Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
Topgolf International, Inc. announced in May that it is building a state-of-the-art flagship location at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The Topgolf entertainment destination is expected to open in spring of 2016.
Topgolf offers competitive golfing games for all ages and skill levels, and advanced technology to track the accuracy and distance of players’ shots. The four-level, 105,000-square-foot Topgolf Las Vegas will sit on eight acres and overlook a 215-yard outfield. There will be 102 hitting bays among the first three levels, while the fourth level will showcase VIP areas with water features. The building’s plans also include a stage for live musical performances and 3,000 square feet of private meeting space. The facility will cater to intimate events ranging from 10 to 2,000 people.
“Topgolf Las Vegas is unlike anything we have ever endeavored to build,” says Topgolf Executive Chairman Erik Anderson. “After three years of planning, Topgolf and MGM Grand are bringing the boldest new concept in sports entertainment to the entertainment capital of the world. This gleaming flagship location will host millions of Topgolf fans when they come to Las Vegas, bring our exciting new concept to MGM’s global clientele, and introduce the millions of other visitors to Topgolf who are attracted to Las Vegas every year in search of the latest innovations in entertainment and fun.”
The facility was designed by YWS Architects, and the general contractor is McCarthy Construction with ARCO/Murray National Construction acting as consultants. Las Vegas native Bryan O’Reilly, working as Topgolf’s local partner, was instrumental in bringing the deal to closure. Topgolf notes that 34th Floor Hospitality is providing consulting services on its facility operations.
“The Topgolf atmosphere features a high-energy, interactive sports and entertainment experience never before seen in Las Vegas,” says MGM Grand President and COO Scott Sibella. “Our partners have proven themselves as a successful brand in multiple markets nationwide, and we look forward to our future relationship.”
Topgolf Las Vegas is expected to serve upward of 1 million visitors in its first year of operation. Nearly half of all Topgolf guests describe themselves as “non-golfers.”
Owners: MGM Resorts
Operator: Topgolf International
Architect: YWS Architects
Investment: $45 million
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
he Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas… Hershey’s Chocolate World in Times Square… the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure in Orlando… the Georgia Aquarium… the Terminator 2 3-D show at Universal Studios. These are just some of the extraordinary attractions conceived and produced by Gary Goddard and his team at the North Hollywood-based Goddard Group.
Recently, Goddard has been involved in world-building—creating mega-resorts that are among the best on the planet. With the recent opening of the $3.2 billion Studio City in Macau, which attracted Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, Brad Pitt and Martin Scorcese to its grand opening gala, Goddard and his company have outdone themselves.
Inspired by the world of motion pictures, this integrated resort features a double Ferris wheel, a massive figure-8 designed into the architecture of the building itself and rising 460 feet above the ground. The resort has become Macau’s most iconic destination, earning worldwide media attention.
Studio City is Goddard’s second epic creation in Macau, following the hugely successful opening of the Galaxy Macau in 2011, which raised the bar for Macau resort casinos.
Other epic and unforgettable Goddard creations include:
• The Ring of Life monument, designed to be the symbol of an entirely new city that Goddard helped plan and design in Shenfu, China. Rising nearly 600 feet into the sky, this perfect steel circle is a breathtaking statement which the Huffington Post called simply “stunning.”
• Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, which both used Goddard and his team’s talents for overall planning and defining key attractions.
• Sanrio’s two major theme parks in Japan, Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo and Sanrio Harmonyland in Kyushu, both designed by Goddard. Shintaro Tsuji, founder and chairman of Sanrio, personally selected Goddard to oversee the creation of his first theme parks.
• The design of Electric Daisy Carnival, Insomniac Events’ transformative 2013 three-day musical event that attracted more than 350,000 people to the world’s largest EDM live event.
• The Venetian in Las Vegas, the result of Sheldon Adelson’s desire to find “the billion-dollar idea.” Goddard delivered a concept that now is valued at more than 20 times Adelson’s goal.
• Caesars Palace expansion, including the Forum Casino, Caesars’ Magical Empire with Milt Larsen of the Magic Castle, the Collesseum and the new Towers, all created at the direct request of Henry Gluck, former chairman and chief executive officer of Caesars World.
As the youngest show designer ever hired as an Imagineer at Walt Disney Imagineering, Goddard worked with the Disney legends who originally worked with Walt Disney to create Disneyland and Walt Disney World. With these men as his mentors, Goddard helped to develop concepts for Walt Disney World, EPCOT and World Showcase, the expansion of River Country at WDW and early concepts for Tokyo Disneyland.
Currently, Goddard is involved with new projects around the world: a new Marvel Superhero Park in Jakarta; several major new theme parks and resorts in China, including Polar Ocean World in Shanghai and World of Poseidon in Harbin; and several massive new projects in Southern China.
Most recently, Goddard and Goddard Group announced a joint venture with the Cirque du Soleil with the goal of creating an entirely new kind of “experience park” for the global market.
This new attraction will be the next step in the evolution of out-of-home entertainment. Part theme park, part theater, part social-media related, these new Cirque immersive parks will reset the standard for theme parks and outdoor experiences by offering truly unique destinations geared toward today’s social-media based audiences.
For more information, visit thegoddardgroup.com.
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
The Seneca Nation was far from the first tribe to enter tribal gaming, but when they decided to take the plunge, they were all in. First, Seneca Niagara became a success near the famous falls. Then a second casino in Allegany, New York followed in that path. Finally, a small casino in Buffalo was more successful than anticipated, so an expansion plan was necessary.
Continuing its relationship with the Seneca Nation, Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG) is currently designing a $40 million expansion to the Buffalo Creek Casino. HBG also designed the phase-one casino. The two-story expansion project will feature a new high-limit game room, 360 additional slot machines and 10 game tables, bringing the total number of slot machines to 1,200 and game tables to 32 after construction.
In addition, the expansion will create a new retail area and add a small performance stage for live entertainment at the Stixx Sports Bar. The existing Buffalo Savors Grill will be upgraded, and a second floor will house a new restaurant, the Western Door Steakhouse—which is one of the most popular restaurants at Seneca Gaming’s other New York casino properties. Construction will be complete in early 2017.
Located in the former industrial area of Buffalo’s re-emerging Inner Harbor, HBG designed the phase-one Buffalo Creek Casino, which opened on August 27, 2013. Highly visible from Interstate 190 and only two blocks from the First Niagara Center, home of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, the Seneca Nation’s casino property celebrates the culture of the Seneca people while serving as a building block for the continued growth of the Inner Harbor area.
Owner: Seneca Nation
Manager: Seneca Gaming Corp.
Architect/Designer: Hnedak Bobo Group
Investment: $40 million
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. exists to create beautiful places for a balanced world. Simple and eloquent, the statement embodies the firm’s passion for design and its impact on clients, communities and the world.
Founded in 1968, the full-service Cuningham Group provides architecture, interior design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types, with significant focus over the last 24 years on gaming and entertainment. Bolstered by a staff of 290 in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, Seoul and Beijing, Cuningham Group provides the resources necessary to explore new ways of solving clients’ problems with dynamic and innovative design solutions that add value and advance the art of entertainment design.
The company’s world-class portfolio—covering the spectrum from small and delicate spaces to complex and expansive projects—includes casinos, hotels, theaters, convention centers, restaurants, retail venues, master plans and support facilities for gaming and resort destinations throughout the U.S. and around the world.
As leaders in gaming and entertainment design, Cuningham Group is on the cutting edge of imagining “casinos of the future.” Gaming continues to move through uncharted territory as technology spreads its influence over social interactions and the games people play. Shifting demographics and the younger generation’s desire for experiences that are personal, mobile and social are the challenges—and ultimately, the opportunities—facing the future of games and the facilities that house them.
Backed by a client-centered, collaborative approach called “Every Building Tells A Story,” which emphasizes one-of-a-kind solutions reflecting the vision of clients and the character of each property and site, Cuningham Group challenges clients to embrace brick-and-mortar changes that support the evolving nature of gaming and its customer base while setting new standards for the future of entertainment.
Cuningham Group is consistently ranked among top firms, and the firm’s work has been honored with more than 145 industry and market awards.
Recent projects include the LEED Gold, 19-story hotel for Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee; the newly opened Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel near Murphy, North Carolina; the renovation of Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada; the renovation and expansion at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan; and the new Rhythm City Casino in Davenport, Iowa, opening in mid-2016.
For more information, visit cuningham.com.
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
The San Manuel Bingo and Casino in Highland California, just outside of San Bernardino, is the ultimate locals casino. So, while customers like to be comfortable in their familiar environment, they also like to see upgrades that elevate the level of amenities and service.
The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is one of the most progressive gaming tribes in California. Always at the forefront of innovation, the tribe strives for excellent customer service and loyalty. That’s why it recently embarked on a renovation, directed by TBE Architects. The casino recently opened renovations to the Sports Watch Grill, Tutu’s Food Court, a major expansion of the Serrano Buffet and the addition of Street Tacos, a totally new food concept. Two bars have undergone a complete transformation and a third has been introduced, the Round-Up Bar.
Bar Bar Bar
The feature bar centered on the main casino floor underwent a complete makeover, expanding bar positions, gaming, entertainment and seating and transforming it into a dramatic centerpiece visible from anywhere on the main casino floor. The main focal point feature consists of layered, internally lit leaves that spring from the back bar creating a glowing overhead canopy capable of dynamic, color-changing light shows. The customizable effects transition the space from a daytime floor bar into a nighttime hub of energy and activity, as well as offering one-of-a-kind experiences during holidays or special events.
The Finish Line Bar has a new look with a bold use of color and sculptural lighting that gives a sense of energy and movement to the space you would expect to feel at the “finish line.”
High Limit Area
The newly opened High Limit area adds to guests’ extensive gaming choices, and along with a better connection to the energy of the main casino floor, offers a new contemporary elegance to the gaming experience. A floor-to-ceiling glass entry façade separates the space from the main casino and is etched with traditional tribal basket patterns to give high-limit patrons a discreet gaming experience that is still close to the action. A private high-limit bar and lounge area within is punctuated in gold through the use of mosaic tiles and metallic fabric light fixtures. Deep wood tones throughout soften the feel and add a rich warmth to the space.
Specialty Gaming
A new specialty gaming space has just been unveiled as well. The entry to the dedicated space is guarded by solid Jade Foo Dogs and framed by a honed travertine façade that gives a sense of opulence along with oversized weathered timbers, which convey a distinctly Eastern flavor. The column in the center of the main gaming space is encircled with a spectacular chandelier composed of hundreds of glass spheres that seem to rise up the column like champagne bubbles.
Dramatic Pathway
The entire perimeter of the main casino floor has been replaced with a custom-designed terrazzo floor. The bold geometries and bright colors introduced by the design are brought to dazzling effect through the use of mirror shards within the flooring itself.
Grand Rotunda
Soon to be completed is the renovation to the main entry rotunda. Guests who arrive to the property from the garage sky bridge will soon step into a new immersive experience. Guests descending the escalators to the main gaming level below view a two-story sculptural fire feature. Custom-designed lighting creates the illusion of fire rising up behind the faceted glass face.
Owner and Operator: San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
Architect: Thalden Boyd Emery Architects
General Contractor: Penta
Investment: $45 million
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
Most chairs are designed to fill a space. Gasser chairs are designed to elevate it. For nearly 70 years Gasser has been designing, building and perfecting the art of commercial seating, using only the highest quality materials. When you buy a Gasser chair, you’re making an investment in style, innovation and durability that will be a better value over the long run. Artfully designed, beautifully executed and built to endure, Gasser chairs don’t merely perform, they dazzle.
Artisanship that Runs Deep in the Fabric
The beauty of a Gasser chair is more than skin deep. Look closer and you’ll discover that it runs through the entire company. From design to construction to customer service, it’s a forte that’s been nearly 70 years in the making, and runs deep in our fabric.
Critically Acclaimed Design and Workmanship
You make them feel welcome. Gasser makes them feel comfortable. Beyond just looking good, Gasser chairs offer unparalleled comfort and support. It’s this fusion of form and function that ensures a virtuoso performance every time.
A Flair for Design that Defies Wear and Tear
More than just standing out, Gasser chairs are designed to stand up to virtually anything that can be thrown at them. Made from only the highest quality materials and built to last, Gasser chairs retain their panache long after others have fallen from grace.
Custom Solutions to Let Your Imagination Soar
Your rooms come in all different shapes, colors and sizes and so do Gasser seating solutions. Gasser does not provide cookie-cutter solutions to complex challenges. Let your imagination soar and let Gasser custom-design something specifically to your needs.
Innovations
Many companies market themselves as industry leaders; Gasser Chair is one of the few that can back up that claim. From the earliest days of the business, product development and improvement were the constant challenges. And, not surprisingly, it was simply listening to customers that provided the opportunity for many of Gasser’s successful innovations.
For more information, visit gasserchair.com.
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
After 20 years spent trying to secure a casino, the Gulf Coast community of D’Iberville, Mississippi anticipates the opening of the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort before New Year’s Eve 2015.
The 500,000-square-foot resort destination was designed by SOSH Architects to compete with existing coastal casinos by offering various forms of recreation beyond gaming. The goal and concept of the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort project was to celebrate the enchanting past, intriguing present and joyful future of Mississippi by creating a destination not only focused on gaming, but also on family entertainment.
The project’s core comprises an 18-story, 300-room hotel tower and a 60,445-square-foot casino with 1,350 slot machines, 45 table games and 10 live poker tables. In addition, guests can enjoy a variety of amenities such as a spa, fitness center, 10,000-square-foot event center, outdoor pool and waterfall—plus a 42,000-square-foot, 36-hole professional miniature golf course. Guests can also sink their teeth into an assortment of dining options including a 175-seat gourmet restaurant, a 250-seat buffet as well as three other signature restaurants, and a 24-hour café/coffee shop.
The iconic 225-foot-tall all-white glass façade of the hotel tower is dotted with wave patterns reminiscent of the surrounding waters, celebrating the resort’s location on the Gulf Coast. The natural views of the surrounding area create an added luxury to the resort. As the tallest building in D’Iberville, the spectacular glass structure will be visible from far distances, allowing for a sense of arrival as guests approach the destination.
While the building’s glass façade expresses a contemporary interpretation of historic Southern architecture, the interiors salute Southern hospitality with open, bright and family-friendly spaces. The design generously quotes local styles, materials and colors to ensure that visitors feel welcome to come back time and time again.
Scarlet Pearl successfully blends the importance of family entertainment destination with the glamour and excitement of a brand new casino.
Owner: Lands Holdings 1, LLC
Architect: SOSH Architects
Contractor: Roy Anderson Construction
Interior Design: SOSH Architects
Investment: $250 million
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
Hnedak Bobo Group takes design to the next level, because great design elevates clients’ business success. Working for a five-time G2E Casino Design Award winner and one of only a few architecture firms working in gaming and hospitality design today that owns, operates and develops its own four-star hotel, HBG designers have a distinct edge in understanding what it takes to operate and differentiate in a competitive market.
By approaching design from the perspective of both guest and owner/operator, HBG makes design work for its gaming clients.
HBG is constantly rethinking the guest experience, because market demographics are evolving. The firm capitalizes on new opportunities for innovation in casino resort design through more diverse amenities, integration of technology and design aesthetics often grounded in the authenticity of cultural and local context as the catalyst for discovery and experience.
HBG designers translate market influences into inspired, memorable design that, combined with carefully crafted details, built-in efficiencies and well-planned execution, generates the perfect balance between beauty and functionality. The result is elevated design that fully engages guests in the gaming experience and performs for clients.
In creating smart hotel designs for the entertainment and leisure markets, HBG’s work has taken it across the country and around the world, with current engagements in Dubai and Southeast Asia for several international theme park resort developments. HBG is developing design strategies that seamlessly integrate hospitality and related amenities into the entertainment experience.
Visit hbginc.com to see how HBG is elevating design for its clients. Projects currently include the contemporary tribal hotel design for the Point Casino in Kingston, Washington; the West Valley Resort in Maricopa County, Arizona; multiple branded projects for Ho-Chunk Gaming in Wisconsin; and the expansion of Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, New York, which will add more gaming space, new retail and F&B amenities and a new performance area to the Seneca Nation’s casino property, also designed by HBG.
For more information, visit hbginc.com.
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
Back in 1929, the opening of the Atlantic City Convention Center on the Boardwalk of that famous town recognized that the city needed a place where people could attend meetings and shows in the off-season to keep the city’s hotels full year-round. Now called Boardwalk Hall, the venerable building still entertains.
In the 1980s, a second convention center was built in Atlantic City for the same reasons, and it has served the same purpose, despite the slump and casino closures in the gaming industry there.
But the need to fill rooms in the winter and shoulder seasons goes beyond one citywide center, so executives at Caesars Entertainment decided a building more focused on its properties was essential. So it was decided that the Waterfront Conference Center at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City was a good investment.
Harrah’s Resort is one of the city’s most successful properties, even during the gaming downturn of the 2010s. With attractions such as The Pool at Harrah’s, a multi-purpose space serving many needs, retail, dining and gaming, the property’s 2,000 hotel rooms needed a boost. The Waterfront Conference Center provided that boost immediately.
When it opened in September, Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora said that more than 90,000 room nights had already been booked for the next year, compared to only 7,000 the previous year.
“For Atlantic City, this is an opportunity to attract a new type of customer to the city and significantly increase hotel occupancy, as well as drive revenue for local restaurants, retail outlets and other businesses,” he says.
The Waterfront Conference Center, at over 100,000 square feet of meeting space, is now the largest conference-hotel complex from Baltimore to Boston, providing an attractive new option for the $280 billion national meetings industry that has a $16 billion foothold in the Northeast.
The Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center can accommodate up to 5,000 attendees and has the flexibility to convert from meetings, to banquets, to large assembly spaces. The 100,000 square feet of flexible meetings space offers versatile area volume that can be broken down into 56 separate small meeting rooms with up to 300 different configurations—reception, banquet and pre-function space.
With Atlantic City counting less on gaming revenue, it is hoped that the Waterfront Conference Center will inspire other of the city’s casinos to get into the meetings and conventions game.
Owner: Caesars Entertainment
Architect: Friedmutter Group
Contractor: T.N. Ward Co.
Investment: $126 million
Posted on November 24, 2015 by Casino Style Staff -
Patir Casino Seating is an internationally renowned seating specialist that has been active in the gaming market for 25 years, delivering premium seating solutions for gaming and hospitality areas. Founded in Munich, Germany, in 1991, Patir has influenced the casino seating industry with its original innovations and capabilities.
The secret of the company’s success always has been a proprietary design of exceptional quality while maintaining high standards in both comfort and ergonomics.
Exceptional craftsmanship
Patir’s philosophy always has been focused on ultimate chair quality. Player seating is subject to wear and tear, and therefore must be manufactured according to the highest quality standards; the fabrics used must be exceptionally robust. Patir chairs are built to last, and are quality-approved by the highest German testing institute, the TUV Rheinland.
Design and comfort
The Patir credo also encompasses creating original chair designs. The company strives to highlight its innovative style and design, and as a result has earned an excellent reputation as an industry trend-setter for casino seating. Patir also understands that casino guests and operators expect comfortable chairs. After all, comfort has a direct influence on a player’s length of stay at a gaming machine.
Custom-made products
With in-house production, Patir is able to manufacture individual seating solutions that are custom-tailored to clients’ needs. The company can satisfy all customer requests in terms of design and technical features.
Sustainability
It is not uncommon for gaming machines to be in constant use. Casino operators appreciate the availability of a full inventory of spare parts and the simplicity in replacing them. Patir’s Easy Change System, coupled with extraordinarily fast delivery times, assures every part of any Patir chair can be replaced quickly in just a few simple steps.
Innovation
Patir is the supplier for many major players in the international casino and entertainment industry. Although Patir’s permanent technical and design innovations have revolutionized the seating habits in casinos worldwide, the company does not rest on its laurels. Instead, it continually pushes product development and optimization through initiatives and consultation with major industry players.
Full-service branch in Las Vegas
Patir now has a U.S. base of operations in Las Vegas, offering full-service capabilities to ensure customers receive exceptional pre-sale and post-sale support.
For more information, contact Patir at 209-915-9032, info@patirseating.com or visit patirseating.com.
