Oneida tribe investing $28 million in expansion, remodel of Green Bay area casino in Wisconsin

ASHWAUBENON, Wisconsin — The Oneida Tribe of Indians will invest nearly $28 million to expand and remodel its casino near Green Bay in an effort to attract more visitors, including non-gamblers.

The project includes a renovation of the main gambling floor and the transformation of the atrium into an expanded gambling area. General manager Louise Cornelius told Gannett Wisconsin Media (http://gbpg.net/14ogfpB ) that the tribe also will add new restaurants, including a sports bar and grill, to bring in more non-gamblers.

"We're just enhancing the experience for our guests and trying to capture a greater share of the entertainment dollar," said Don Lilly, project manager for the casino.

A groundbreaking ceremony was planned for Monday, with work continuing into next spring.

The expansion will cost nearly as much as the original casino, which was built in 1993 for $36 million. It draws about 2 million people per year.

The tribe also plans to install more slot machines and add a new VIP lounge and country bar at its smaller casino on West Mason Street in Green Bay. It will move the poker room from its smaller casino to the main one in Ashwaubenon.

The expansion follows a study launched two years ago that looked at how the Oneida casinos can stay competitive with other Wisconsin casino and local attractions, such as Bay Beach Amusement Park and Bay Park Square shopping mall.

As part of the work, games on the main casino floor will be moved into more logical groups, the Standing Stone Cafe will be replaced with three new restaurants in a new food court and a corridor will be converted into an Oneida tribe cultural center and museum. One hundred slot machines will be placed in the converted atrium, which will be a no-smoking area. Smoking will still be allowed on the main gambling floor.

With all the changes, the tribe will have 1,800 slot machines at its two locations.

The tribe also plans to bring in an outside restaurant management firm. Cornelius said the improvements are being made in response to customers, who said they wanted better restaurant choices, a greater variety of games and more smoke-free areas.

"We're pretty much implementing everything," Cornelius said. "We're doing all of the enhancements so the customers will have a good experience while they're here."

Reported by:  The Republic