St. Regis Mohawk Tribe: News & Resources

AKWESASNE--The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe formally announced today plans to develop its current gaming facilities into a “destination resort.” The plan would involve relocating the Mohawk Bingo Palace onto the site of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, expanding the existing casino, and creating an entertainment complex.

Earlier this year, the Tribe contracted with the consulting firm of Klas Robinson, which completed a market study to examine the Tribe’s gaming options. Klas Robinson is a renowned and established hospitality marketing and research firm, which has worked with numerous tribal governments and economic development agencies including: the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California, the Mississippi Band of Choctaws, and the Seneca Nation of Indians of New York. The Klas Robinson study concluded that the best option for the Tribe is to consolidate the two operations into one site and create a “destination resort.”

“Our gaming operations are performing at the level where we now need to take the next step and grow,” said Tribal Chief Barbara A. Lazore. “It is the right time to move things forward for the tribe. It’s an exciting time.”

The scope of the proposed project includes a Class III casino with 1,500 slot machines and 35 table games, a Class II casino with 500 gaming machines and a 36-table poker room, a multi-purpose events center with 850 bingo seats that could be converted to an events center for concerts and other uses, a proposed 400-room hotel, five to eight restaurant and dining facilities, two ballrooms, meeting spaces, a business center, a non-gaming video arcade, and an assortment of gift, retail, and resort outlets.

The project may include the development of additional destination attractions and a signature restaurant as part of the expansion. The site will include parking for at least 2,000 vehicles, with structured parking for at least 1,000 vehicles.

“We are about to enter a whole new era of opportunity for the Tribe and surrounding communities with a destination resort of this kind,” said Tribal Chief Lorraine M. White.

The Tribe recently acquired an additional 22 acres immediately adjacent to the current casino site. The land was purchased at a price of $1 million and further ensures that the site can accommodate future growth. The Tribe is currently in the process of surveying the entire casino property and will be conducting an environmental review of the newly acquired land.

“This is a great chance to create economic partnerships with tribal members,” said Tribal Chief James W. Ransom. “We would like them to step forward and consider implementing many of the amenities that will be associated with this expansion.”

The Tribe is proposing that while it has the responsibility to develop the gaming aspects of the expansion and will construct the infrastructure associated with such expansion, tribal members would have the opportunity to provide many of the other services that will be offered in the expansion. These business opportunities include restaurants, gift, retail, and resort outlets.

The existing gaming operations have brought nearly 700 jobs to the North Country and will have provided more than $9 million in revenue to the tribe by the close of this year. The proposed expansion has the potential to double the current employment numbers, and result in a substantial increase in revenue for the tribe. Gaming revenue is allocated by the tribe to fund essential governmental services, including law enforcement, health, seniors, youth, and educational programs.

The results of the Klas Robinson market study and the proposed expansion were first introduced at the October 14 monthly tribal meeting. At the same time, presentations of the project were made by the respective general managers of the two gaming facilities to their employees. The proposed expansion was very well received by those in attendance. The next step for the Tribe is to develop more detailed plans associated with the expansion and to continue discussions with the tribal membership as the project moves forward.

“We view this proposed expansion as one of the largest economic development projects that northern New York has seen in years,” said the Tribal Council in a statement. “The benefits will be felt far beyond the Akwesasne community,” the Tribal Council added.








		PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: Kentenha/October 25, 2006 For information contact: Public Information Office St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Tel: (518) 358-2272 ext. 236 Fax: (518) 358-9675 “Destination Resort” Expansion Plans Underway Mohawk Bingo Palace to be relocated to Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Site AKWESASNE--The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe formally announced today plans to develop its current gaming facilities into a “destination resort.” The plan would involve relocating the Mohawk Bingo Palace onto the site of the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, expanding the existing casino, and creating an entertainment complex. Earlier this year, the Tribe contracted with the consulting firm of Klas Robinson, which completed a market study to examine the Tribe’s gaming options. Klas Robinson is a renowned and established hospitality marketing and research firm, which has worked with numerous tribal governments and economic development agencies including: the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California, the Mississippi Band of Choctaws, and the Seneca Nation of Indians of New York. The Klas Robinson study concluded that the best option for the Tribe is to consolidate the two operations into one site and create a “destination resort.” “Our gaming operations are performing at the level where we now need to take the next step and grow,” said Tribal Chief Barbara A. Lazore. “It is the right time to move things forward for the tribe. It’s an exciting time.” The scope of the proposed project includes a Class III casino with 1,500 slot machines and 35 table games, a Class II casino with 500 gaming machines and a 36-table poker room, a multi-purpose events center with 850 bingo seats that could be converted to an events center for concerts and other uses, a proposed 400-room hotel, five to eight restaurant and dining facilities, two ballrooms, meeting spaces, a business center, a non-gaming video arcade, and an assortment of gift, retail, and resort outlets. The project may include the development of additional destination attractions and a signature restaurant as part of the expansion. The site will include parking for at least 2,000 vehicles, with structured parking for at least 1,000 vehicles. “We are about to enter a whole new era of opportunity for the Tribe and surrounding communities with a destination resort of this kind,” said Tribal Chief Lorraine M. White. The Tribe recently acquired an additional 22 acres immediately adjacent to the current casino site. The land was purchased at a price of $1 million and further ensures that the site can accommodate future growth. The Tribe is currently in the process of surveying the entire casino property and will be conducting an environmental review of the newly acquired land. “This is a great chance to create economic partnerships with tribal members,” said Tribal Chief James W. Ransom. “We would like them to step forward and consider implementing many of the amenities that will be associated with this expansion.” The Tribe is proposing that while it has the responsibility to develop the gaming aspects of the expansion and will construct the infrastructure associated with such expansion, tribal members would have the opportunity to provide many of the other services that will be offered in the expansion. These business opportunities include restaurants, gift, retail, and resort outlets. The existing gaming operations have brought nearly 700 jobs to the North Country and will have provided more than $9 million in revenue to the tribe by the close of this year. The proposed expansion has the potential to double the current employment numbers, and result in a substantial increase in revenue for the tribe. Gaming revenue is allocated by the tribe to fund essential governmental services, including law enforcement, health, seniors, youth, and educational programs. The results of the Klas Robinson market study and the proposed expansion were first introduced at the October 14 monthly tribal meeting. At the same time, presentations of the project were made by the respective general managers of the two gaming facilities to their employees. The proposed expansion was very well received by those in attendance. The next step for the Tribe is to develop more detailed plans associated with the expansion and to continue discussions with the tribal membership as the project moves forward. “We view this proposed expansion as one of the largest economic development projects that northern New York has seen in years,” said the Tribal Council in a statement. “The benefits will be felt far beyond the Akwesasne community,” the Tribal Council added. -30-