The company plans to build a landside facility on its River Road casino property, with an estimated completion in early 2022 at a cost between $21 million and $25 million.
The new facility will feature indoor and outdoor gaming as well as a sports bar, an entertainment venue with 250 seats and a mezzanine overlooking the Mississippi River. There will also be a sports viewing area and flexible meeting space for up to 200 people.
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“Our move landside is expected to contribute approximately $500 million of positive economic impact to the region in its first six years of operation and will provide our current and new guests with a state-of-the art gaming and entertainment destination in the city,” says Jeannie Magdefrau, general manager of Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, in a prepared statement. “Further, by moving landside we can sell and/or move the boat to free up dock space so that we can increase visitation from what is an ever-expanding Mississippi River cruise business.”
Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken restaurant will also open in the landside facility. Founded by former NBA and LSU basketball legend O’Neal, Big Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant offering fried chicken, barbecue and “adult milkshakes.” O’Neal opened his first Big Chicken in Las Vegas in 2018 and has since opened a second location in California.
Read on for the rest of the story, which originally appeared in Daily Report‘s Aug. 21 edition. To keep up with Baton Rouge business and politics, subscribe to the free Daily Report e-newsletter here.