wages and improve the standard
of living for tribal members and all Southern Arizonans. New
jobs created by the expansion include entry-level positions,
executive management, blackjack and poker dealers, shift supervisors
and food and beverage positions, all of which will help the
Tribe attain this goal."
Designed
by Leo A Daly, Casino
Del Sol showcase a remarkable Tuscan Village motif, complete
with streets capes, a gaming piazza and traditional Mediterranean-style
decor highlighted in deep purple, bronze and sandstone. A key
feature of Casino
Del Sol is the magnificent "Mediterranean Sky,"
a 40,000-square foot mural suspended from the casino's ceiling.
The Mediterranean sky peaks 46 feet above the gaming floor and
is able to simulate a vibrant sunrise or sunset.
"The
design and development of a property of this scale, complexity
and quality is a rare opportunity, and we are honored to have
been a part of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe's team in this venture
to build Casino
Del Sol," said Kristina Ennis Robinson, principal and
director of Native American Gaming for Leo A Daly. "This
landmark facility breaks the boundaries of the typical casino
'box': it has both intimate and grand spaces, incorporates cutting
edge technologies, yet has a warmth that will appeal to many
and entice the guest with new discoveries on each visit."
Since the
signing of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe's gaming compact by Arizona
Governor Janet Napolitano in January, Casino
Del Sol is allowed to expand gaming operations to include
an additional 670 gaming devices and Vegas-style blackjack.
The new machines are housed at Casino
Del Sol along with 46 blackjack tables. The Casino provides
a bingo hall for its many bingo enthusiasts. Seating more than
600 players, the hall offers seven games daily beginning at
10:00 a.m. and bingo guests will have the luxury of a
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Casino Del
Sol opened to much fanfare in October of 2001. Arizona's ultimate
gaming and entertainment complex boasts 22,500 square feet of
gaming space, featuring nearly 500 nickel, quarter, dollar,
five-dollar and multi-denominational slot machines, plus live
blackjack and poker.
private
restroom facility in the bingo area plus a deli-style restaurant
exclusively for players' use.
"Now
the largest and most unique entertainment destination in the
state, Casino
Del Sol has something for everyone," added Lentz. "Exciting
slots, Vegas-style blackjack and poker and an all-inclusive
bingo hall making it the premier destination for gaming enthusiasts."
Under the
direction of Executive Chef Jesus Lorenzo, four new eateries
let casino customers sample cuisine from different regions of
the globe. Chef Lorenzo has been certified by the American Culinary
Federation as Master Chef and is newly inducted into The Chaine
des Rotisseurs, a world-renowned organization of culinary professionals.
The new
restaurants range from quick, take-out food to world-class full
service dining. They include Bellissimo Ristorante, a full-service
Tuscan-style restaurant; The Tequila Factory, a traditional
Mexican village-style restaurant featuring a private dining
room modeled after a greenhouse; Slice, an Italian pizzeria
offering players the freshest pizza ingredients on hand-tossed
dough; and Abuelitas Taqueria, a taco shop-style eatery giving
players a wide variety of authentic Mexican fare including burritos,
chimichangas, tacos and enchiladas.
The casino
also house a full-service bar area called Zebo'z. Situated in
the center of the main gaming floor and modeled after a garden
gazebo, casino guests will be offered a wide selection of specialty
drinks and a large variety of premium libations. |
