Cheyenne facility plans $76M expansion with hotel and entertainment venues to attract Colorado visitors
November 19, 2024 | Laramie County, Wyoming
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Laramie County Board of County Commissioners meeting on November 19, 2024, focused on the proposed expansion of a local entertainment facility, which has seen significant success in attracting customers from Colorado. The facility's management reported a steady increase in membership, with several hundred new members joining weekly, and projected tax revenues rising from an initial estimate of $900,000 to approximately $1.1 million annually.
The discussion highlighted the facility's strategy to draw visitors from Colorado without competing with local businesses in Cheyenne. As winter approaches, concerns were raised about whether customers would continue to travel to the facility, especially given the challenging weather conditions in the region. However, management expressed optimism, noting that the facility is currently experiencing high weekend attendance.
Plans for a "Phase 2" expansion were presented, which includes the addition of two new restaurants, an 800-seat multipurpose theater, a small hotel with about 150 rooms, and an increase in gaming machines. The total estimated cost for this expansion is around $76 million, which is expected to create over 450 jobs and generate an additional $2 million in economic impact for Laramie County.
The facility's management is seeking support from the county and city of Cheyenne to move forward with the project, which requires a multi-stage approval process involving the gaming commission. A letter of support from the city has already been agreed upon in principle. The next steps involve drafting a resolution for the county's support, which will be discussed in upcoming public meetings.
Commissioners acknowledged the facility's success and indicated that a formal request for a resolution would be the next step in the approval process. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between the facility and local government to ensure the project's success and to address any legislative changes that may arise. The timeline for moving forward with the gaming commission is anticipated to be early in the new year, contingent on the resolution's approval.
The discussion highlighted the facility's strategy to draw visitors from Colorado without competing with local businesses in Cheyenne. As winter approaches, concerns were raised about whether customers would continue to travel to the facility, especially given the challenging weather conditions in the region. However, management expressed optimism, noting that the facility is currently experiencing high weekend attendance.
Plans for a "Phase 2" expansion were presented, which includes the addition of two new restaurants, an 800-seat multipurpose theater, a small hotel with about 150 rooms, and an increase in gaming machines. The total estimated cost for this expansion is around $76 million, which is expected to create over 450 jobs and generate an additional $2 million in economic impact for Laramie County.
The facility's management is seeking support from the county and city of Cheyenne to move forward with the project, which requires a multi-stage approval process involving the gaming commission. A letter of support from the city has already been agreed upon in principle. The next steps involve drafting a resolution for the county's support, which will be discussed in upcoming public meetings.
Commissioners acknowledged the facility's success and indicated that a formal request for a resolution would be the next step in the approval process. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between the facility and local government to ensure the project's success and to address any legislative changes that may arise. The timeline for moving forward with the gaming commission is anticipated to be early in the new year, contingent on the resolution's approval.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting