New Orleans History -- Lake Pontchartrain
Monday, October 07, 2024
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May 1, 1995 - Harrah's New Orleans Casino grand opening


src="/clientimages/40334/cultcha/today/may1harrahsmermaid1995.jpg">
face=Arial size=1>Hand carved 'Suar' wood Mermaid from Harrah's Jazz Casino
at the Auditorium.

 

Harrah's spent $41 million to transform the Municipal Auditorium (erected in 1930) into the 'temporary' casino: 76,000 square feet, 3,096 slot machines, and 90 gambling tables. Predictions: 10,000 daily gamblers, $395 million earnings for the first twelve months, $33 million a month gross gambling revenue, 3,100 employees.

On November 21, 1995 (one day before Thanksgiving holidays) Harrah's closed the 'temporary' casino at the Municipal Auditorium, and halted all construction of the permament casino at the Rivergate site; 3,000 jobs lost; Harrah's filed for bankruptcy.

Source: http://www.rivergate.tulane.edu/appendix/appendix2.html