A recent vote by the Tribal Council of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan will see its flagship casino undergo a $26.5 million renovation. Reported to be among the largest investments in the history of the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, the project will include the addition of a new night club, sports bar and high-limit and VIP lounge area.

In a statement, Ray Brenny, who was welcomed as the CEO for the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on October 5, 2016, said, “When I was hired nine months ago, I promised to provide a superior focus on improvement.” A member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Brenny went on to say, “Among the top priorities was to connect with I-5 Design Company, to do an assessment and to present some design ideas that would improve our guests’ experience,” according to the Daily Tribune.

The project, approved for funding in an 11-0 vote will reportedly begin by this fall and be carried out in seven phases. The new agency reports that, according to the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort news release, the development is expected to be completed by next spring.

Plans for the multi-million dollar project include the transformation of the non-smoking area into a new night club and sports bar will be located near the casino floor. The new venue will feature a “grand entry” complete with 12-foot-tall pivoting doors. Additionally, the news release states that a wing-shaped center bar will be added, a VIP seating area, a stage for entertainers, multiple TVs, 59 bar-to slot machines and “dramatic lighting effects,” according to the Daily Tribune.

The Cyber Quest and Kid’s Quest areas are to be redesigned as is the poker room, and the existing sub shop will be re-branded. The newly enclosed non-smoking area will reportedly be nearby the relocated poker room. The Entertainment Hall will receive programmable high-tech lighting elements, improved acoustics and an array of multi media panels added which will provide an unlimited number of scenes on stage, as reported by the news agency.

The Mount Pleasant Casino and Resort, debuting in 1998, underwent its last major renovation in 2011. At that time the Firefly Buffet was re-branded Aurora Buffet and was remodeled in order to provide space for the 24-hour Legends Diner.

Meanwhile, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a new five-story hotel for its Saganing Eagles Landing Casino in southern Arenac County. According to an earlier report, the new development will offer 148 rooms along with space for an additional 400 slot machines. First announced in 2013, the new facility is expected to be completed early in 2019.