Durango Station Casino’s Grand Opening Was Delayed Due to a Lack of Training

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 13, 2023

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The inauguration of the Durango Station casino resort, valued at $780 million, is now postponed by two weeks, as announced by Red Rock Resorts. The delay in shifting the opening from November 20 to December 5 is attributed to the need for additional staff training.

Lorenzo Fertitta, the Board vice chairman, emphasized that certain areas crucial for the opening were not handed over by contractors as anticipated. This setback impacted the ability to adequately train staff and team members for the required load-in and play days.

Fertitta emphasized that their operations distinguish them from the Strip, focusing primarily on the local clientele with an expectation of numerous repeat customers.

In this environment, encountering new faces daily is not the norm. Both he and Frank (Fertitta) stress the importance of delivering the highest quality service on the opening day.

Being fully prepared is deemed the correct approach as they anticipate owning the asset for an extended period, underscoring the significance of a positive first impression.

Their commitment to upholding exceptionally high standards is evident, and ensuring a flawless opening is a top priority.

In the previous month, reservations for Station Casinos’ Durango Casino Resort became available through DurangoResort.com and the STN Mobile App. The architectural design of the rooms and suites was undertaken by Looney & Associates, based in Dallas.

Situated on 71 acres along South Durango Drive near the 215 Beltway in the southwest of Las Vegas, this establishment comprises a hotel and casino.

Its extensive features include 83,000 square feet of casino space, a sportsbook, a 15-floor tower hosting over 200 hotel rooms, as well as convention and meeting spaces.

The resort boasts additional amenities such as a pool with cabanas, diverse dining options ranging from upscale to casual, outdoor social areas and complimentary parking. Notably, the establishment is home to 15 restaurants, featuring four signature outlets and a food hall.

While the delay of the Durango Station casino resort’s opening wasn’t directly tied to the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, the Q3 call addressed various questions related to the race.

Stations President Scott Kreeger emphasized that the first F1 race would serve as a learning experience, and local casinos might benefit from increased business due to the traffic generated by closures around the racecourse on the Strip.

Lorenzo Fertitta noted that Stations is not as reliant on F1 as some Strip properties, and expectations for the event seem to have tempered compared to a year ago.

Despite lowered room rates, Stations reported its third-best Q3 in company history, with net revenues from Las Vegas operations reaching $408 million and adjusted earnings at $191.4 million.

Both figures were slightly lower than the record-setting quarters in 2021 and 2022, and the company reported an 86.2% hotel occupancy.

Looking forward, Frank Fertitta mentioned the company’s anticipation of Super Bowl LVIII, scheduled for February 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.