SALAMANCA, N.Y. – The Seneca Nation of Indians had cause to
dance Friday afternoon, celebrating the grand opening of the Seneca
Allegany Casino and Hotel.
The Seneca Allegany Iroquois Dancers performed a number of
dances to kick off a ribbon cutting ceremony and press
conference.
Maurice John, president of the Seneca Nation of Indians, said
the clear skies Friday made for a wonderful grand opening – a
one-time opportunity that some may not experience the likes of
again.
“The (builders and staff) worked very hard and long hours to
make this day possible,” John said. “It’s a cause for celebration
as you could see (when) the dancers had smiles on their faces.”
“The owners who wanted to see a good return on their investments
will certainly see that here,” said Brian Hansberry, president and
chief executive officer for the Seneca Gaming Corp. “This project
will redefine the surrounding area. The Seneca name will stand tall
above the region and attract the attention of visitors the world
over.”
“The Seneca name is becoming known for quality and excellence
throughout the gaming industry and around the country,” said Barry
Snyder Sr., chairman of the Seneca Gaming Corporation Board of
Directors. “When asked … what the difference is between the Seneca
Niagara Casino and the Seneca Allegany Casino, I answered that we
used the Niagara casino to figure out what we are doing, and we
used this facility to master it.”
“Today is obviously a very special day,” said Gus Tsivikis,
general manager of the casino and hotel. “We’re very proud of the
new facility and what it means to the Seneca Nation of
Indians.”
John pointed out that a welcome belt displayed on the hotel
lobby wall is symbolic of the culture and history for which the
casino honors.
“(My wife) Karen helped me to see that … it’s very important to
retain our culture (and retain) ourselves as a sovereign nation,”
John said.
Hansberry said he had strong emotional ties to the Seneca
Allegany Casino, being that he mostly worked there until about five
years ago when he went to Niagara Falls. He attested to the proud
Seneca heritage built into the facility, citing an experience with
an elder who expressed joy and pride in the casino project.
“It was then that I felt like this was not just a huge gaming
corporation; it was basically a family business,” Hansberry
said.
The $160 million Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel now employs
more than 1,200 workers, and the grand opening comes less than 18
months after the groundbreaking on Oct. 29, 2005.
“In terms of pure aesthetics, this casino is on par with any
casino in the country,” said Philip Pantano, public relations
representative for the casino and hotel who lead a tour of the
facility for the media. “The construction and design turned out
really nice. It’s a beautiful space.”
The first floor houses the 68,300-square-feet casino with 2,235
slot machines, 40 table games and a full-service bar. The third
floor is set up for mechanical space.
The second floor hosts a spa and salon, a fitness center, a
swimming pool and three new restaurants. The salon and spa are open
to the public and not just hotel guests.
The spa features three treatment rooms, steam rooms and sauna
rooms. The salon offers hairstylings, manicures and pedicures among
other things. Along with the Fire Lounge, the three new restaurants
include the 24-hour casual dining Seneca Caf_, the fine-dining
Italian restaurant Patria and The Western Door: A Seneca
Steakhouse.
Floors 4 through 11 host the 212 hotel rooms, which were sold
out for this weekend. Each room is equipped with a flat screen TV,
a jacuzzi and one king or two queen special pillow top beds.
The 14 one-bedroom suites, which go for around $700 a day and
cover a 885-square-foot space, include a living room area and
separate bedroom. Two on each floor, the 16 corner suites, costing
up to $500 a night, cover an area of 625 square-feet.
As part of the grand opening, the original, temporary casino
facility, which opened on May 1, 2004, will be turned into a
large-scale events center for entertainment and sports, beginning
with a performance by country music star Travis Tritt today.
John looked at the grand opening as not the end but another step
in the nation’s journey, adding the nation hopes to recruit people
in the area for jobs further down the line and hopes to add another
wing to the hotel.
