Hollywood Casino at Greektown

Greektown Historic District

Shortly after the enactment of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians began working with local developers Ted Gatzaros and Jim Papas to open a casino in Detroit.[3] In November 1992, they announced their plan publicly.[4] Under the plan, Gatzaros and Papas's company, 400 Monroe Associates, would donate a 0.7-acre (0.28 ha) parcel of land in Greektown to become part of the tribe's reservation, and the tribe would build and operate the casino.[4]

Detroit voters approved an advisory referendum in favor of the casino in August 1994, as well as another casino proposed to be built at Atwater Street.[5] The plan was approved by the Secretary of the Interior later that month.[6] However, it also needed approval from Michigan Governor John Engler, because the IGRA required gubernatorial approval for gaming on lands added to a tribe's reservation after 1988.[7] Engler rejected the casino, citing potential proliferation of off-reservation casinos throughout the state.[8]

The tribe next turned to the ballot initiative process. They partnered with the Atwater group to sponsor the Michigan Gaming Control and Revenue Act.[9][10] This law would allow up to three private, commercially operated casinos to be opened in Detroit.[9] It included a preference for proposals that had already been approved by Detroit voters, making the Greektown and Atwater projects the "presumptive choices" for two of the casino licenses.[11] The petition drive and election campaign were financed almost entirely by the Sault Tribe and Atwater.[12] Michigan voters approved the law in November 1996.[13]

The Greektown casino was one of eleven applications submitted to Detroit mayor Dennis Archer.[14] The $567-million proposal would include a temporary casino to open in 1998, followed by a permanent casino opening in 2000 with 128,170 square feet (11,907 m²) of gaming space and 1,000 hotel rooms.[14] The temporary casino was designed by architect Paul Steelman.[15][16] It would be managed by the Las Vegas-based Millennium Management Group.[17] In December 1997, Archer selected the Greektown proposal, along with the Atwater project (ultimately opened as MotorCity Casino Hotel) and the proposed MGM Grand Detroit.[18]

Construction of the casino began in January 1999.[19] It incorporated Trappers Alley, a vacant shopping center owned by Gatzaros and Papas, together with a new building.[14][20] Costs of the casino, originally estimated at $115 million, increased to $200 million.[19][21]

Ownership of the casino was to be split with 50 percent owned by the Sault Tribe, 40 percent by Gatzaros and Papas and their wives, and 10 percent by a group of local black investors.[22][23] However, gaming regulators found problems during Gatzaros and Papas's background checks, and they were effectively forced to sell their shares.[24] Negotiations were held with potential buyers including Millennium Management, Harrah's Entertainment, MGM Grand, and Park Place Entertainment.[25][26] Advanced talks were held on selling the shares to a group of union pension funds.[27] Ultimately, the tribe bought out the Gatzaroses and Papases' shares for $275 million, to be paid over 10 years.[28] The casino licensing was approved in September 2000, with the tribe owning a 90 percent stake.[21]

The Greektown Casino opened on November 10, 2000, following the two other casinos that opened the previous year.[29]

The tribe ended its management deal with Millennium in 2002 and assumed direct control of the casino.[30]

Development of the city's permanent casinos was delayed for years by protracted negotiations over the casinos' locations, and by a lawsuit over the constitutionality of the casino licensing process.[31][32] In 2002, Greektown agreed with the city to build its $450-million permanent facility on an 8-acre (3.2 ha) site at Interstate 375 and Gratiot Avenue.[31][33] In 2005, however, Greektown announced that it would expand at its current location instead of building a new facility.[31] The $200-million expansion would include a 400-room hotel, a parking garage, convention space, and more gaming space.[31]

In June 2006, site preparation began for the hotel. A city-owned parking garage was demolished to make way for redevelopment. Construction began in October 2006. The hotel tower rises 344 ft. (105 m.) with 30 floors. It opened November 15, 2007, and included a new 13-story, 3,500-space, free parking garage. In November 2008, 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) of additional gaming space was completed and opened over Lafayette. Total gaming space comprised 100,000 square feet (9,300 m²). An expanded and re-designed VIP gaming area opened in February 2009. In November 2009, 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²) of convention space opened with a newly designed poker room.

• Caesars Windsor
• Greektown Detroit People Mover station
• Wikimedia graph of Detroit's casino revenues
• List of tallest buildings in Detroit

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greektown Casino Hotel.

• Hollywood Casino at Greektown
• Emporis profile of Greektown Casino

42.33447°N 83.04117°W / 42.33447; -83.04117