Louisiana: Cordish to host topping off ceremony for Live! Casino in Bossier City next Wednesday

The Cordish Companies is set to host a topping-off ceremony for Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana on Wednesday, which is traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop a structure during construction.

The company, which kicked off construction for the property in December 2023, will mark a new milestone with this ceremony, as it continues working on opening the first land-based casino in Shreveport-Bossier City.

Rob Norton, President of the Cordish Gaming Group and Live! Casinos, will be in Bossier for the event, as will the head of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and a variety of elected officials.

This casino will offer more than 47,000 square feet of gaming space featuring 1,000-plus slots and electronic table games, more than 40 live-action table games, and a sportsbook.

Additionally, there will be 25,000 square feet of event and convention space and 30,000 square feet of restaurant, bar, and entertainment space, which will include the Sports and Social sports bar and restaurant and PBR Cowboy Bar, the Asian restaurant Luk Fu, a fine dining steakhouse and other restaurant options; plus a hotel with 550 rooms and suites.

The Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana broke ground in December 2023

From the initial December 2023 kickoff, The Cordish Companies has projected that the casino and hotel will generate more than $200 million in taxes over the first five years, $35 million to Bossier City and $168 million to the state, as well as over 750 new permanent jobs.

John Chaszar, the casino’s Vice President and General Manager, told The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate that things are only going to get more "hectic and exciting" from now until the ribbon cutting in the first quarter of 2025. "Every day is different, that's the best thing about this business," Chaszar shared.

There are currently five Live! gaming properties, in Arundel Mills, Maryland; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Hollywood and Tampa, Florida. The Cordish Companies also own hotels, apartments, office, and coworking spaces, and major non-gaming entertainment venues in the US and Madrid, Spain.

Last month, The Cordish Companies appointed Jamie Williams as Director of Sales for the Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana. Williams will be responsible for planning and managing the overall strategic sales and marketing initiatives for the property.  

In the role, Williams will lead an experienced team of sales experts. She will also work closely with the food and beverage team to advise on event execution and strategy, rounding out the property’s team of catering and event professionals.