BATON ROUGE, La.
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. is postponing the planned August 29 opening of its L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge project, the Company's $368 million casino entertainment property overlooking the Mississippi River. The final step in the formal licensing and approval process, commonly referred to as a mock cruise, has been delayed as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches the Gulf Coast. The storm with an uncertain path has diverted Louisiana State Police personnel required to issue the final regulatory approval for opening L'Auberge.
"Our first concern is the safety of our guests and team members," said Anthony Sanfilippo, President and CEO of Pinnacle. "We remain at the ready to open L'Auberge when it is clear Tropical Storm Isaac is no longer a threat and pending this one final regulatory approval. We understand the primary focus of Louisiana State Police right now is making sure the citizens of Louisiana are out of harm's way."
Governors in Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi have ordered a state of emergency in advance of Isaac making landfall somewhere along the Gulf Coast with high winds and heavy rain.
L'Auberge Baton Rouge will provide a best-in-market casino entertainment complex featuring an expansive single-level, 74,000 square foot casino; nearly 1,500 slot machines; 50 table games, including a poker room; a 12-story hotel with 205 guest rooms and a rooftop pool; four dining outlets; a unique casino bar with breathtaking views of the Mississippi River; 2,400 total parking spaces, including 800 in a covered parking garage; a multi-purpose event center with concert seating for up to 1,550 people or banquet seating for up to 800 people; and outdoor festival grounds with capacity for up to 2,500.
