Seneca Nation of Indians unveil re-designed casino plans

A rendering of the planned casino property

The Seneca Nation of Indians has announced today the unveiling of a re-designed $130 million Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in cooperation with the Seneca Gaming Corp on the Nation’s 9.5 acre territory.

WKBW Eyewitness News reported that the project – due for completion in summer next year – will to provide approximately 600 construction-period jobs. When finished it will need to fill 500 direct jobs, including inside jobs and others related to the operation, with a multiplier effect that will create another 500 jobs over time, the report stated.

Nation President Robert Odawi Porter said: “This new casino will be a national design leader for casinos in urban settings. Our investment in this facility is our stake in our partnership with Buffalo’s Inner Harbor, the rejuvenation of the Perry Choice Neighborhood, and growth in the Old First Ward and along the Buffalo River. We are all in this together and we will succeed through collaboration.”

Once completed, the new casino will replace the current slots-only casino that opened on the territory in 2007. Preparation for the new property began yesterday with workers dismantling the steel frame erected as part of the now revised plans for the original casino. The dismantling process is expected to take five to six weeks to complete.

Karen Karsten, chairman of the Seneca Gaming board of directors, added: “Dismantling the existing steel structure not only clears the site so our new vision can take shape, it opens the door to a modern concept designed to generate a prudent business model for downtown Buffalo. Our sights can now be clearly set on the future. As we move forward, we are excited by the investments being made, by ourselves and by many others, to create an exciting destination atmosphere in the Inner Harbor and Buffalo River areas.”

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