An artist’s rendering of the proposed design of Wynn Philadelphia Casino and Hotel, which, if granted a license, would be built in Fishtown near Penn Treaty Park and SugarHouse Casino. PHOTO COURTESY OF WYNN RESORTS, LTD.
Las Vegas casino owner Steve Wynn presented his plans yesterday for a $900 million casino and hotel dubbed “Wynn Philadelphia” on the Delaware River waterfront in Fishtown, on land north of the location of the SugarHouse Casino.
He joined five other developers lining up for a chance at securing the city’s second casino license in presenting pitches to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Feb. 12.
Planned as a destination resort, Wynn described his project as potentially becoming “the nicest hotel on the east coast,” and cited Amtrak trains as key to luring in customers and guests from other cities.
The Wynn project would fill 70 acres along Richmond Avenue from Schirra Drive to Columbia Avenue with slot machines, poker tables, luxury suites, and a 2,000-foot riverfront green space as well, where he said families could stroll without getting “anywhere near a slot machine.”
A video shown during the presentation included images of 900-square-foot suites in the 300-room potential resort, as well as other successful Wynn hotel and casino developments, like the Wynn Macau in China.
Addressing the crowd, Wynn promised a luxury hotel with gambling tables and fine cuisine — not “just slot machines,” he said.
Wynn said that financially he is ready to break ground immediately on building Wynn Philadelphia, with his $2 billion cash reserve available to fund the project. He promised that the project would create jobs in the area, spur local business growth, and draw visitors to all of Philadelphia.
The audience applauded his presentation.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will award one developer a casino license after several months, possibly not until the fall, according to sources familiar with the process.
Look for more on this story in next week’s print edition of Star, on Feb. 20.
Reporter Sam Newhouse can be reached at 215–354–3124 or at snewhouse@bsmphilly.com.
