CNY Business Journal (1996+): Turning Stone Casino building on 'momentum'

VERONA - It's a typical Saturday night in 2005.

Nearly 750 people are staying in a 20-story tower that overlooks an indoor arena, expanded casino, and a luxury spa. More than 2,000 vehicles are protected from the elements, thanks to an indoor garage. Outside, professional golfers are competing in a tournament on manicured golf courses - three, at least one more than 7,300 yards in length. The golfers and spectators stay in suites at a "golf hotel."

That's precisely what the Oneida Indian Nation says it has in mind as it moves forward with its multimillon-dollar expansion plan. Already, work is complete on some of the projects, including a 70,000-square-foot expansion of the casino's main structure. Within two years, everything - from the hotel tower to the indoor-parking garage will be operational.

"You can feel the momentum building," says Oneida Indian Nation Representative and CEO Ray Halbritter. "We are well on our way to making Central New York a true tourism destination, and people around the world will be able to see how much our region has to offer."

Turning Stone Director of Media Relations Mark Emery says work will be completed on the $308 million project over the next two years. This year, one of the golf courses, the 2,400-car parking garage, 98-room suite hotel, and the luxury spa will be finished. In 2004, the hotel, 5,100-seat, auditorium, and another golf' course will be finished.

The auditorium won't compete with the resort's existing showroom, Emery says. "We didn't have the floor space to do the bigger trade shows," he adds. "This allows us to do that, as well as bigger sporting events."

The New Jersey-based construction firm Bertino & Associates will oversee all aspects of the two-year project, Emery says. At its peak, the project will employ 600 construction workers.

The casino property will increase from one million square feet to 1.3 million square feet when the project is done, Emery adds. "The focus right now is on this expansion, but down the road, I'm sure there'll be additional growth," he notes.

Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Tom Fazio designed the two courses, which complement an existing golf course. The golf courses cost between $40 million and $50 million each, according to estimates.

Construction began in fall 2001 to link the two wings of the casino that house the showroom and a conference center and bingo hall. The 70,000-square-foot expansion is two stories tall; the first floor includes a transportation center for tour buses.

Also included in that figure is an approximately 15,000square-foot expansion of gaming space, which accommodates about 500 additional instant multi-game machines. A lounge area was built to accommodate casino patrons. On the second floor are four additional meeting rooms and additional office space.

Concerts, boxing matches, and other events, such as indoor soccer and lacrosse, will be hosted in the events arena.

The "golf hotel," spa, and parking garage will open in September. The arena and 20-story hotel - one of the tallest structures between Syracuse and Albany - will open in June 2004. The hotel tower's top floor will include a restaurant and wintergarden atrium.

Turning Stone and its parent, the Oneida Indian Nation, employ about 3,300 people. An additional 1,000 people will have been added to the payroll once all the additions are complete. Each year, more than four million people visit a Turning Stone enterprise.

The existing campus opened in July 1993. The casino has instant multi-game machines, classic table games, a poker club, and high-stakes bingo. The existing hotel has 285 rooms, including 29 suites with whirlpool tubs, a health spa, and fullservice beauty salon.

An 800-seat showroom attracts performers, musicians, comedians, and plays - everything from Liza Minelli concerts to Madonna impersonators. The conference center hosts business meetings, conventions, and banquets. The Villages at Turning Stone is a recreational-vehicle park in close proximity to the casino. The Shoppes at Turning Stone include retail boutiques and gift shops.