Already the largest casino in the Pacific Northwest , Muckleshoot will take a great step forward as its expansion project opens later this year
although the idea for the Aquadome came from the tribe , HBG has lots of examples .
“ We have done massive atriums in the past for Gaylord resort properties ,” Bell says . “ One in Orlando , the Gaylord Palms , and we did another one in Grapevine , Texas called the Gaylord Texan . Those were much larger than this . So we have learned through those project experiences how to design a dynamic atrium environment .
“ Now while those were designed for a completely different purpose than what this one is designed for , we went to the school of hard knocks on both of those projects . The shape of the Aquadome really is derived from all the sun angles and site analysis to create an optimal environment for indoor swimming and aquatic activities during the day .” Semola wanted more from the Aquadome than just swimming , however . “ We were focused on building a hotel convention space and the Aquadome , all three of those pieces , from a construction standpoint , from a financial performance standpoint , and without question , the Aquadome modeled the best ,” Semola says . “ But what it didn ’ t give us was that even playing field as it pertains to some of the other casinos in the area , where they could do a sit-down concert or a large banquet . We needed a 2,000-capacity event type of space . So looking at the Dome , the challenge was how , do we get as much versatility in that space as possible ?
“ Ultimately working with the HBG design team , we came up with the idea of the pools being pushed out of the center , not just one pool , but multiple pools pushed out , which opened up the center . So now we can have that sight line for those types of concerts , or we can just make it a party with a DJ — your typical nightlife . For banquets , we built a production kitchen where we can easily accommodate up to 800 people . We are just looking to try to create as much versatility and utility value out of the space as possible . And I ’ m really happy with the way that it ’ s evolved thus far .”
Muckleshoot Magic
The Seattle area is very competitive when it comes to tribal gaming . Lots of the reservations where the casinos are located are land-constrained , but recently , there has been a rush of expansions on the books , including the Muckleshoot casino . And this one will be worth the wait . Muckleshoot ’ s four-year , multi-phased expansion project speeds toward a fall 2023 completion . The final piece will be a transformative 18-story resort tower , rising to a prominent 198.8 feet with a definitive glass exterior .
The elevated vantage point will provide a priceless view , including a panoramic look at Mt . Rainier , the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline .
Design changes that pushed back the opening from 2022 to 2023 will enable the property to make a more grandiose entry into the marketplace — and it will be grandiose indeed . The new tower will be the tallest building between Seattle and Tacoma , Washington , according to company officials . The casino is located in the Seattle suburb of Auburn .
The immense glass edifice will be adorned with several cutting-edge features , such as :
• A steakhouse on the roof of the building
• An indoor-outdoor pool
• A spa with 5,500 square feet , including 10 private rooms
• Numerous restaurants Along with the building ’ s height , it will represent the Muckleshoot Tribe ’ s growing presence in the gaming world .
It will be similar in profile to the statement made in Connecticut over the years by the aforementioned Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casino expansions . The new buildings are a sign of economic health , vitality and the intent to accommodate larger gambling throngs .
Officials hail the finished expansion project as an inducement for adult getaways that span attending a concert , eating at high-level restaurants and getting a massage , all with a view that won ’ t quit .
Once the tower is completed , Muckleshoot will have 157,000 square feet of continuous gaming , 29,000 total square feet of event space and almost a dozen dining choices .
The hotel is the final phase of construction in a huge expansion project announced in February 2019 . The expansion plan included a redesigned casino floor with 10,000 additional square feet of gaming space , three new restaurants and a new center bar , a 20,000-square-foot Events and Conference Center , a new exterior facade and a Muckleshoot Tribe History Cultural Center .
It celebrated the grand opening of its new Caesars Sportsbook just two days before the Cincinnati Bengals played the Los Angeles Rams in the 2022 Super Bowl .
The impact accelerated during the 2022-23 season , as the book operated for the entire season . That meant six months of substantial weekly betting action on professional and college football , sports wagering ’ s two highest revenue sources during that time . Features at Caesars Sportsbook at Muckleshoot include :
• Video wall ( 12-by-24-feet ) showing multiple games
• 20 big-screen TV monitors
• Seating capacity for 92 guests
• Four live betting windows and nine self-service betting kiosks Tribal officials say that Muckleshoot also offers the largest smoke-free gaming area in Washington state .
14 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING 2023