Baton Rouge casino gets an extra month to meet construction deadlines

Posted by IronPlanet on Jul 20, 2012 2:03:00 AM

Construction on the $368 million L'Auberge Casino and Hotel in Baton Rouge, La., may take a bit longer than expected. Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. recently approached the state's Gambling Control Board for a one-month extension on the project, according to local news network WBRZ.

The board has allowed the deadline for completion to be moved from July 31 to August 31. Pinnacle claims this will not greatly affect plans for opening the casino's doors to the public by the first weekend of September, The Associated Press reports. However, the company will meet with the board again to confirm the official opening date in August.

"We are zeroing in on the actual opening date," Anthony Sanfilippo, president and CEO of Pinnacle, told the regulatory board, according to the AP. "We sure expect to be back in front of you in August asking for permission to open, with a firm date."

The project, which began in May 2010, has encountered a number of external issues that have slowed progress substantially. The AP indicates extreme fluctuations of Mississippi River water levels have been the greatest problem facing the construction of this casino.

Cranes and other construction equipment have been used to help build the 74,000-square-foot, 12-story hotel, which features 206 guest rooms, a rooftop pool, and a covered garage with room for 800 vehicles. There is also an event center with a 1,600-person capacity, a banquet hall large enough for 800 guests, three dining centers, nearly 1,500 slot machines, 50 gambling tables and a bar in the casino area that overlooks the Mississippi.

Topics: Construction, Industry Headlines