Casino resort proposed for parking lot between dome and Cambie Bridge
Andrea Woo
Sun
A massive retail and entertainment complex connected to BC Place Stadium, complete with a flashy Las Vegas-style resort casino, appears to be in the works.
The BC Pavilion Corporation, which operates BC Place, has negotiated an agreement with a private-sector partner to develop on the stadium’s surrounding land, according to Vancouver city councillors.
Though a formal proposal has not been announced, the most likely candidate appears to be Las Vegas’s Paragon Gaming, which already owns the Edgewater Casino at the Plaza of Nations.
“We haven’t seen a formal proposal yet, but there’s no surprise here,” Vision Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs said. “PavCo’s made it clear this is the direction they want to head in.”
The retail and entertainment complex would occupy what is now a 700,000-square-foot parking lot between the Cambie Bridge and BC Place.
The casino would connect directly to the stadium, which will undergo a $563-million makeover, including a retractable roof, starting in May.
Paragon spokeswoman Naomi Strasser would only say the company, which develops and operates facilities, is involved in the process.
“I can confirm for you that [Paragon] did respond to [a request for proposals] that related specifically to the development of the lands around BC Place,” Strasser said.
Edgewater Casino’s current location was always considered temporary, raising the possibility that it will simply expand into the new location.
“It was a short-term lease that was initially set for five years and was then further extended,” Coun. Raymond Louie said. “The intention was that this would not always be the location, that the landowner would likely want to redevelop for other uses.”
PavCo is expected to make a formal announcement on development details by the month’s end.
Meggs predicted the resulting public debate will be “nasty.”
“In my experience, debate about casino development is always controversial,” Meggs said. He anticipated advocates to laud potential advantages, including job creation and a tourism boost, and critics to condemn an increase in density. Louie would like to see the casino’s growth parallel its contributions to legacy funding.
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