January 27, 2021
The federally-recognized Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has announced the signing of a deal that is to see it spend approximately $12.5 million in order to bring a casino back to Puerto Rico’s famed Fairmont El San Juan Hotel.
The Connecticut-based tribe used an official Tuesday press release to declare that the agreement with local hospitality investments firm LionGrove will involve the beachfront property in the eastern San Juan suburb of Carolina premiering a 15,000 sq ft casino complete with a range of slots and gaming tables as well as ‘first-class service’ that is destined to complement ‘the resort’s well-appointed luxury accommodations and amenities.’
Anuncian millonaria inversión para reabrir El San Juan Casino metro.pr - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from metro.pr Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
MASHANTUCKET - The Foxwoods Resort Casino has long been looking for opportunities to expand since the 2008 financial crisis, and over a decade later, it seems like “the right fit” was found.
“It checked so many boxes for us that we were excited to be a part of it,” Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler said.
On Tuesday at a press conference in Puerto Rico, Foxwoods and LionGrove LLC announced their intention to reopen the casino at the historic Fairmont El San Juan Hotel as the Foxwoods El San Juan Casino in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
The casino is set to open by the end of 2021 and will be the first venture by Foxwoods outside of the continental U.S. So far, Foxwoods has invested $12.5 million in the project and expects it will create 150 casino jobs, and more than 300 jobs total.
Vaccinations will continue to be distributed with the police department, tribal elders, tribal council, tribal community and Foxwoods Resort Casino team members in the coming weeks and months.
“It is a historic - and hopeful - time for us as a tribal nation,” said. Dr. Setu Vora, chief medical officer of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. “We know there is a lot of work ahead of us, and we have to earn and maintain trust in science and the vaccine.
“It has been a collaborative effort between our exceptional health team at Mashantucket and the Department of Public Health for testing, tracing, and now for vaccines. In addition to our swift response at the beginning of this pandemic and incredibly strict protocols throughout, this is another step in making sure we do our part to keep our community and broader region safe, said Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler.