RICHMOND, BC, May 26, 2014 /CNW/ - The vision behind the development of the River Rock Casino Resort was simple - build an exclusive entertainment destination with a wide range of amenities that delivers amazing experiences and would be completely different from the existing gaming venues in British Columbia. Driven by that vision and passion, River Rock is proud to mark its 10th Anniversary during the month of June.
Over the last 10 years River Rock has not stopped growing as it continues to evolve into an internationally-recognized entertainment attraction.
2004:
It all began in June 2004 when the casino opened its doors and featured a modern casino with dining and parking facilities. To prepare for the build, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, owner and operator of River Rock, invested approximately five million dollars in civil engineering upgrades in the immediate area which included extensive road work and the installation of a new railway crossing. In recognition of the River Rock opening, the City of Richmond renamed a nearby street Great Canadian Way, paying tribute to what has become one of Richmond's key landmarks.
2005:
A year after the casino opened, the property introduced a 222 luxury suite hotel along with a 995 seat state-of-the-art Gala Systems theatre that was the first of its kind in the world. The system allows the theatre to transform into a flat floor concert mode or full theatre seating in under 10 minutes. This functionality has allowed River Rock Show Theatre to host a wide range of performances such as boxing events, comedy and game shows and various gala dinners. In addition to the theatre and hotel, River Rock also added a fully equipped fitness centre, an indoor swimming pool, spa, additional dining outlets and conference space during this time. But the expansion of the resort did not stop there as the team took on the task of dredging the marina and spent nearly one million to make it fully functional.
2007:
With the growing demand for more meeting and conference space, River Rock added the conference centre next to the marina to the list of its amenities offering a dynamic venue that can host weddings, business meetings or tradeshows.
2008:
With the popularity of River Rock increasing, there was a pressing need for more parking which led to the construction of a second multi-level parkade featuring 1,560 parking spots. In partnership with Translink and Coast Mountain Bus Company, the joint parkade initiative also allowed for the largest Translink Police Station to be located alongside the new rapid transit Canada Line.
2009:
The joint parkade and Bridgeport Skytrain station officially opened in 2009 marking another first for River Rock as the resort was connected to the rapid transit line with the only above-grade pedestrian walkway in Richmond. The attachment to the Canada Line allows River Rock to be widely accessible and connected to the rest of Metro Vancouver with a mere 18 minute ride to downtown Vancouver or seven minute ride to Vancouver's International Airport. That same year, River Rock unveiled Canada's first curved escalators in its newly configured lobby, the sophisticated and elegant Curve lounge, intimate and fully serviced theatre suites along with a revitalized buffet, a 260 seat restaurant serving traditionally inspired dishes seven days a week.
2011:
As the property further established itself as an entertainment hot spot, the need for more hotel space was met with a newly built 193 room hotel tower. Simply called The Hotel, this extension of the resort offers travelers a unique blend of serene ambiance and exquisite hospitality.
"We are often asked by our guests and the community what is next for River Rock, as they are accustomed to seeing it continually change. With that said, I expect to see River Rock continue to push the limits and deliver something spectacular in the years to come," said Peter Goudron, Senior Vice President, Operations-West, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.
To learn more about River Rock Casino Resort's upcoming 10th Anniversary calendar of events, which includes a $150,000 cash draw, diamonds and grand prize Silver Jaguar XF 2.0T giveaway accompanied by diamond themed dining, hotel and entertainment offerings please visit www.diamondcelebration.ca or www.riverrock.com .
River Rock Casino Resort is owned and operated by the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC), Canada's largest gaming service and hospitality operator with 17 facilities located throughout BC, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Washington State. Every year, River Rock Casino Resort together with its 1,300 employees provides support to the Richmond community through volunteering services, in-kind donations or financial contributions. Some of the charitable organizations that River Rock has supported are: Richmond Family Place, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, Richmond Food Bank, Richmond Society for Community Living, Richmond Chinese Community Society, and Volunteer Richmond Information Services. In 2013, the City of Richmond received $17.6 million from the River Rock Casino Resort in host local government payments and since River Rock's inception; the city has received $113.9 million. These funds have been dedicated to the construction costs of the Richmond Olympic Oval as well as certain community grants, and future revenue will fund the construction of the new Minoru Aquatic Centre.
Image with caption: "River Rock Casino Resort is celebrating its 10th anniversary during the month of June (2014) and highlighting some of its unique features including Canada's first curved escalators which can be found in the main lobby of the resort. (CNW Group/River Rock Casino Resort)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140526_C9948_PHOTO_EN_40760.jpg
SOURCE: River Rock Casino Resort
Sonja Mandic
Manager, Media and Responsible Gaming
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
604.303.1000
[email protected]
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