a new casino may be in tucson's future

Just over 14 acres of land located in north Tucson at the intersection of West Grant Road and Interstate 10 may see the construction of a new casino owned by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Ultimately, tribal leaders want to see the site, specifically located at 1055 W. Grant Road, put into a trust by the federal government, which would then allow for both building the casino and operating it.

Meanwhile, members of the Tucson City Council are considering the possibility of the city entering into an intergovernmental agreement with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, also paving the way for the casino’s construction, with a certain percentage of the gaming establishment’s revenue going back to the city.

As proposed, both new residential and retail space, as well as a hotel, could also go up at the site.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe says that some 1.7 acres of the site will be used for ceremonial and cultural purposes, with the remaining 12.6 acres set aside for a possible casino.

City documents additionally indicate that the tribe will absorb the cost of planning and building all streets, roads, and infrastructure at the site.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe purchased the land some eight years ago for more than $4.6 million.

That site was once the home to the Tucson 5 Drive-In, which was opened in 1974 and demolished more than a decade later, before making way for a Century Park 16 theater.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe currently operates the Casino del Sol Resort, Spa and Conference Center, along with the Casino of the Sun, both in Tucson.

By Garry Boulard

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