On the morning of September 29, the Edgewater Casino at False Creek will close its doors for good, while on the same day, on the west side of BC Stadium just across the street, the new Parq Vancouver will open its doors to the public for the first time, according to the Daily Hive.
In late August 2006, a B.C. Supreme Court judge approved a $42 million deal to sell the Edgewater Casino to the Las Vegas-based Paragon Gaming Inc. ensuring the continued operation of the downtown-Vancouver facility in Enterprise Hall within the Plaza of Nations. Up until May of 2006, Edgewater Casino Inc. had been in bankruptcy protection as a result of debts totaling $29 million it incurred since it opened in February 2005, at its Plaza of Nations location.
Paragon purchased the temporary casino with the intent that a new purpose-built facility would be constructed downtown. The staff will relocate from its Plaza of Nations location to Paragon’s new complex when the Edgewater Casino closes, according to the Vancouver news agency. Prior to the Edgewater Casino moving into the space, Enterprise Hall had been used for many years for concerts, conventions, meetings and other special events.
The purpose-built casino space at Parq Vancouver is 72,000 square feet, two times the size of the 36,000 square feet of Edgewater Casino’s gaming floor in Enterprise Hall, reports the Daily Hive. However, the larger casino floor will not mean an increase in games, as Parq Vancouver will assume Edgewater’s existing gaming license, which per a stipulation of approval of the new casino by the City of Vancouver in 2013, is for 75 table games and 600 slot machines.
The Parq Vancouver, however, features 11 exclusive salons where guests can enjoy a private gaming experience including in-Salon or lounge dining, restrooms, casino cage and full-service VIP hosts and a poker room. The potential exists for the new casino to expand the number of games it offers in the future, as the original application called for 150 table games and 1,500 slot machines within the same 72,000 square feet of gaming space.
It is not yet known what purpose Enterprise Hall will serve until the Plaza of Nations is leveled for a planned mixed-use redevelopment project.
In addition to a new entertainment district complete with restaurants, bars, bistros and craft breweries, the proposed redevelopment reportedly includes thousands of residential units, large plazas, a practice ice rink for the Vancouver Canucks that serves a dual purpose as a public ice skating rink when not being used by the team and an extension of the seawall.