Tucson’s newest casino will have a footprint similar to Casino del Sol, on the city’s west side, with a sportsbook, food court and parking for more than 1,200 cars.
The casino floor, at 65,000 square feet, will be accessible from a second-floor escalator where a restaurant and other amenities will be featured.
Gaming options will include slot machines, a high-limit room and table games.
Aside from the full-service restaurant and food court, the casino will also have a centerpiece bar.
The four-level parking garage will have 1,050 spaces and a surface parking lot will have an additional 195 spaces.
McCarthy Building Companies, which built the Casino del Sol’s resort towers on West Valencia Road, will be the general contractor of the project at Grant Road and Interstate 10.
“Over the years we’ve had the privilege of working with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe on various expansion and renovations projects at Casino Del Sol, which have helped make it a top destination in the southwest,” said Kurt Nyberg, Vice President of Operations for McCarthy Building Company’s Southwest region. “As Tucson and the state of Arizona continue to grow, building a new property for tourists and locals to experience makes perfect sense and we’re proud to partner with the tribe again, and do our part to bring their vision to life.”
Yaeger Architecture will be the project architect and Summit Project Management will provide management services. Amaktoolik Studios led the site planning stage of the project.
“We couldn’t be happier to introduce the team we’ve assembled to bring our new world-class gaming property to life,” said Kimberly Van Amburg, Casino del Sol’s CEO. “This talented group of professionals has already made fantastic progress on the planning front, and we’re really excited about the direction so far.”
She said prep work is currently underway and the hope is to break ground this fall with a two-year buildout.
The 40-acre parcel was officially transferred recently from the City of Tucson to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.
The land was donated to the tribe in 1920 and a ceremonial site was created there, and several families relocated.
Along with the new developments, the tribe will preserve the ceremonial site and the many residential homes on the property.
When the Yaquis received federal recognition as a tribal land on the city’s west side, the Old Pascua site was not included.
A federal bill introduced by U.S. Rep Raul Grijalva was approved by the House of Representatives and Senate and signed by the president in 2022.
Last year, the former Century 16 movie theater was demolished to begin the project.
Van Amburg said the casino and related amenities are the first phase of the project.
Phase two plans include a resort and conference center with an additional parking garage, but no details on that are yet firm.
“That will be a decision for a future tribal council,” Van Amburg said. The tribe is working with existing tenants along Grant Road.
“We want to be a good community partners,” she said. “We’re excited to bring jobs to that area that will be walkable for many employees.”
Both Fairview Avenue and Flowing Wells Road, which run through the property, will be widened by the tribe.
Officials are also working with the city, state and the railroad about widening Grant Road in the area.
“That would definitely, as we all know, be welcomed by residents,” Van Amburg said.
The name of the new casino is still under consideration but will likely include Casino del Sol.
“We’ve created a really great brand,” Van Amburg said, “so why not capitalize on that?”
She expects renderings of the new casino to be available for the public to see in the coming months.
Demolition of the former Century Park 16 theaters on Grant Road began Feb. 20 near Interstate 10. The Pascua Yaqui Tribe plans to build a new casino in its place. Tribal Council members and the mayor of Tucson spoke moments before the construction crew began tearing down the walls.
Video by Pascal Albright / Arizona Daily Star
