Bally’s CFO and its Las Vegas legal counsel attempted to clear up any misconceptions that the operator planned to have its casino-resort ready by April 2028 when Major League Baseball’s A’s open their $2 billion baseball stadium on the same Strip site.
Nevada Gaming Commissioner Brian Krolicki sought updates on Bally’s development at the former Tropicana Las Vegas site that was demolished to make way for the baseball stadium and a future resort. He said he understood Bally’s was awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration on height restrictions for its two hotel towers before the operator could seek approval for plans from the Clark County Commission.
“I know you’ll be hard-pressed to have that timeline with things you can’t control,” Krolicki said in a question to CFO Mira Mircheva.
Las Vegas-based Bally’s attorney Dan Reaser said he wanted to “make the record clear” that the April 2028 deadline is for the stadium. A report in SFGate last week talked about A’s owner John Fisher taking a $100 million hit on possibly building a parking garage on his own and how Bally’s was supposed to build its two hotel towers and casino alongside the ballpark.
“That construction, however, is lagging, making it quite unlikely that the stadium area will look anything like its renderings by the time the ballpark opens,” SF Gate reports. “In an article published Tuesday, Steve Hill, the head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and the chairman of the local stadium authority, told The Athletic that Bally’s still does not “have the financing in place to do it” and that the stadium authority has given Bally’s an August deadline to get a plan in place.
“Ms. Mircheva is on the record before the Gaming Control Board when asked if Bally’s side of the project would also be completed by the opening of the stadium,” Krolicki said. “That’s at least my recollection.”
Reaser has told regulators this month that the April 2028 timeline is for the retail district, parking garage, utilities, and plaza, but not the towers that come at a later date.
Mircheva told Krolicki that the first opening is for what they call the RED District — retail, entertainment, and dining. Without making any guarantee of exact dates, the District would be in place around the stadium opening as part of the first phase.
“It would be ideal from our standpoint to have amenities available when the stadium opens, but we will firm up the timeline once we have the approvals (from Clark County),” Mircheva said. “In the meantime, common infrastructure is progressing — the podium, electric, and other utilities.”
Krolicki said his questions are based on eagerness with a lot happening in the city
“We’re all watching where we can’t wait for it to get done. I’m sure you’ll do it as expeditiously as possible. It’s in your interest.”
During the hearing, Krolicki asked for an update on Bally’s Lake Tahoe property, since he’s from northern Nevada.
Mircheva said the summer is a strong season and investments in competing properties have had an impact on their venue. Bally’s is starting to invest capital and is implementing operator improvements.
“We spent this morning talking about a different state line (at Primm), but this other state line is important to me,” Krolicki said. “There’s a lot going on in that neighborhood with other dynamics. That whole casino corridor in South Lake Tahoe is going to be fascinating to watch. There’s been a lot of cap ex and I just wanted to make sure that you all don’t lose sight. You’re busy in lots of different places, but the South Lake Tahoe property is pretty important to a lot of folks too.”
Reaser said the property has a new general manager; Arik Knowles ran the Tropicana Las Vegas. He also remains the general manager in Las Vegas.
Commissioner Abbi Silver asked Mircheva about a report this week that Bally’s is offering to put slot machines at Chicago’s two airports. That offer to generate revenue for the city resulted from Chicago pushing to legalize video gambling terminals in bars and restaurants.
“The comments on VGTs at the airport were in connection to the city of Chicago’s potential plan to introduce VGTs and Bally’s is in strong support of repealing that decision by the City Council. We think it goes against the community-host agreement that we signed with the city and we would pursue available avenues to protect our interests. Economically, it’s not the best outcome for the city and community. It jeopardizes union jobs and the commitment that Bally’s has made and maintained under the agreement with the city. Our suggestion is that Bally’s could put VGTs at the airports and generate the gaming taxes for the city that have otherwise been budgeted with the introduction of VGTs.”
