Isle of Capri official sees no bar to Boonville project

Dana Fields

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 | 1:31 a.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Differences between a casino company and Boonville officials over the planned design of a riverboat can probably be resolved to all parties' satisfaction, an official of the company said today.

Allan B. Solomon, executive vice president of Mississippi-based Isle of Capri Casino Inc., told the Missouri Gaming Comission the company has modified its standard design to fit local needs in other states.

"I believe we're going to reach agreement in Boonville," Solomon said in a briefing on Isle of Capri's plans for casinos in the mid-Missouri town as well as Kansas City and St. Louis.

Isle of Capri signed a deal last week with California-based Davis Gaming to buy the rights to build and operate a casino on the Missouri River at Boonville.

Davis Gaming had intended to tailor the design of its Victorian Star to Boonville officials' desire for an old-fashioned riverboat on their waterfront.

But Isle of Capri's casinos in Mississippi and elsewhere feature a distinctive, colorful Caribbean motif inside and out. The prospect of such a boat has met some resistance among Boonville City Council members.

Solomon, however, said Isle of Capri has worked with other communities to complement local styles.

In Black Hawk, Colo., for example, the company kept its Caribbean theme inside the casino but designed the exterior to fit the local look of an old mining town.

Isle of Capri inherited a March 31 deadline from Davis Gaming for reaching agreement with Boonville officials. Solomon said today the deadline may be unrealistic and that the company might seek an extension.

The company now expects to need a couple of months to finish its design and 12 to 15 months to build the riverboat, with opening possible by the end of 2001, Solomon said.

Elsewhere in Missouri, Isle of Capri recently agreed to buy the Flamingo Hilton, docked on the Missouri River near downtown Kansas City, from Hilton Hotel Corp. for $33.5 million.

Solomon told the commission today he expects the casino would continue to operate - under the Flamingo name - while Isle of Capri seeks necessary approvals and modifies the hot pink and purple boat.

He predicted no shutdown during renovations and, while stopping short of ruling out layoffs, said all current employees would be encouraged to remain under the new ownership.

Isle of Capri's third prospective Missouri venture is on the Mississippi, where the Lady Luck chain has planned a casino. Isle of Capri has an agreement to buy the Lady Luck chain and is to close on the deal March 2, Solomon said.