Grand Island/Columbus/S Sioux and Hastings Casino updates

[Candleshoe]

Here's one thread to cover all of the updates on the non-Omaha/Lincoln casinos. Feel free to update with images and other news.

Grand Island Casino Resort
https://www.grandislandresort.com/index.html
Price tag: $100 million
It will include a 37,000 sq ft casino game floor with 650 slot machines and 20 table games, a sports book, 4 restaurants inclusive a rooftop dining experience, a show lounge and sports bar, a 116 room boutique hotel, a salon and spa, gift shop, and indoor and outdoor pool with an expansive deck, a deck overlooking the Fonner Park race track and a 400 stall parking garage.

Temporary casino building expected in 2022.

Columbus Harrahs Casino
https://journalstar.com/news/state-and- ... 78b2a.html
Price tag: $75 million
It is expected to feature a new 1-mile horse racing surface, a 40,000-square-foot-casino and sports book with more than 400 slot machines and 20 table games, as well as a restaurant and retail space. The property is expected to be complete in late 2022 and will replace the existing Columbus racetrack at Agricultural Park.

South Sioux City Warhorse Atokad Casino
Price Tag: $40 million
Details pending. Will be built after Omaha and Lincoln are running, reportedly.

Hastings Fairplay Park Casino
No price tag information. Estimated 200 slot machines located in existing vacant restaurant building adjacent to the Adams County Fairgrounds/Queen City Downs.

Hastings Prairie Thunder Casino
An alternate bid for a new racetrack with casino, from Prairie Thunder Hastings LLC; Hastings Exposition and Racing Inc.; West Fork Inc.; and Gremco Inc https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news ... racetrack/
Price tag: $40 million
Status, is facing opposition from adjacent landowners (particularly the Lockland Country Club subdivision) north of Hastings where the group wishes to build. Planning commission has rejected the proposal, City Council has final word, still pending.

[gisbuxfan]

Good info. It’ll be interesting to see if they get that temporary building up by October.

[Brad]

Hastings really should have theirs on the south side of town. They should target Hastings and all the cities to the south as their audience. Blue Hill, Red Cloud, Etc. Putting it north is just that much closer to Grand Island.

[Candleshoe]

Hastings City Council denies rezoning request.

https://nebraska.tv/newsletter-daily/ha ... ing-casino

HASTINGS, Neb. — Dozens of people attended Monday's city council meeting in Hastings, as controversy of a racehorse track, or racino, continued to divide the community. Ultimately, the council did not approve plans to build the racino at the north end of the city. The proposal required six votes to pass; it only received 4.

“This town, unfortunately, when you compare it to the communities surrounding [it], have been torn on development before this project. Unfortunately, as you heard tonight, will continue to be torn on development in this town. Ultimately, we’ll examine our opportunities, whether that’s in another city, or within the county. The city of Hastings has made their decision tonight," said Sean Boyd with Global Gaming Nebraska.

Stutte also said the city will continue to look into other possible locations as the majority of the community is not opposed to the racino, just the location.

[gisbuxfan]

https://nebraska.tv/amp/news/local/fonn ... opts-rules

I’m really curious about some of the things said in this article. This is one of them…

Chris Kotulak of Fonner Park said, “We are on vapors now with our industry and we are in an urgent mode where we have to start showing that money can be provided to these individuals who have dedicated their lives to the racetrack.”

I did not realize horse tracks are as bad as what he is implying.

[Candleshoe]

https://central.newschannelnebraska.com ... commission
(Rendering in original link)

HASTINGS, NE — The second trip to the planning commission yielded better results for the group behind a proposed horse track and casino in north Hastings.

The commission voted to recommend two measures related to the proposal, one on a 7-2 vote and one on an 8-1 vote. Hastings Prairie Thunder LLC is the group behind the casino effort.

Changes to the proposal include dropping the land that needs rezoned from 50 to 38 acres and moving the race track and casino to the middle of the property.

[Candleshoe]

Hastings City Council approves reworked proposal for casino
https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2022/11/15/h ... al-casino/

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - Monday night was big for the city of Hastings as the city council considered a zoning request to allow the construction of a casino on the outskirts of town.

Prairie Thunder LLC went back in front of council members with a tweaked proposal for a casino north of Walmart located on Highway 281.

In March, the council voted against the project with a 4-4 vote. Monday night, the council voted 6-2 to rezone and provide the conditional use permit.

The group’s new proposal included dropping the land that needs rezoned from 50 acres to 38 and moving the race track and casino to the middle of the property.

The proposal was approved by the planning commission last month and with these changes.

[gisbuxfan]

Big day for Fonner Park as temporary gaming application approved

https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2022/12/21/ ... jq2atljq88

Opening day will be December 27th.

[gisbuxfan]

Ground breaking on the permanent casino in Grand Island.

https://theindependent.com/life-enterta ... 28e38f94ae

[Candleshoe]

https://kgfw.com/2024/03/07/grand-islan ... r-of-2025/

GRAND ISLAND – The Grand Island Casino plans to open during the first quarter of 2025, said Alison Nicholson, Director of Marketing.

“We’d like to be open before horseracing season,” she said.

A major feature of the casino will be a 162-room boutique hotel.

The casino will have 750 slot machines and 20 table games. Local and regional entertainment will perform in a show lounge on the gaming floor.

“As of now, we are the only casino in Nebraska with live table games,” Nicholson said. Those include craps and blackjack.

There will be an area where people can bet on sports events, Fiala said.

[Candleshoe]

Current progress of Grand Island Casino

[gisbuxfan]

How many floors will this be?

[Nosebot]

Seems like 7 but that atrium/casino floor area looks about the height of a 3 story building