PITTSBURGH — January 24, 2017 — Rivers Casino appeared before the Pittsburgh Planning Commission January 24, 2017. to outline plans for a proposed $51.5 million North Shore hotel. The seven-story, four-star hotel will include 221 guest rooms and will connect to the casino on its east end, utilizing the vacant land between the casino and the Carnegie Science Center.
The contemporary hotel design uses expansive windows on every level to maximize riverfront views and to integrate distinctively, yet seamlessly, into existing North Shore architecture. Rivers Casino Hotel will also include a fitness center, new restaurant and lobby bar. A spa will be added to the existing casino facility to accommodate hotel and casino guests.
The hotel meets zoning requirements, and traffic studies confirm no negative impact on nearby intersections and vehicle queues. All required parking will be valet and absorbed by Rivers Casino’s existing parking garage.
Rivers Casino Hotel will be operated under the Rivers Casino brand and construction will be 100 percent privately funded.
STRONG ECONOMIC IMPACT
- Rivers Casino Hotel will bring approximately 1,528 new jobs to Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Rivers Casino, already one of Pittsburgh’s largest employers, will add 128 permanent new hotel and casino jobs, along with 1,400 construction jobs.
- Rivers Casino Hotel will permanently increase state and local tax benefits by 6 percent, adding an estimated $10.5 million in new tax revenue annually. In calendar year 2015, Rivers Casino generated $180.7 million in tax revenue. Rivers Casino has generated more than $1 billion in tax revenue since opening in 2009.
- Rivers Casino Hotel will help further Rivers Casino’s mission of positive community impact. Since opening, Rivers Casino has provided more than $64.9 million in donations and contributions to community groups, including $55.6 million for PPG Paints Arena, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last year alone, Rivers Casino spent approximately $28 million with local, minority and women business enterprises.
“The possibility of a hotel was first included in the casino’s 2006 Master Development Plan, and we’re excited to begin this next stage in our evolution,” said Craig Clark, general manager of Rivers Casino. “The new Rivers Casino Hotel fulfills the promise of a true destination casino.”
Rivers Casino Hotel was designed by Stantec, with planning and landscape design by the Pittsburgh office of Strada, L.L.C., and Development Management Associates serving as owner’s representative. A builder has not yet been selected.
Pending approvals from the City of Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino hopes to break ground in late spring of 2017 and anticipates opening in 2018.
ABOUT RIVERS CASINO
Opened in 2009, Rivers Casino has been voted a “Best Place to Work” in the Pittsburgh Business Times, a “Top Workplace” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Best Overall Gaming Resort” in Pennsylvania by Casino Player magazine and “Best Overall Casino” in Pennsylvania by Strictly Slots magazine. The casino features more than 2,900 slots, 92 table games, a 30-table poker room, nine distinctive restaurants and bars, a riverside amphitheater, a multi-purpose event space, live music performances, free parking and multiple promotions and giveaways daily. Already, more than $631 million in jackpots have been awarded to players at Rivers Casino. For more information, visit riverscasino.com.
