The Seneca Nation of Indians' temporary downtown Buffalo casino is still attracting customers who enter through the construction site of the the new Buffalo Creek Casino. Leaders of the Seneca Gaming Corporation offered a glimpse inside of construction on the brand new casino.
The new casino is a mix of noise, workers and construction materials everywhere. The $130 million project will be up and running by the end of the summer.
When the new casino opens, the old one will be torn down, and replaced by landscaping, and a ceremonial walkway entrance to the complex to be finished near the end of the year.
This is a far different project from the plan of eight years ago which was larger with a towering hotel.
Seneca Gaming marketing senior vice president Jim Wise says this is about gambling.
"As the governor stated a couple of weeks ago, the Senecas really are the casino of Western New York. And, a casino means slot machines and table games. So, we're putting in just under 20 table games, all the key varieties that are important to our guests and we're excited about introducing table games to Downtown Buffalo. We think there's are a lot of people both on the U.S. and Canadian side who will be attracted to the building for the table games," said Wise.
The Canadian reference is to customers who shifted to the Buffalo Creek when the slot machines were removed from the Fort Erie race track.
Seneca Gaming Corporation Chairman Kevin Seneca said the new casino is part of the neighborhood.
"It's gone from industrial to entertainment, that's a good thing," said Seneca. "Hopefully, you know, this will be the cornerstone of what develops over here. It's going to feed off each other."
There will be more than 800 slots in the new casino, more than doubling what's in the temporary casino and 20 game tables.
The new gaming facility will have 500 workers, up from 350. And for those coming from a distance a parking ramp with space for around 1,000.
