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Rivers Casino

 
Wikipedia: Rivers Casino
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Rivers Casino


Facts and statistics
Location Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
Address 777 Casino Drive
Pittsburgh, PA
15212
Opening date August 9, 2009[1]
Theme Waterfront
Notable restaurants Grand View Buffet
Ciao
West End Cafe
Andrew's Steak & Seafood
Casino type Land-Based
Owner Holdings Acquisition Co. L.P.,
Don H. Barden
Previous names The Majestic Star Pittsburgh
Website www.theriverscasino.com/

The Rivers Casino (Originally going to be named the Majestic Star Casino) is a casino in Pittsburgh. It is owned by Holdings Acquisition Co. L.P., a joint venture of Walton Street Capital LLC and High Pitt Gaming LP.[2] Located on Pittsburgh's North Shore adjacent to the Carnegie Science Center, it had its groundbreaking in December 2007 and opened on August 9, 2009. The casino was originally to be built by Don H. Barden, but financial troubles forced him to sell 75% of his interest in the casino to Holdings Acquisition Co on July 16, 2008.[2]

Contents

History

Application process

The "Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act"[3] authorized the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to issue up to 17 casino licenses, with at least 1 casino license reserved for the City of Pittsburgh. Four organizations entered the proposal process to win the Pittsburgh casino license: North Shore Gaming, LP, Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., Station Square Gaming, LP, and PITG Gaming, LLC.[4]

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and other local officials favored a proposal from the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., which proposed to give the Pittsburgh Penguins $290 million to build a new arena.[5][6][7] In a "Plan B" negotiated by local political leaders, both the Majestic Star and Forest City agreed to pay $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward the construction of the new hockey arena.[5]

The Station Square proposal was backed by major casino players, including Harrah's Entertainment and Forest City Enterprises.[8] In 2005, then-Mayor Tom Murphy controversially said during a press luncheon that "the fix is in" for Forest City's proposal.[5] The proposed plan suffered from questions about increases in traffic in the already-developed Station Square location.[5]

The proposal from PITG Gaming, LLC, a holding company owned by Don Barden's The Majestic Star Casino, LLC, was awarded one of five available "Category 2" slots licenses by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on December 20, 2006.[9] Barden's proposal was generally considered a "long-shot" for much of the application process because, unlike the competition, it lacked a large rewards program for gamblers and did not offer to pay for a replacement for the aging Mellon Arena.[5] Local community groups expressed concern over its proposed North Side location, home to PNC Park and Heinz Field and the increase in traffic congestion.[10]

Barden and PITG Gaming, LLC, were awarded the casino license in December 2006.[11] Several lawsuits were filed by the losing applicants challenging the Gaming Board's decision, but they were not successful.[12][13] Early construction delays were blamed on the suits.[14]

Construction

Ground was broken on the casino's North Shore in December 2007.[15][16] In July 2008, Barden defaulted on a $200 million bridge loan and failed to pay contractors, halting construction.[17]On July 16, 2008 he sold 75% of his interest to Holdings Acquisition Co, a joint venture of Walton Street Capital LLC and High Pitt Gaming LP and led by Neil Bluhm.[2][18] The ownership changes were approved by the Gaming Board on August 14, 2008 and construction on the casino restarted.[19] In November 2008, the new owners changed the casino's name to "Rivers Casino" to reflect its location near the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers.[2]

Opening

The Rivers Casino opened as scheduled at noon on August 9, 2009.

Dining & Entertainment

Rivers Casino has four restaurants: Grand View Buffet, Ciao, West End Cafe, and Andrew's Steak & Seafood.[20] It also has four bars: Spiral Bar, Drum Bar, Levels, and Wheelhouse.[21] In the fall of 2009, the casino opened a coat room, open till 6pm Sunday though Thursday and until 2 am closing time on Frdays and Saturdays. [22] The casino also has a night club and a 1,000 seat outdoor amphitheater. [23]

Rewards Club

Rivers Casino offers a rewards club, the Rivers Edge Players Club. It has various rewards based on play level. Some rewards include: free slot play, free monthly gifts, and free/discounted food offers.[24]

References

  1. ^ "Rivers Casino opening pushed back because of water damage". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_630867.htmlhttp://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_630867.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  2. ^ a b c d "Pittsburgh's casino to get new name". Pittsburgh Business Times (American City Business Journals, Inc.). 2008-11-18. http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/11/17/daily21.html. 
  3. ^ 4 Pa.C.S. §1101 et seq.
  4. ^ Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (2006-01-23). "PA Gaming Control Board Releases Updated List of Operator Applicants". Press release. http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/?pr=122. 
  5. ^ a b c d e Conte, Andrew (2006-12-06). "Analysts: Isle of Capri favored to win". Pittsburgh Tribune Review (Tribune-Review Publishing Co.). http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_482859.html. 
  6. ^ Belko, Mark (2006-10-19). "City gaming task force backs Isle of Capri casino". Pittsburgh Post Gazette (PG Publishing Co., Inc). http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06292/731275-336.stm. 
  7. ^ Mauriello, Tracie (2006-12-14). "Incoming Penguins owner touts Isle of Capri plan.". Pittsburgh Post Gazette (PG Publishing Co., Inc). http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06348/746065-61.stm. 
  8. ^ Toland, Bill (2006-01-24). "Giant Harrah's unveils plan for Station Square casino complex". Pittsburgh Post Gazette (PG Publishing Co., Inc). http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06024/643184-53.stm. 
  9. ^ Conte, Andrew; Jeremy Boren (2006-12-12). "And the winner is ... Majestic Star". Pittsburgh Tribune Review (Tribune-Review Publishing Co). http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_485047.html. 
  10. ^ Lowry, Patricia (2006-12-19). "Places: Can a casino be a good neighbor?". Pittsburgh Post Gazette (PG Publishing Co., Inc). http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06353/747129-51.stm. 
  11. ^ Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (2008-08-29). "PA Gaming Control Board Releases Adjudication Explaining the Decision On the Pittsburgh Casino". Press release. http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/?pr=232. 
  12. ^ Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (2007-07-18). "PA Supreme Court Upholds PGCB Licensing Decision For PITG Gaming, LLC.". Press release. http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/?pr=15. 
  13. ^ "Hearing postponed for Pittsburgh's Majestic Star Casino". Pittsburgh Business Times (American City Business Journals, Inc.). 2008-05-14. http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/05/12/daily28.html. 
  14. ^ "Lawsuits Blamed For Majestic Star Casino Delays". KDKA (CBS Broadcasting Inc.). 2008-07-02. http://kdka.com/local/Majestic.star.casino.2.762595.html. 
  15. ^ Delano, John (2007-12-11). "Plans For Majestic Star Casino Move Forward". KDKA (CBS Broadcasting Inc.). http://kdka.com/local/Majestic.Star.groundbreaking.2.608429.html. 
  16. ^ "Pittsburgh Casino Breaks Ground; Barden Fires Back At Critics". WTAE-TV (ThePittsburghChannel). 2007-12-11. http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/14808937/detail.html. 
  17. ^ "Barden defaults on loan, seeks new ownership structure for casino". Pittsburgh Business Times (American City Business Journals, Inc.). 2008-07-11. http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/07/07/daily36.html. 
  18. ^ Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (2008-07-18). "PA Gaming Control Board Releases Proposed Ownership Structure For Pittsburgh Casino". Press release. http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/?pr=225. 
  19. ^ Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (2008-08-14). "PA Gaming Control Board Unanimously Approves Pittsburgh Casino Ownership Change". Press release. http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us/?pr=230. 
  20. ^ "Dining". Rivers Casino. http://www.theriverscasino.com/dining. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  21. ^ "Nightlife". Rivers Casino. http://www.theriverscasino.com/nightlife. Retrieved 2009-10-25. 
  22. ^ "Coat Room". Rivers Casino. http://www.theriverscasino.com/coat-room. Retrieved 2009-10-25. 
  23. ^ "Amphitheater". Rivers Casino. http://www.theriverscasino.com/entertainment-a-events/amphitheater. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
  24. ^ "Rivers Edge Players Club". Rivers Casino. http://www.theriverscasino.com/rivers-edge-players-club. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 

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Coordinates: 40°26′51″N 80°01′22″W / 40.447404°N 80.022697°W / 40.447404; -80.022697

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