Bally's Evansville

Bally's Evansville is a casino hotel and entertainment complex in downtown Evansville, Indiana, owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Bally's Corporation.

Bally's Evansville
Location Evansville, Indiana
Address 421 NW Riverside Drive
Opening date1995
No. of rooms250 main hotel
100 boutique hotel
Total gaming space45,000 sq ft (4,200 m2)
Signature attractionsThe District
Casino typeLand-based
OwnerGaming and Leisure Properties
Operating license holderBally's Corporation
ArchitectVarious, SOSH Architects (Renovations)
Previous names
  • Casino Aztar (1995–2013)
  • Tropicana Evansville (2013–2021)
Coordinates37.972756°N 87.580219°W / 37.972756; -87.580219
Public transit accessBus interchange METS
Websiteballysevansville.com

Originally named Casino Aztar, it was opened by Aztar Corporation in 1995 as the state's first casino. The name was changed to Tropicana Evansville in 2013. In 2017, the casino moved from its original riverboat into a land-based facility.

The main entertainment facility consists of a 45,000-square-foot (4,200 m2) casino,[1] a 250-room hotel, a 1,660 vehicle parking garage, and pavilion housing pre-boarding facilities, retail shops, restaurants, and lounge area. A new entertainment district with a 100-room boutique hotel and additional restaurants opened in late 2006.

In 2005, the casino generated $137 million in revenue and $41 million in profits.[2]

History

Casino Aztar was Indiana's first casino under riverboat gaming legislation passed in 1993. It opened in 1995.

The property's name was changed to Tropicana Evansville in 2013.[3]

In 2017, the casino moved from its original riverboat into a land-based facility.[4]

In 2018, the casino's parent company, Tropicana Entertainment sold its real estate assets, including the Tropicana Evansville, to Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLP), while Eldorado Resorts (later named Caesars Entertainment) acquired the casinos' operating businesses.[5]

Bally's Corporation purchased the Tropicana's operating business from Caesars in 2021 for $140 million, leasing the property from GLP for $28 million per year.[6] The property was rebranded as Bally's later that year.[7]

Riverboat

The casino boat, called "City of Evansville", was built by Jeffboat in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It was a replica of the historic Robert E. Lee racing sidewheel steamboat crafted nearly 130 years ago. Jeffboat deployed 200 workers and spent over twelve months constructing the vessel. The exterior was designed by RA Stern, Inc. to appear as if the boat was straight from the Civil War era; the interior, designed by Morris & Brown Architects, Ltd., was purely Las Vegas glamor.

The boat was 310 ft (94 m) long by 70 ft (21 m) wide, with a depth of 14 ft (4.3 m) by 6 in (150 mm) and stood 80 ft (24 m) above water level (including stacks). It weighed 1,589 tons and had a maximum draft of 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m). There was a total of 47,863 sq ft (4,446.6 m2) of public space.

Hotels
The Tropicana Hotel (branded as Casino Aztar), Downtown Evansville.

Tropicana Hotel

The Tropicana Hotel opened on December 17, 1996, originally as the Casino Aztar Hotel.

Le Merigot

Le Merigot, which opened on December 28, 2006, was designed by Los Angeles-based interior designer Laurence Lee.

Riverfront Pavilion
The Le Merigot hotel at Tropicana Evansville

The District

The Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District is a $40 million expansion, opened in 2006. The district includes a 100-room boutique hotel and a multi-venu entertainment facility centered on a riverfront park.[8] Jillian’s Billiards Club and Ri Ra Irish Pub opened to the public on September 15, 2006. The Le Merigot Hotel and Blush Ultralounge and Tapas Bar opened on December 28, 2006.[9] The complex is located across from the existing hotel.

Following an unsuccessful run of business by Jillian's, it has since gone out of business and was replaced by Stoney's Rockin' Country Bar in 2011. Stoney's Rockin' Country Bar went out of business in December 2012. Boogie Nights, a dance club with a 1970s and 1980s theme entered the space in 2013 along with The Sports Book Bar & Grill. The Sports Book Bar & Grill closed in December 2014 as a result of management issues. Chido Mexican Bar & Grill will open in that space in August 2015, between Boogie Nights and Ri Ra Irish Pub & Restaurant.

References
  1. "Tropicana's new land-based casino officially open in Evansville". WEHT-TV. October 19, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  2. "Gauging Aztar's Value". The Motley Fool. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  3. "Casino Aztar changes name". Dubois County Herald. AP. June 12, 2013. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  4. "$50 million on-shore Evansville casino opens to gamblers". U.S. News & World Report. AP. October 20, 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
  5. "Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. completes previously announced acquisition of the real estate assets of Tropicana Entertainment" (Press release). Gaming and Leisure Properties. October 1, 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-11 – via GlobeNewswire.
  6. "Bally's Corporation completes acquisition of Tropicana Evansville casino" (Press release). Bally's Corporation. June 4, 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
  7. John T. Martin (October 12, 2021). "It's official: Casino will reopen Wednesday with new name Bally's Evansville". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  8. "Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District". Veazey Parrott Durkin & Shoulders. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  9. "Aztar to open hotel 'by the water'". Evansville Courier & Press. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
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