The Pascua Yaqui Tribe, in partnership with Casino Del Sol, marked a significant milestone this week as the final steel beam was signed and prepared for placement at their new casino site on Grant Road, just off Interstate 10, Arizona. This beam signing ceremony symbolized the completion of the building’s steel framework and was attended by tribal officials, project collaborators, city leaders, and local residents.

New casino development to support jobs and community growth:

The event drew remarks from key figures, including Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, tribal leaders, and Casino Del Sol’s interim CEO Amanda Lomayesva. Those present were invited to add their signatures to the beam, a traditional “topping out” gesture signifying the end of the structural phase of construction.

The upcoming property is designed to support both the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the greater Tucson community. Once completed, the 172,000-square-foot facility will feature a 73,000-square-foot casino floor, multiple restaurants, and a four-level parking structure. Interim CEO Lomayesva emphasized the scale of the opportunity:

“It’s going to create a lot of jobs. It’s going to create economic opportunities,” she said in Casino Del Sol and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s official press release. “Jobs for the Pascua Yaqui Tribal members, but also for Tucson.”

While early estimates stated the new development would bring in around 400 positions, more recent figures shared by Casino Del Sol indicate the casino could generate over 1,000 jobs.

The initiative stems from strong collaboration with the City of Tucson and is facilitated by the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act, a legislative measure originally introduced by the late Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Signed into law in 2022, the act allowed the Department of the Interior to take tribal land in Pima County into trust on behalf of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. This move enabled the land to be officially recognized as part of the reservation, clearing the way for legal gaming operations.

Lomayesva credited the tribe’s dedication to transparency and dialogue with maintaining a healthy relationship with the city.

“We have an excellent relationship with the city of Tucson. The tribe has worked very hard to be communicative and work to further that relationship with Tucson,” she explained.

Honoring sovereignty and community vision:

Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late congressman and a speaker at the ceremony, reinforced how the project aligns with the tribe’s long-term goals of autonomy and economic self-determination. “What we heard repeatedly from the leadership here at Pascua Yaqui is that they want to be safe, sustainable, and able to support their own initiatives,” she said. “This project strengthens tribal sovereignty and represents exactly that kind of investment in the future.”

The construction of the casino officially began in January 2025 and is expected to be completed by November 2026.

While the atmosphere at the ceremony was one of pride and progress, some concerns from the local community—especially related to potential traffic increases on Grant Road—have surfaced online. Lomayesva acknowledged these sentiments and assured that ongoing communication with community partners remains a priority.

“The team went out and talked to the community and had meetings discussing the plans and everything, and the feedback has all been positive,” Lomayesva said.