Countdown On To Launch Of New ''Party Central''

14 November 2003

Media release for immediate publication

Countdown On To Launch Of Auckland’s New “Party Central”

A $25 million entertainment experience unlike anything else currently offered in New Zealand will open in central Auckland city early next month with the launch of a new casino and bar at SKYCITY.

Called Play, the casino is designed specifically to offer a modern slant on the traditional casino experience. The unique and funky new casino will feature 15 table games (including favourites blackjack, roulette and money wheel) and 223 new gaming machines - providing the latest in gaming machine product.

Play will feature cocktail service to the gaming tables, regular live entertainment and colourful floor-shows performed at random intervals. Contemporary décor, elegant waitresses and stylish croupiers will create an ambience similar to a night-club.

Adjacent to Play casino, Bar3 has been designed by renowned Auckland architect Tom Skyring (who also designed a number of other leading Auckland dining establishments including Sponge Bar - Ponsonby Road, Euro – Auckland Viaduct and Otto’s – Metropolis Hotel) to complement the new casino experience. Together they will provide a fresh new concept in entertainment in the heart of the city and dramatically extend the range of entertainment experiences on offer at the SKYCITY Auckland complex.

Bar3 will feature dark wood and deep red furnishings with large, opulent designer rest rooms set unusually in the middle of the floor to break up the space into a variety of intimate settings and cater for a range of social occasions - from a drink after work with a friend or colleague through to larger parties and functions of up to 250 people. Unique features of Bar3 will include plush décor and a hand picked music play-list put together by leading Auckland DJ Grant Marshall of Auckland’s George FM, who will become Bar3’s resident Saturday night DJ.

Thursdays to Saturdays, Bar3 becomes an upbeat party venue as Auckland’s best DJs play popular sounds from 10 pm till late. Throughout the rest of the week, Bar3’s stylish surrounds are expected to attract a broad range of customers, from the CBD corporate market through to regular entertainment seekers. The opening of the SKYCITY Auckland
Convention Centre in April 2004 will also extend the weekday customer base further.

Play casino and Bar3 are located on level 3 of SKYCITY Auckland gaming and entertainment venue, Federal Street, Auckland City, which already offers three casinos and 13 restaurants and bars. The new developments are both part of SKYCITY Auckland’s major expansion programme (the largest commercial capital project currently underway in Auckland City) which also includes a $135 million new SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre (due to open in April 2004) and five star SKYCITY Grand Hotel (to open in 2005).

SKYCITY Entertainment Group General Manager, Marketing, Heather Shotter, says SKYCITY is continuously extending the entertainment experience for customers.

“Bar3 and Play will be very different to SKYCITY’s current entertainment offerings and we’re excited about the opportunity to create a dynamic new casino destination - unlike anything already available in New Zealand,” she says.

“With the latest interior design elements combining with an upbeat atmosphere, we’re confident that this venue will appeal to those wanting to party together and enjoy the social interaction that a group of friends around a blackjack table for example, can offer.”

Play casino and Bar3 will officially open with an exclusive launch event on 10 December 2003.

ENDS

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