An update on casino expansion projects around town:
Sycuan Casino
With an eye toward March 2019, Sycuan Casino is just three a few months away from the grand opening of its first hotel and resort. The expansion project, which will cost $247 million, includes multiple new offerings. Here are some key details:
302 guest rooms with 57 luxury suites. Each will feature luxurious pillow-topped beds, flat screen TVs, deluxe bath amenities, including bathrobes and slippers, 24-hour in-room dining and a mini refrigerator.
KEYPR in-room technology. Guests will be able to access a directory of services, including dining and entertainment and more through an in-room tablet and mobile app. The app also allows guests to check-in, check out and activate a secure mobile key.
Square footage. Ranges from 359 square feet for a signature room to 1,188 square feet for the Chairman Suite.
Hotel services and facilities. Amenities at the 12-story hotel to include a concierge, airport shuttle service, 24-hour business center, dry cleaning and laundry services, a Starbucks cafe and a gift shop.
Resort features. A full-service luxury spa and 24-hour fitness center will be opening. The pool and gardens complex will have a 200-foot lazy river, two pools — one adults only, one for families — and poolside bars and grill.
Convention and entertainment venues. There will be 20,000 square feet of indoor event space and over 22,000 square feet of outdoor event space. Meeting rooms will range from 1,200 to 11,200 square feet.
New dining and drinking options. When complete, Sycuan will have 15 unique eateries, including a signature restaurant, a fast casual marketplace and a raw bar and lounge. As part of the expansion, Sycuan promised to bring in iconic San Diego dining brands. The GameDay Sports Bar will be converted into a craft brewpub.
Casino expansion. A larger casino floor will allow for about 800 more slot machines (from 2,000 to 2,800) and about 20 added table games (from 40-plus to 60).
Viejas Casino & Resort
Years in the making, Viejas in October celebrated the completion of the last new element in its major overhaul. A grand “re-opening” was held to unveil a plush new Center Bar and an exclusive high-limit room.
The 1,900-square-foot, fully circular bar has 50 seats, each complete with a slot machine, 18 65-inch TVs and a 24-hour sports bar food menu. Beers on tap include the newly launched Viejas Golden Blonde, a collaboration with Mission Brewery.
The 15,415-square-foot high limit room is a posh casino-within-a-casino, with 80 new slot and video poker machines and eight table games. The room sports luxury lounge chairs, a coffee and tea area, private cashier and a high-limit concierge desk.
Pala Casino Spa & Resort
Work recently began on a floor-by-floor remodeling of Pala’s 500-plus room hotel, a project that’s expected to take approximately six months.
The rooms will feature contemporary furniture, finishes and decorative elements chosen specifically to maintain Pala’s prestigious AAA 4-Diamond status. Among the high-tech touches are smart TVs, thermostats with infrared sensors, bedside USB ports and charging cubes with Bluetooth and cords to fit every device.
The status of a key feature in Pala’s $170 million major expansion is still unclear, however.
“Pala has still not concluded when it will break ground on its new hotel tower,” said Pala CEO Bill Bembenek.
We’ll keep you updated.