Casino Aztar In Evansville Indiana
| Tropicana Evansville | |
|---|---|
| Location | Evansville, Indiana |
| Address | 421 NW Riverside Drive |
| Opening date | 1995 |
| No. of rooms | 250 main hotel 100 boutique hotel |
| Total gaming space | 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m2) |
| Signature attractions | The District |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | Gaming and Leisure Properties |
| Operating license holder | Caesars Entertainment |
| Previous names | Casino Aztar |
| Coordinates | 37°58′22″N87°34′49″W / 37.972756°N 87.580219°WCoordinates: 37°58′22″N87°34′49″W / 37.972756°N 87.580219°W |
| Website | tropevansville.com |
Tropicana Evansville is a casino hotel and entertainment complex in downtown Evansville, Indiana, owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Caesars Entertainment. Originally named Casino Aztar, it was opened by Aztar Corporation in 1995 as the state's first casino. In addition, as of 2017, it also became the state's first land based casino as well.
Tropicana Evansville offers comfortable hotel rooms on the Ohio river and the hottest table-games, slots and video-gaming in Indiana on their casino floor. Caesars Rewards Local Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts have come together to create new experiences for you. No matter the season, a flurry of nightlife revolves inside and out of Tropicana Evansville, Indiana’s first casino. Formerly known as Casino Aztar, and often referred to as “The Boat,” “The City of Evansville” riverboat has transformed tremendously since opening 20 years ago at 421 N.W. Riverside Drive on Evansville’s riverfront. Casino Aztar, Evansville, owned and operated by the Phoenix-based Aztar Corporation, is located on an 841,848 square foot area at Riverfront Park on the Ohio River in downtown Evansville, Indiana. The $110 million entertainment facility includes a 2,700 passenger riverboat casino, a 250 room hotel, a 1,660 vehicle parking garage and Riverfront.
The main entertainment facility consists of a 45,000-square-foot (4,200 m2) casino,[1] a 250-room hotel, a 1,660 vehicle parking garage, and pavilion housing pre-boarding facilities, retail shops, restaurants, and lounge area. A new entertainment district with a 100-room boutique hotel and additional restaurants opened in late 2006.
In 2005, the casino generated $137 million in revenue and $41 million in profits.[2] In 2017, the casino moved from its original riverboat into a land-based facility.[3]
Riverboat[edit]
The actual casino boat, called 'City of Evansville', was the state of Indiana's first gaming riverboat under legislation passed in 1993. It opened to the public in 1995. Built by Jeffboat in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the boat is a replica of the historic Robert E. Lee racing sidewheel steamboat crafted nearly 130 years ago. Jeffboat deployed 200 workers and spent over twelve months constructing the vessel. The exterior was designed by RA Stern, Inc. to appear as if the boat is straight from the Civil War era; the interior, designed by Morris & Brown Architects, Ltd., is purely Las Vegas glamor.
The boat is 310 ft (94 m) long by 70 ft (21 m) wide, has a depth of 14 ft (4.3 m) by 6 in (150 mm) and stands 80 ft (24 m) above water level (including stacks). It weighs 1,589 tons and has a maximum draft of 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) There was a total of 47,863 sq ft (4,446.6 m2) of public space.
Hotels[edit]
Tropicana Hotel[edit]
The Tropicana Hotel opened its doors on December 17, 1996, originally as the Casino Aztar Hotel. Overlooking the casino and the Ohio River, the hotel has 250 guest room and suites; meeting, conference and banquet facilities; and a fitness room. The hotel also offers 10 suites, ranging from two and three room suites. Each suite features a whirlpool bath, sofa sleeper, wet bar, and mini-bar.
Le Merigot[edit]
Le Merigot, which opened its doors on December 28, 2006, was designed by Los Angeles-based interior designer Laurence Lee. This 100-room boutique hotel features Italian bed linens, LCD flat screen televisions in both bedroom and bath, in-room high speed Internet access, MP3 input, and glass-enclosed showers with multi-unit body sprays and overhead rain maker showerheads. The suites at Le Merigot offer guests a living and dining room area, master bedroom, and oversized bath complete with a soaking tub.
Riverfront Pavilion[edit]
The property's Riverfront Pavilion is designed to reflect the turn-of-the-century charm of downtown Evansville. The interior feature building facades inspired by buildings that in the early 1900s graced Evansville's downtown riverfront. These facades were constructed from materials indigenous to this area. The street scapes offer a multitude of textures and colors with a 'park-like' central theme. This complex houses a variety of dining and entertainment options. An enclosed walkway links the pavilion to a 250-room hotel, complete with meeting and banquet facilities. A seven-story parking garage offers over 1,600 sheltered parking spaces with easy access to the casino, hotel, and pavilion.
The District[edit]
The Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District is a $40 million expansion, opened in 2006. The district includes a 100-room boutique hotel and a multi-venu entertainment facility centered on a riverfront park.[4] Jillian’s Billiards Club and Ri Ra Irish Pub opened to the public on September 15, 2006. The Le Merigot Hotel and Blush Ultralounge and Tapas Bar opened on December 28, 2006.[5] The complex is located across from the existing hotel.
Following an unsuccessful run of business by Jillian's, it has since gone out of business and was replaced by Stoney's Rockin' Country Bar in 2011. Stoney's Rockin' Country Bar went out of business in December 2012. Boogie Nights, a dance club with a 1970s and 1980s theme entered the space in 2013 along with The Sports Book Bar & Grill. The Sports Book Bar & Grill closed in December 2014 as a result of management issues. Chido Mexican Bar & Grill will open in that space in August 2015, between Boogie Nights and Ri Ra Irish Pub & Restaurant.
References[edit]
- ^'Tropicana's new land-based casino officially open in Evansville'. WEHT-TV. October 19, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^'Gauging Aztar's Value'. The Motley Fool. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
- ^'$50 million on-shore Evansville casino opens to gamblers'. U.S. News & World Report. AP. October 20, 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
- ^'Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District'. Veazey Parrott Durkin & Shoulders. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
- ^'Aztar to open hotel 'by the water''. Evansville Courier & Press. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
External links[edit]
| Industry | Gaming and Hospitality |
|---|---|
| Fate | Acquired by Columbia Sussex |
| Predecessor | Ramada Inn, Inc. |
| Founded | 1989; 31 years ago |
| Defunct | January 4, 2007; 13 years ago |
| Headquarters |
Aztar Corporation was a hospitality company based in Phoenix, Arizona, focused on resorthotels and casinos. In 2005, the company had revenues of more than $915 million and earnings before interest and taxes of $212 million. During 2006 the company became the subject of a bidding war for ownership, with Columbia Sussex winning.
History[edit]
Aztar was formed in 1989 as part of a restructuring of Ramada Inn, Inc.. Ramada's gaming businesses, including the Tropicana Atlantic City and the Tropicana Las Vegas, were spun off as Aztar Corporation, which was given to Ramada's shareholders, while Ramada's restaurant and non-gaming hotel businesses remained with the original company, which was immediately acquired by Hong Kong-based New World Development.[1] Aztar took its name as a portmanteau of 'Aztec' and 'star'.[2]
In 1995, the new Aztar Corporation expanded its operations to include riverboat casinos in Caruthersville, Missouri and Evansville, Indiana. On March 5, 2002 Aztar acquired full ownership of the 34-acre (140,000 m2) Tropicana location in Las Vegas by purchasing the 50% share held by Chicago's Jaffe family. During 2005, the company acquired a site in Allentown, Pennsylvania with the intention of securing a gaming license and then developing a casino.
On March 13, 2006, Aztar announced plans to be acquired by Pinnacle Entertainment for $2.1 billion. Subsequent bids were made by Colony Capital, LLC, Columbia Sussex and Ameristar Casinos. As of April 26, 2006, all four companies were engaged in bidding over Aztar, with Pinnacle increased its bid to $45 per share, matching Ameristar's bid; Columbia Sussex had previously bid $47 per share.[3] Later, Columbia Sussex increased its bid to $50 a share, all in cash. Aztar management determined on May 1 that the latest bid was preferred over Pinnacle's late increase to $48 a share, in cash and stock.
On May 4, 2006, Ameristar announced that it was pulling out of the bidding for Aztar. Additionally, Colony apparently lost interest, having failed to increase its bid beyond $41 a share and making no public comment for several weeks. Since Columbia Sussex eventually outbid Pinnacle, the latter company was paid a $50 million termination fee plus expenses, which may total $16 million.[4]
Bidding ended on May 19, 2006 with the acceptance of a $2.75 billion bid from Columbia Sussex. Columbia Sussex paid a $313 million breakup fee in advance, in case the deal fell through with $78 million of that used to pay the breakup fee to Pinnacle Entertainment. The sale closed in January 2007.[5]
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission ultimately rejected Columbia Sussex's application for a gaming license for the Tropicana Atlantic City, sending the company's gaming businesses into bankruptcy.[6] Most of the Aztar properties became part of the reorganized Tropicana Entertainment Inc. in March 2010.[7]
Casinos at time of acquisition[edit]
Hotels Near Casino Aztar In Evansville Indiana
- Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City – Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Tropicana Las Vegas – Paradise, Nevada
- Ramada Express – Laughlin, Nevada
- Casino Aztar Evansville – Evansville, Indiana
- Casino Aztar Caruthersville – Caruthersville, Missouri
References[edit]
- ^Form 10-K: Annual Report (Report). Aztar Corporation. March 14, 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 2014-12-26 – via EDGAR.
- ^David Johnston (August 6, 1989). 'Ramada faces poor odds in its focus on gaming'. Chicago Tribune. Knight-Ridder. Retrieved 2014-12-26.
- ^'NORM: Clinton nearly sees rocket's red glare'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
- ^'DEALS ON THE STRIP: Ameristar ends chase of Aztar'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
- ^'Columbia Entertainment completes Aztar acquisition'. Casino City Times. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^Chasan, Emily (6 May 2008). 'Tropicana files for bankruptcy, casinos keep going'. Reuters. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ^Chasan, Emily (8 March 2010). 'Tropicana casinos exit bankruptcy under Icahn deal'. Reuters. Retrieved 17 March 2012.