Harrah’s to Become Caesars New Orleans, Getting $325M Upgrade
Harrah's casino in New Orleans will be undergoing a $325 million renovation and will be renamed Caesars New Orleans.
The parent company of Harrah's, Caesars Entertainment Inc., presented the city board that manages the property a plan that would add a new, 340-room hotel tower by 2024 along with other new amenities on the property.
The renovation was actually agreed upon last year as part of a deal with the Louisiana Legislature that extends Caesars' license to operate the casino through 2054. However, it still needs to go through the city-controlled New Orleans Building Corporation as part of the approval process.
In addition to the new hotel tower, the casino will get a new "valet porte cochère," or carport, at the existing entrance. There will also be new food and hospitality offerings in the current casino building and some unspecified development on the unoccupied second-floor area of the casino.
Caesars previously said it wants to offer additional entertainment options separate from gambling at the site. The Fillmore New Orleans, a 2,200 capacity music which is a part of the Harrah's casino building, has been closed since the start of the pandemic.
More announcements regarding other features of the upgrade will be made in the coming months, according to Harrah's General Manager Samir Mowad.
"What was shared today is only the beginning of a transformation," he said.
Caesars says the project will create 600 construction jobs and will add 500 new full-time jobs from 2024 when its renewed 30-year license commences.
In addition to Harrah's New Orleans, Caesars owns four floating casinos in the state: the Belle of Baton Rouge, Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Lake Charles, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, and Horseshoe Bossier City.