Borgata’s concert venue Festival Park might soon be replaced with a massive outdoor pool since the casino operator asked for land-use approval from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for the project. According to Joe Lupo, Borgata’s Senior Vice President of Operations, the 5,000-person capacity concert venue failed to establish itself as “a profitable option.”
Even though Festival Park hosted shows by popular performers such as Southside Johnny, Willie Nelson and The Killers, it didn’t fulfil the operator’s expectations. Therefore, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has already dismantled the 24,000-square-foot main stage, which was opened last year in June.
Furthermore, the facility made the first step towards implementing its new plan for the land by asking for an approval from the CRDA officials. The authority’s executive director John Palmieri stated that the formal approval is expected to be granted in March. However, he pointed out that “the board may want to discuss the elements of the plan.”
According to what Jack Plackter, Borgata’s attorney, said, the new pool complex could be opened in summer and it would be a “first-class” facility. The company wants to use the 50,000 square-foot space to build a 3,200 square-foot outdoor swimming pool as well as beverage and food concessions, pool deck, DJ booth and cabanas.
The pool is expected to be a perfect addition to the hotel’s main tower, which usually accommodates around 1,150 guests. Lupo highlighted the importance of providing an outdoor pool option to the customers staying at their 2,000-room hotel tower and said that having “an outdoor summer amenity” every day of the week would be “very advantageous” for the resort.