Casino Aztar Evansville

Casino infobox
casino=Casino Aztar Evansville
theme=Las Vegas
address=421 NW Riverside Drive
Evansville, Indiana 47708


image_size=225rooms=250 main hotel
100 boutique hotel
date_opened=1995
space_gaming=38,000 ft²
attractions=Jillian’s Billiards Club
shows=
restaurants= Cavanaugh's, Corky's Ribs & BBQ, Max & Ermas, Ri Ra Irish Pub
owner=Tropicana Entertainment
casino_type=Riverboat
renovations=
names_pre=
website= [http://www.casinoaztar.com/ Casino Aztar Evansville]

Casino Aztar, located in downtown Evansville, Indiana, was the first riverboat casino in the state of Indiana. The casino is owned and operated by Tropicana Entertainment a division of Columbia Sussex, which purchased original owner Aztar Corporation in 2007. [cite news | title=Columbia completes Aztar acquisition | publisher=Evansville Courier & Press | url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/jan/03/columbia-completes-aztar-acquisition/?ebj=1/ | accessdate=2007-01-03] It is located on an convert|841848|sqft|m2|sing=on area at Riverfront Park on the Ohio River. [cite web | title=Casino Aztar Evansville Website | url=http://www.casinoaztar.com/ | accessdate=2006-12-21]

The main entertainment facility consists of a 2,700 passenger riverboat casino, a 250-room hotel, a 1,660 vehicle parking garage, and pavilion housing pre-boarding facilities, retail shops, restaurants, and lounge area. A new entertainment district with a 100-room boutique hotel and additional restaurants opened in late 2006.

In 2005, the casino generated $137 million in revenue and $41 million in profits. The latest expansion is expected to generate additional revenue gains for the property and help it compete with increasing competition. [cite web | title=Gauging Aztar's Value | publisher=The Motley Fool | url=http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2006/04/12/gauging-aztars-value.aspx | accessdate=2007-01-05]

The Vessel

The actual casino boat, called "City of Evansville", is the state of Indiana's first gaming riverboat under legislation passed in 1993. It opened to the public in 1995. Built by Jeffboat in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the boat is a replica of the historic "Robert E. Lee" racing sidewheel steamboat crafted nearly 130 years ago. Jeffboat deployed 200 workers and spent over twelve months constructing the vessel. The exterior was designed by RA Stern, Inc. to appear as if the boat is straight from the Civil War era; the interior, designed by Morris & Brown Architects, Ltd., is purely Las Vegas glamour.

The boat is convert|310|ft|m long by convert|70|ft|m wide, has a depth of convert|14|ft|m by convert|6|in|mm and stands convert|80|ft|m above water level (including stacks). It weighs 1,589 tons and has a maximum draft of convert|7|ft|6|in|m There is a total of convert|47863|sqft|m2 of public space.

The Hotels

Casino Aztar Hotel

The Casino Aztar Hotel opened its doors on December 17, 1996. Overlooking Casino Aztar and the Ohio River, the hotel has 250 guest room and suites; meeting, conference and banquet facilities; and a fitness room. The Casino Aztar Hotel also offers 10 suites, ranging from two and three room suites. Each suite features a whirlpool bath, sofa sleeper, wet bar, and mini-bar.

Le Merigot

Le Merigot, which opened its doors on December 28, 2006, was designed by Los Angeles-based interior designer Laurence Lee. This 100-room boutique hotel features Italian bed linens, LCD flat screen televisions in both bedroom and bath, in-room high speed Internet access, MP3 input, and glass-enclosed showers with multi-unit body sprays and overhead rain maker showerheads. The suites at Le Merigot offer guests a living and dining room area, master bedroom, and oversized bath complete with a soaking tub.

Riverfront Pavilion

Casino Aztar's Riverfront Pavilion is designed to reflect the turn-of-the-century charm of downtown Evansville. The interior feature building facades inspired by buildings that in the early 1900s graced Evansville's downtown riverfront. These facades were constructed from materials indigenous to this area. The streetscapes offer a multitude of textures and colors with a "park-like" central theme. This complex houses a variety of dining and entertainment options. An enclosed walkway links the pavilion to a 250-room hotel, complete with meeting and banquet facilities. A seven story parking garage offers over 1,600 sheltered parking spaces with easy access to the casino, hotel, and pavilion.

The District

The new Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District is a $40 million dollar expansion by Casino Aztar. The district includes a 100-room boutique hotel and a multi-venu entertainment facility centered around a riverfront park. [cite web | title=Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District | publisher=Veazey Parrott Durkin & Shoulders | url=http://www.vpdsweb.com/pro_cor_f3.html | accessdate=2006-12-21] Jillian’s Billiards Club and Ri Ra Irish Pub opened to the public on September 15, 2006. [cite web | title=The District Grand Opening | publisher=Casino Aztar | url=http://www.casinoaztar.com/pr/pr.32.html | accessdate=2006-12-21] The Le Merigot Hotel and Blush Ultralounge and Tapas Bar opened on December 28, 2006. [cite news | title=Aztar to open hotel 'by the water'
publisher=Evansville Courier & Press | url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/dec/15/aztar-to-open-hotel-by-the-water/ | accessdate=2006-12-21] The complex is located next to the existing hotel and across from the casino boat.

References

External links

* [http://www.casinoaztar.com Casino Aztar Evansville Website ]
* [http://www.lemerigotevansville.com Le Merigot Hotel ]
* [http://www.columbiasussex.com Columbia Sussex Website]