Sands joins with Freeport casino

Thu, May 16th 2013, 11:26 AM

The Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company has signed on to be the poster child for the first casino in The Bahamas owned by local investors.
Preliminary design plans show Sands beer, brewed in Grand Bahama, serving as a key corporate brand for the Freeport attraction.
Jimmy Sands, the owner of Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company, would join forces with Lucaya Amusement Limited, a group representing three key investors. The brewery has often promoted itself as the only truly Bahamian brewery in the country.
According to the initial plans, visitors entering the $15 million facility would walk into a Sands logo shop before heading off to their desired destination.
"At this point of entry the glass elevator (reminiscent of a Sands beer bottle) and open stairways to upper levels would be visible," the document stated. "The food court would be to the left on entry from Sea Horse Road and the Bingo parlor would be to the right."
Guardian Business understands that Sands beer could even find its way into the actual name of the attraction.
As exclusively revealed by Guardian Business, Lucaya Amusement Limited has received approval in principle for a casino and entertainment complex in Freeport. Ian Rolle, the president of Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), said that he is "elated" to receive the proposal. A number of conditions have been attached to the attraction's final approval.
The new casino would be around 63,000 square feet and comprise three floors. Executives are aiming to have it open by the time Reef Village comes online in 10 months.
That reopening of more than 500 rooms is expected to provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the Grand Bahama economy. Sunwing, a major Canadian company, is planning regular flights to funnel tourists to the renovated resort.
The proposed facility would indeed provide a new amenity for the island, although it will not include table games such as blackjack, poker and roulette.
A spokesperson for the group told Guardian Business that table games require a much higher capitalization. For example, if you have $10 million worth of chips on the floor, the owners must ensure all of that cash is on-site.
A proposed bingo parlor would consist of traditional bingo cards with bingo blotters. The seating arrangement includes 25 rectangular tables which can each accommodate eight people.
Smaller tables, booth seating and electronic and hand-held machines will also be available, with the entire experience comprising the ground floor and upper mezzanine level.
The spokesperson said that the facility does not want to compete with Atlantis or Baha Mar. Instead, it hopes to provide a more casual alternative with a variety of entertainment options.
Among the amenities is an "international" food court, movie and restaurant attraction, beer garden and night club.
"The third level of the entertainment facility will consist of a night club, dinner and a movie and an open beer garden. There will be an opportunity to eat and watch a movie at the same time and the same room will feature a small stage that can be used for comedy shows, poetry performances and small music performances," the document stated. "The beer garden would be covered in some areas and open in some. There will also be a cocktail lounge with a dance floor."

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