SkyCity:
SkyCity had announced plans to build a convention center in downtown Auckland but it seems this is going to have to wait. The initial budget was set at $400 million, and the casino operator is going back to the drawing board now that the government has excluded the option of public funding.
This means that the new design is going to have to be much smaller than the original, but the original project is not going completely to waste. SkyCity is now in the position to come up with changes to scale down the design, and upon submitting these changes to the government; they could likely see the cover of construction costs. Of course, SkyCity is able to jack up their budget on their own, if they feel so inclined.
SkyCity is working to develop a new model that the government will be sure to stand behind. No one is certain, but one thing’s for sure, and that’s the fact that SkyCity has their work cut out for them.
Casino Canberra:
Casino Canberra is going to be keeping their doors open a bit longer than they ever have in the past. Staying open from noon until 4am is the product of the new casino owners’ imagination. The new owner feels that the extended hours could help strengthen their local economy, revitalizing the community.
Areas designated for gambling as well as the dining services will remain open during any and all operational hours. However, if the expected people that the casino hopes to draw in are burning the midnight oil, the casino will offer an option to stay open a couple hours longer, all the way to the wee hour of 6am.
The new owner thinks this plan will increase popularity alongside hopes of future landscape development in the area. But just like any project idea, there are those who oppose this idea stating that the casino is open long enough, and perhaps too long for those with gambling problems. As of right now, guesses are all that can be made, and we’ll have to wait to see how it all plays out.
