The highly anticipated opening of Durango Casino and Resort in Nevada has been delayed, with the new opening date set for December 5. The delay was announced by Red Rock Resorts, stating that certain portions of the $780 southwest Las Vegas casino are not yet completed, leading to the decision to postpone the opening. This news came as a surprise to analysts during the third-quarter earnings conference call on November 7.
Steven Cootey, the CFO of Red Rock, explained that the opening was postponed “to ensure a first-class opening of the property.” Lorenzo Fertitta, the company’s Vice Chairman, added that some areas of the resort were marked as “critical to the opening” and were not yet completed. He also mentioned that the delay is to provide sufficient time for the staff to be properly trained and ensure that the level of service upon opening is of the highest quality.
Despite the delay, the costs of construction will not be increased. The resort, located on a 50-acre land near 215 Beltway and South Durango Drive, will be the only casino within a 5-mile radius and will cater to more than 250,000 adults in the area. Once finished, the resort will feature a hotel with 201 rooms, a casino with 2,300 slot machines, 63 table games, and 15 dining options, including four full-service restaurants and a food hall spread across 25,000 square feet. Additionally, the property will offer 20,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, as well as a resort pool area, providing jobs for 1,700 people.
The delay will not affect the employees, as the company will start paying them salaries and tips as previously planned. Visitors with reservations between November 20 and December 5 are offered the option to change reservations for other Station Casino properties in Las Vegas. Their reservations at Durango Casino and Resort will be prioritized once the resort opens.
