Groundbreaking for New Casino in Nebraska To Begin Next Month
Construction on the $100 million Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park in Nebraska is set to kick off in October. Following the conclusion of the Nebraska State Fair on Labor Day, Fonner Park’s attention has shifted towards the eagerly anticipated casino resort. Fonner Park earned the right to apply for a state casino license after Nebraska voters approved a statewide ballot referendum in November 2020.
The referendum authorised slot machines, table games, and sports betting at licensed racetracks across the state. Fonner Park, owned by the Hall County Livestock Improvement Association, has joined forces with Elite Casino Resorts.
The plan is to transform the facility into a Las Vegas-style casino destination. Elite, headquartered in Iowa, currently manages three casinos in its home state and a fourth in Illinois.
The Grand Island Casino Resort at Fonner Park will be constructed adjacent to the racetrack, incorporating the grandstand into the overall complex.
Elite officials recently confirmed that construction is slated to commence in mid to late October, with the opening date in 2024 to be determined as the project progresses.
Fonner Park is approximately 80 miles west of Lincoln’s Nebraska state capital. This makes the drive a manageable 90-minute journey via Interstate 80 and at a distance easily reached by all state residents.
In December last year, Elite Casino Resorts unveiled a temporary casino within the Fonner Park concourse. The provisional gaming space features 300 slot machines and electronic table games.
From January through July 2023, the casino generated an impressive gross gaming revenue of $16.9 million. On the cusp of a significant transformation, Fonner Park has appointed Vince Fiala as its future General Manager.
Formerly serving as the Assistant General Manager at Elite Casino Resorts’ Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort in Larchwood, Iowa, Fiala is poised to take the helm at the Nebraska-based property.
The vision for Fonner Park’s casino area encompasses approximately 37,000 square feet and is set to feature 650 slot machines, 20 live dealer table games, and a sportsbook. Elite has teamed up with Betfred Sports for their sports betting operations.
In addition to the casino, Elite’s Grand Island Casino Resort will include a 116-room hotel offering picturesque views of the Fonner Park racetrack.
The hotel will also boast a showroom hosting nightly musical performances. A spa facility with massage services, salon amenities, a sauna, and an ice room is reportedly in the pipeline.
With the recent opening of the Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort in Carterville, Illinois, Elite Casino Resorts has turned its full attention to Fonner Park. The Illinois-based resort is a partnership with Walker’s Bluff Vineyard, a family-run rural estate known for its fine dining and wedding facilities.
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