MotorCity Casino
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| MotorCity Casino Hotel | |
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| Facts and statistics | |
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| Address | 2901 Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48201 |
| Opening date | December 14, 1999 |
| Casino type | Land-Based |
| Theme | Future-retro |
| Owner | Marian Ilitch |
| No. of rooms | 400 |
| Total gaming space | 100,000 square feet; 2,500 gaming machines; 53 table games |
| Permanent shows | TBA 1,800+ seat theatre |
| Notable restaurants | Iridescence, The Assembly Line Buffet, MotorCity Pit Stop, and more |
| Website | http://www.motorcitycasino.com |
MotorCity Casino Hotel is one of three casinos in Detroit, Michigan. The newly expanded and renovated $300 million casino hotel incorporates the historic Wagner Baking Company building circa 1915. As part of the renovation, the cornerstone of this former Wonder Bread bakery has been fully restored to its original condition, preserving the signature features of the 93-year old Detroit landmark. The casino is owned by Marian Ilitch. Forbes reported in October 2006 that the gambling palace has annual revenues of $400+ million and operating income of $125 million, expected to rise to $180 million under the change in tax structure following completion of the resort.[1]
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[edit] History
Marian Ilitch, one of the founders of the MotorCity Casino, purchased controlling interest from various minor stockholders and Mandalay Resort Group (Circus Circus Michigan)/MGM Mirage Resorts in 2005. [2] Michigan gaming laws prohibit one company from owning more than one casino property in a market, so to affect the Mandalay Resort/MGM Mirage merger the publicly traded companies had to divest MotorCity Casino, choosing to keep MGM Grand Detroit.[3] Mrs. Ilitch paid $525 million for Mandalay Resort Group's 53.5 percent interest in the MotorCity Casino enterprise. The acquisition was a merger in which Mandalay controlled Circus Circus Michigan, Inc. was survived by IH Gaming, Inc.[4]
MotorCity Casino is not a corporate entity; rather it is a dba for the Ilitch-owned and controlled Detroit Entertainment, LLC.[5]
With Mrs. Ilitch as sole owner, MotorCity Casino Hotel is reportedly one of the largest independently owned casinos in the U.S. and likely the largest and only 100 percent female-owned casino enterprise in the United States[6]. It is also the only locally-owned casino hotel in the city of Detroit.
Mrs. Ilitch and her husband Michael Ilitch are co-founders of Little Caesar's Pizza. They are vice chairwoman and chairman respectively of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. which includes the Detroit Red Wings NHL franchise and various food service and entertainment ventures. Michael Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers MLB franchise.
Mrs. Ilitch and a business partner, Michael J. Malik, Sr., pursue other casino gambling interests outside of Michigan. Malik had been a founder of MotorCity Casino but was forced to sell his interests when the Michigan Gaming Control Board would not grant him a license. He sold his shares in MotorCity Casino to Ilitch. Among their other ventures: Gateway Casinos Resorts, LLC partnered with the Shinnecock Indians in the Hamptons, NY; and Barwest, LLC partners with the Big Lagoon Rancheria Indians and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians to develop casinos in Barstow, California.
The resort's potential should not be underestimated. Just across the river, Caesars Windsor attracts about six million visitors annually.[7] An estimated 46 million people live within a 300 mile (480 km) radius of Metro Detroit.[8][9] Since 2000, the city has seen continuous annual increases in tax revenues from its casinos; the city estimates it will collect $178,250,000 in casino taxes alone for 2007, with the casino resorts open in 2008.[10]
[edit] Politics
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, reports required by the Federal Election Commission and the CA, MI and NY Elections Officials from 2002-2006 inidicate Ilitch family members and business partners contributed more than $900,000 to political campaigns and PACs.[11]
Federal lobbying reports required to be filed with Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and compiled by The Center for Public Integrity indicate between $0.5-$1.3 million was directed to Wheat Government Relations (former Congressman Alan Wheat) the primary D.C. lobbyist representing Ilitch and her various partners contract with to lobby Federal officials on gaming or related matters from 2002-2005.
[edit] New Casino Hotel
The $300 casino-hotel expansion project is nearing completion. The high-tech casino expansion opened in June 2007. The 400-room, 33 suite hotel opened in November 2007 and features the only AAA Four Diamond restaurant in Detroit, an upscale ultra-lounge and a full-service spa. The property also offers a 65,000 sq. ft. meeting center, several casual dining outlets and an 1,800+ seat live entertainment theater. Legendary hot-rod car designer Chip Foose of Huntington Beach, California was a member of the design team and was instrumental in the casino-hotel's new unique exterior and interior look.[2]
[edit] Primary Hotel Casino Venues
Casino Expansion (new) - opened June 2007
Hotel (new) - opened November 2007
Iridescence fine dining restaurant (new location) - opened January 2008
"D"TOUR Spa (new) - opened April 2008
AMNESIA ultra-lounge (new) - opened April 2008
Meeting Center (new) - opened May 2008
The Assembly Line buffet (new name, location)- opened May 2008
Casual dining outlets (new locations) - Summer 2008
Sound Board live entertainment theater (new) - Summer 2008
[edit] Union Activity
Bargaining employees voted to accept the proposed contract on Monday October 22. The 4 year agreement includes $1,000 signing bonus, 4% per year wage increases, preserved health benefits, and additional contract improvements.
[edit] Photo gallery
 Exterior chrome to the Casino part of the property extends along Grand River. |
 Casino front is designed to replicate a classic 1950s style fishtail car. |
 Resort property with casino to left and the high rise hotel. |
[edit] References
- ^ Mark Tatge with Miriam Gottfried (10-09-2006).Encore Forbes.
- ^ Merger agreement Edgar-online (accessed 04-06-2007).
- ^ Mandalay Resort Group to sell holdings in Detroit casino Newsratings.com (03-24-2005).
- ^ Certificate of Merger Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (accessed 07-01-2007)
- ^ Corporate Filings Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (accessed 07-01-2007)
- ^ Ilitch Holdings, Inc. (accessed 04-06-2007)
- ^ Cordiano, Joseph (February 15, 2005). Government of Ontraio invests in a competitive Casino Windsor.Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Retrieved on October 28, 2007."Casino Windsor attracts around six million visitors each year and is a key driver of the local economy."
- ^ Cities located close to Detroit.Time and Date world clock distances. Retrieved on September 2, 2007.
- ^ Audi, Tamara (September 26, 2007). What Happens In Detroit. The Wall Street Journal, B6. "But the market at issue, as MGM Mirage sees it, includes a 300-mile radius of potential overnight clients across the region,"
- ^ City of Detroit General Fund -Percent Change in major Revenue Sources. City of Detroit 2006-07 Budget
- ^ [1](accessed 04-06-2007).
[edit] External links
- official web site of MotorCity Casino
- official web site of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
- video of the MotorCity Casino Hotel outdoor LED illumination system
- MotorCity Casino revenue and taxes for 2007
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