The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
BRIDGEPORT CASINO
Point Place Casino is expected to open on Route 31 in Spring 2018
BRIDGEPORT, N.Y. >> The Oneida Indian Nation quieted the local rumor mill on Sunday follow- ing months of speculation as to what the Nation had planned in Bridgeport.
Point Place Casino, the latest in the Nation’s record of Central New York investments and second Madison County ca- sino, will be located on Route 31, near the corner of Bridgeport-Kirkville Road, just a few hundred feet from the Cicero border.
Construction will begin in May and the casino is expected to open in spring 2018.
The new smoke-free facility will be approximately 65,000 square feet and will feature
“We are thrilled to announce this new investment in Central New York.”
— Ray Halbritter, Oneida
Nation Representative and
Nation Enterprises CEO
a modern gaming floor with nearly 500 popular slot machines and 20 table games, as well as two fast-casual counter service restaurants, including the newest location of Wicked Good Pizza, and Burgers of Madison County, a familyfriendly restaurant offering burgers, milkshakes and more. Additionally, Point Place Casino will also introduce a second location of Opals Confectionery, the chocolatier and bakery from Turning Stone, and will also feature two bars.
“We are thrilled to announce this new investment in Central New York, and are confident it will continue the success we have had in working handin-hand with the local community to create good jobs and generate public revenues,” said Oneida Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. “Over the last few decades, we have worked hard to build a well- planned economic model that has sustained and invigorated the local economy – and our expansion projects have almost always exceeded expectations. In the coming months, we are looking forward to working with the community to launch this latest project and build off that success.”
Point Place Casino will create more than 200 fulland part-time jobs in the Town of Sullivan in Mad- ison County. The casino will open a recruitment office in Cicero and will begin hiring in fall 2017. The construction of Point Place Casino will create 250 local construction jobs.
“For more than 20 years, the Oneida Nation has entrusted their new development and expansion projects to us and kept local union trade workers working,” said Pat Costello, area representative of the Central and Northern New York Building Trades Council. “Through decades of investments in our community, and as an engine of economic development for our entire region, the Oneida Nation has provided leadership for other employers and reaffirmed their commitment to our shared prosperity.”
Oneida Nation officials have taken extra time to ensure construction plans mitigate onsite noise, light and drainage issues, secu- rity and public safety measures.
As per property records accessed via the Madison County Clerk’s Office, since July of 2016, the Oneida Indian Nation has acquired nearly 110 acres of land in Bridgeport at a cost of $1.35 million.
Purchased in five different transactions in less than half a year, the newlyacquired Nation land first reported in January does indeed appear to be the site of the Nation’s latest casino venture:
• Nov. 21: Sternbergs sell 92.8 acres for $300,000.
• Nov. 7: Christine M. Krell sells 7.88 acres for $550,000.
• Aug. 24: Michael Norton sells 8.04 acres for $250,000.
• July, 27: Donna-Thompson sells 0.48 acres for $225,000.
• July, 27: Richard Thompson sells 0.22 acres for $25,000.