A casino project in Pittsburgh had stalled, 30% complete and 11 months from opening, because the original developer failed to secure additional financing. Our client felt the project might not only be salvageable but ultimately successful and retained DMA to evaluate the opportunity. In an intensive 45-day due diligence period, we determined the completion effort and identified immediate challenges, including incomplete permits and unpaid consultants. With the client’s decision to move forward, we developed and implemented a completion schedule that included significant redesign of food and beverage venues to meet the client’s vision—with no impact to opening dates.

Six months prior to opening, it became clear we had also achieved substantial savings in developments costs. The client chose to reinvest those savings in Wheelhouse, a unique sports bar and performance venue at Rivers.

Rivers Casino, Pittsburgh’s first gaming facility, features 100,000 square feet of gaming space, four restaurants, bars, and lounges, a 10-story parking structure, a central atrium chandelier with a changing display of 40,000 LED lights, and a public outdoor amphitheatre overlooking the Ohio River.

Case Study: Rescue on the River