Boyd Gaming purchased the land under Eastside Cannery for $45M but has not announced plans to reopen the long-closed casino-hotel.
Boyd Gaming Corporation has bought the land under its closed Eastside Cannery casino-hotel in Las Vegas.
Boyd Gaming Buys Eastside Cannery Land for $45M, No Reopening Plans Announced
The company paid $45 million for about 30 acres from Cannery Casino Resorts, as shown in property records. The deal wrapped up last week, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Even with this purchase, Boyd has not said it will reopen the property. The Eastside Cannery has stayed shut since the government ordered closures due to the pandemic in 2020. Before this, Boyd rented the land and had to pay millions each year in rent.
Boyd bought Eastside Cannery in 2016 as part of a $230 million deal that also included the Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas. However, Cannery Casino Resorts kept ownership of the land until this recent sale.
Boyd executives have said that reopening Eastside Cannery is not possible given current market conditions. The company told Clark County officials last year that the area had too many gaming and hospitality services because of its nearby Sam’s Town casino-hotel.
Also, Boyd pointed out that major staff shortages were hindering reopening plans. The company worried about finding enough workers to run Eastside Cannery, as it had hundreds of open jobs across its Southern Nevada properties.
Eastside Cannery Remains Closed but Serves as Training Ground for First Responders
Even though the casino-hotel is not operating, the site has not been completely left alone. Boyd has spent over half a million dollars each month to maintain and secure the property. This includes regular upkeep of systems, security checks, and managing the water system.
What is more, Eastside Cannery has served as a location for community and emergency services. During the pandemic, Three Square Food Bank used the site to distribute food, and local law enforcement and fire departments have run training exercises there. Police have practised how to respond to active-shooter situations and investigate crime scenes, while firefighters have done search-and-rescue drills on the property.
Boyd Gaming has not revealed any plans for the Eastside Cannery after buying the land. When asked about reopening the casino-hotel, company spokesperson David Strow did not give any more details.
At present, the property stays shut with barriers stopping people from entering. Whether it opens again will depend on financial matters, how much people want to use it, and if the company can find enough workers. For now, what is next for Eastside Cannery is up in the air.
