S
andia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico, used the time it was closed due to the pandemic to construct an entire wing that includes an expanded high limit gaming area; a new Governor’s Room, and a state-of-the-art sports bar.
The sports bar features numerous big-screen TVs and features an outside wrap-around deck with views of the Sandia Mountains and the city. The newly constructed entertainment space is about 50,000 square feet. Sandia is the last of the large casinos and resorts to open in the state.
Sandia’s new sports bar features a Class II gaming area, which means guests are able to enjoy cocktails while playing their favorite slot machines. Guests can also order from a full menu.
Sandia Pueblo Gov. Stuart Paisano stated: “The plan was always to add additional gaming space. The second floor is not occupied right now. So, part of that area, we enhanced our HVAC units to provide more clean air on the south side of the casino so that our customers can enjoy a fresher environment, so to speak. And then our new sports bar is located on the third floor. So that was always the plan with the expansion that had been in development since 2019. We started construction and then COVID hit.”
Paisano continued: “We do not have a sportsbook yet. That will be forthcoming. It was in the works, but COVID hit. Our management team has done a great job to get us to this point. So we’ll be adding some additional gaming attractions through our property. And a sportsbook, our sports betting will be one of them.”
In addition to the new wing, more construction took place at other locations on the property including Bien Shur Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge and the hotel. Renovations have transformed the areas. The darker color schemes have been replaced with lighter, brighter décor, carpeting, paint, and tile. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround Bien Shur’s lounge area and dining room. A newly-erected rectangular bar has plenty of seating and offers amenities such as charging stations for cellphones and convenient hooks for purses and bags.
Paisano continued: “I would like to emphasize the pueblo’s reinvestment in the local economy. That has also been very crucial to us. During COVID, we did a lot of construction here at our property, which kept our main general contractor, Jaynes Corp., and all of their subcontractors gainfully employed as well. So, we tried to do our part by ensuring that we were assisting the local economy by keeping those various industries employed. So that’s something that times it gets overlooked, especially in tribal governments.”
The property is keeping the buffet, Green Reed Spa, convention center space, the bingo room, and the poker room closed. There also is a limited capacity at the table games. Smoking is prohibited except in three designated smoking areas. Concerts and shows in the amphitheater also will not take place this year.
