Operator News
Saipan – Imperial Pacific Resort facing long delays
By Phil - 24 February 2017
The opening of the US$190m Imperial Pacific Resort, on the island of Saipan, could be put back to February next year following an extension request from the company behind it.
Imperial Pacific International now wants to extend the 36-month deadline to 42 months to complete the casino part of the property. It wants to put back completion of Phase 2 of the project by eight years.
Senior Vice President for Operations Donnie Browne had been quoted in the local press saying Imperial Pacific Resort would hold a ‘soft opening’ on March 31 but Imperial Pacific’s Chairman Mark Brown has now asked the CNMI government for an extension to the licence of its temporary casino at the T-Galleria shopping complex.
Mr. Brown has asked for a licence extension for the temporary casino from April 30, 2017 to Oct. 31 2017. The letter also requests an extension to the deadline to complete the construction and initiate operations of the gaming facility from August 11, 2017 to February 11, 2018; an extension of the deadline to complete and initiate operations of Phase One from Feb. 11, 2018 to May 1, 2023 and an extension of the deadline to complete and initiate operations of Phase 2 from August 11, 2022 to May 1, 2030.
The Chairman said the request was due to extensive damage caused to the construction site and office during Typhoon Saudelor; a limited cement supply; unpredictable ground conditions; drainage issues; air-rights agreement for tower cranes; inclement weather; lack of readily available skilled laborers, the length of time it took to execute the public land lease for the Garapan property; and the expiration of the Mariana Resort lease.
The Governor’s office said Imperial Pacific’s letter was ‘an opportunity to consider amending the license, which is something provided for in the license agreement, to slow the rate of development on the island of Saipan and to plan for a more sustainable growth rate that allows for the island’s infrastructure, cultural and environmental impacts and other overall economic considerations to keep pace with the economic consequences resulting from the introduction of gaming on Saipan.’
The eagerly awaited permanent casino will house 200 to 300 gaming tables and 300 to 400 slots at a Paul Steelman-designed property with 350 suites.
Imperial has been operating a temporary casino called Best Sunshine at a shopping mall on the island. The casino has attracted a lot of attention to the high volumes of its VIP business. In January the temporary casino generated VIP table games rolling chip turnover totalling nearly US$32.37bn.
Politicians are looking to introduce a five per cent tax on all gaming revenue.
