March 24–PITTSBURG, Kan. — Although the doors don't open to the public for another week, there is plenty of activity around Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel.
During a Thursday tour of the $80 million project in south Crawford County, dealers shuffled decks and stacked chips, and slot machines were ready to attract gamblers with lights and bells, and staff served food and drinks to a test audience at the casino's restaurant, Two Brothers Mining Co.
After legal battles — including one still without a final ruling — and delays, Southeast Kansas will have its first casino when the state-owned Kansas Crossing opens its doors at 10:30 a.m. March 31.
"It's been a whirlwind," said Doug Fisher, general manager, during Thursday's tour. "I started in July (2016) and it was pretty much still dirt here, so the speed with which this was constructed and how well this was constructed and how well this was designed is amazing to me."
The Kansas Crossing project was originally selected by the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board in June 2015 and approved by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission on July 2, 2015. Kansas Crossing's proposed dollar value was the least of three proposals for a state-owned casino, including Castle Rock in Cherokee County and a third by Las Vegas billionaire Phil Ruffin for the former greyhound track near Frontenac.
After Kansas Crossing was selected, backers of the Castle Rock project filed a lawsuit alleging the state did not follow proper protocols in making the selection of the winning proposal. That lawsuit delayed the groundbreaking of the project for more than a year, but after a ruling in in March 2016, Kansas Crossing announced plans to proceed.
The backers of that competing project have appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the matter. The court heard arguments on the appeal as recently as January, but Fisher said Kansas Crossing is confident enough that the result will be in its favor that it is going forward with the project.
"We're opening the doors in 10 days," he said. "I think we have a pretty good position. I'm not worried."
Efforts to build a casino in the area go back to 2007, when Kansas lawmakers passed a bill allowing the state to own a destination casino resort in each of four gaming zones. Casino projects were subsequently proposed and built in Dodge City, Kansas City and Mulvane, just south of Wichita.
Penn National Gaming initially proposed a casino in Cherokee County, the only proposal for the Southeast Gaming Zone of Cherokee and Crawford counties. While it was approved by the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board, Penn withdrew its bid after the Quapaw tribe built Downstream Casino near the proposed location just across the state line in Oklahoma.
Cherokee County officials sued Penn National Gaming for $53 million. They settled for $6.75 million in cash but no property after nearly five years of negotiations.
Meanwhile, no further applications were received for the southeast zone until lawmakers in 2014 amended the Kansas Expanded Lottery Act to reduce the required investment in infrastructure from $225 million to $50 million and the privilege fee from $25 million to $5.5 million, setting into motion the race for who would build in Southeast Kansas.
The $80 million Kansas Crossing casino located near the intersection of U.S. highways 69 and 400 in Pittsburg will attract an estimated 500,000 visitors a year, according to developers, who also have previously announced partnerships worth more than $4.5 million over 10 years to the Southeast Kansas Career and Technical Education Center, Pittsburg State University, and the Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The casino and hotel will include 625 slot machines, 16 gambling tables and a 123-room Hampton Inn and Suites. The operation is expected to create more than 400 jobs. Although the doors open on March 31, the casino will hold a grand opening, including its first concert, on April 8. The first performer at Kansas Crossing's music venue is to be country singer Jerrod Niemann.
Timeline
June 2015: The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board selects Kansas Crossing proposal for a state-owned casino from three competing project proposals, including Castle Rock in Cherokee County and a plan by Phil Ruffin of Las Vegas for the former greyhound track near Frontenac.
July 2, 2015: The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission approves the Kansas Crossing proposal.
Sept. 2, 2015: Kansas Crossing officials announce construction is put on hold because of a lawsuit filed by supporters of competitors for a casino operation. Plaintiffs allege the state did not follow the law in selecting the Kansas Crossing project.
Nov. 29, 2015: Kansas Crossing attorney Clint Patty requests a second delay of the opening date as lawsuit continues.
March 31, 2016: A court ruling is issued, and Kansas Crossing officials note plans to go forward with construction.
May 5, 2016: Officials with Kansas Crossing, the state of Kansas and the city of Pittsburg hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the $80 million project.
July 2016: Kansas Crossing announces Doug Fisher as the casino's general manager.
Jan. 25, 2017: The Kansas Supreme Court hears arguments in an appeal of the March 2016 ruling in lawsuit. No ruling has been given by the Kansas Supreme Court.
March 8, 2017: Kansas Crossing announces an April 8 grand opening ceremony. The casino's doors will open one week prior, at 10:30 a.m. March 31.
