Grand Island Casino plans announced

[Candleshoe]

Renderings in original story:

https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2021/04/09/c ... nner-park/


GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Fonner Park announced Friday morning that Elite Casino Restorts, LLC will be its casino operator.

And the name of the future casino: Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park.

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said the process started five months ago when they started taking proposals on November 6, 2020. They received nine responses to requests and met with eight operators with what they proposed.

Fonner Park officials said one eventually stood out as the right one for the job.

Kotulak said he worked with the executive board and four Fonner Park past president to come up with the decision.

Fonner Park President Dan Fogland said Elite Casino Resorts, LLC was selected.

Elite Casino Resorts, LLC is a family-built casino operation which started in 1990 with Iowa’s first riverboat casino license and has grown to over 1,200 investors, valuing local ownership in each property.

The Kehl Family started in the food and beverage industry and transitioned in the gaming industry.


Dan Kehl, the CEO of Elite Casino Resorts, said it’s going to be a $100 million investment to be completed in one phase. They expect $45 million in hard construction costs and $3.45 million in renovations of existing Fonner Park property.

The casino floor will have a seamless connection to the current Fonner Park structure.

The casino floor will have 650 slot machines with the ability to grow to 850 slot machines. There will be 20 table games, sports bar with Sportsbook and an energetic show lounge with live entertainment.

There will also be a 116-room boutique hotel which will include luxury suites and rooms with balconies. The hotel will also have an indoor and outdoor pool as well as a full-service spa and salon.


Kehl said there will be classy and fun food options with Ruthie’s Steak and Seafood that will be on the rooftop. He said there will be something for everybody.

Fonner Park Announces Casino Operator: Elite Casino Resorts to Build $100 Million Resort Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park

Posted by Fonner Park on Friday, April 9, 2021
Back in November 2020, Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved measures to allow casino gambling at state-licensed horse racing tracks.

Copyright 2021 KSNB. All rights reserved.

[Linkin5]

That looks better than the proposed casino in Lincoln, good get GI.

[ita]

That looks better than the proposed casino in Lincoln, good get GI.

Yeah, for sure. I had the same thought. It is a much better design than what we have going in Lincoln and Omaha.

[gisbuxfan]

Now that the initial excitement has worn off, what’s the actual process of getting this going?

[bbtran72]

Now that the initial excitement has worn off, what’s the actual process of getting this going?

Lots of behind the scenes stuff, going through planning and commission/council/ re-plating that property, after that working with utilities.

[ita]

I pulled this from a Journal Star article today.

[Louie]

I pulled this from a Journal Star article today.

Woah

[gisbuxfan]

From about a month ago…

Chief will likely build temporary gaming facility in Grand Island

https://t.co/HOvjVHcI9h

[Brad]

That article brought up a point that was also brought up on Grow Omaha a few weeks ago. How long does the state have to make the rules? Can they kick that can down the road for as long as they want?

[gisbuxfan]

Things are moving slowly, but moving nevertheless.

Casino rules set to come out next week; vote set for Dec. 17
https://journalstar.com/news/local/cas ... e0a40.html