Florida ’ s Biggest Secret
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK TAMPA
IT ’ S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A CASINO FEW have heard about is actually one of the most successful in the United States .
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has more available gaming positions for customers and a virtual monopoly on the west coast of Florida . To keep the property up to date , however , the Seminoles have constantly added to and renovated the facility . In May , the latest $ 100 million renovation was revealed .
Jim Allen , chairman of Hard Rock International and chief executive officer of Seminole Gaming , says the designers went the extra mile with this project .
“ Frankly , the intricacy and high level of finishes in this design rival anything , not just here in the state of Florida , but in Las Vegas and even the new casinos in Macau and Singapore ,” he says .
The Art Deco-inspired mezzanine-level casino covers more than 26,000 square feet and offers 500 of the newest slot machines as well as 15 live-action table games . The new space contains approximately 14,000 square feet of Italian marble , which provides a luxurious backdrop for all the action .
For guests who don ’ t partake in tobacco , the smokefree casino has doubled in size , with a dedicated smoke-free entrance , smoke-free bar with video poker , dedicated cage and player ’ s club . Additionally , it contains over 20 big-screen TVs for sports enthusiasts . Memorabilia items include a jacket from Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and a leather shirt from the Who ’ s John Entwistle .
The new 700-space Orient Road Garage has a walkway where guests can take a selfguided memorabilia “ Rock Walk ” tour showcasing more than 100 of Seminole Hard Rock Tampa ’ s prized memorabilia pieces , including new items from artists such as Beyoncé , Carrie Underwood , Stevie Nicks , Bon Jovi , Nicki Minaj and many
more . The opening of the Orient Road Garage also reopens 700 spots on a surface lot , giving Hard Rock Tampa more than 5,000 parking spaces .
The opening of the new spaces is only Phase I of an ambitious program that will add another hotel tower , more non-gaming amenities , and more jobs for central Florida .
— Patrick Roberts
OWNER : Seminole Tribe of Florida ARCHITECT : Friedmutter Group GENERAL CONTRACTOR : Turner INVESTMENT : $ 100 million
History in the Making
JACK ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
REBRANDING AN ENTIRE CASINO can be a daunting task . Doing so for multiple casinos can be overwhelming . But that ’ s what confronted Jack Entertainment when it took over the Horseshoe casinos it co-owned with Caesars Entertainment in Ohio .
To add another level of complication , the company renamed the Greektown casino in Detroit ( which Jack bought after the Caesars deal ) as the Jack Detroit Casino Hotel Greektown . The entire exercise was undertaken when the former Rock Gaming decided to rebrand as Jack Entertainment .
In Detroit , an $ 80 million renovation and rebrand was capped off by a bit of history . Joining the property was the former St . Mary ’ s School , designed by Puis Daubner , built in 1868 and used as a school , orphanage and sisters ’ residence for nearly a century . When the school closed in 1966 , it became the St . Mary ’ s Community Center , and was given Michigan historical status in 1980 .
The former St . Mary ’ s is now the headquarters of Jack Entertainment , joined by a skywalk to the Jack Greektown property .
Jack Entertainment ’ s new home is designed to foster collaboration among team members while preserving and enhancing the building ’ s original architecture . The contemporary new offices will feature large open spaces , modern furniture and a beautiful fifthfloor mezzanine . Jack Entertainment will occupy the second through fifth floors , leaving the first floor for a future retail tenant .
Matt Cullen , president and CEO of Jack Entertainment , says the company is committed to urban revitalization , pointing to company founder Dan Gilbert ’ s role in revitalizing downtown Detroit and Cleveland , where he owns the NBA ’ s Cavaliers .
“ At the core , our company is committed to urban revitalization ,” says Cullen . “ We believe in fostering positive change in the downtown areas where we reside . Our move is not only good for our business , it also gives new life to this historic building and it benefits those around us . Success for our Greektown merchants and community means success for Detroit .”
— Roger Gros
OWNER : Jack Entertainment DESIGNER : Neumann / Smith Architects INVESTMENT : $ 7 million ( including a total $ 80 million renovation of Jack Casino Hotel Greektown )
2017 CASINO STYLE l 7