One of the biggest casino resorts in the state of California is set to get a whole lot bigger, as the ground has officially been broken on a nine-figure expansion project that has been in the wind for several years. Thunder Valley is one of seven tribal casinos in the Sacramento area and is already the largest. The planned expansion will make it one of the go-to entertainment venues in the entire state.
An established presence
Until the entertainment sector was dealt an unexpected blow by the events of the past 12 months, new casinos were appearing with regularity in Greater Sacramento, the most recent of which was the Hard Rock resort in Yuba County, which opened its doors in late 2019. That brought the total number of slot machines in Sacramento to an incredible 13,000 – more than there are in Reno.
3,500 of those machines are located at Thunder Valley, as well as dozens of table games offering blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, and practically every other casino game you can think of. Over recent months, of course, the casino has been forced to close its doors to patrons. Many establishments have been concerned that their customers would go straight to sites like NoDepositKings to find online alternatives – and would never return. However, Dawn Clayton, the resort’s General Manager, says patrons, both regular and new, were excited to return to Thunder Valley as soon as its doors reopened, and business is booming despite the necessary restrictions and limitations that are in place.
In addition to the casino, Thunder Valley already hosts a hotel with a pool and fitness center, a wellness spa, and a choice of bars and restaurants. The facility is also affiliated with the neighboring Whitney Oaks Golf Club for those who prefer to spend time enjoying the fresh California air.
Last but not least, there is an outdoor amphitheater that has welcomed such diverse acts as Peter Frampton, Brian Wilson and LeAnne Rimes over the past decade and has become something of a landmark in the Sacramento area.
The Venue
Clearly, this is already a well-appointed facility that offers plenty of different entertainment options, and it starts to become clear that a further $100 million development has the potential to create something that people will be talking about statewide.
The expansion at Thunder Valley will create a new facility that will be known simply as The Venue. The indoor performance space will have a capacity of 4,500 and will replace the existing amphitheater. While there can be something magical about seeing an event at this kind of outdoor venue, it also brings limitations and potential problems. In recent years, visitors have had their enjoyment affected by everything from sudden extreme weather to smoke from wildfires drifting across the area.
Constructing an indoor facility will allow Thunder Valley to book events with confidence, and will also increase the versatility of the venue. As well as the traditional concerts and shows, it is anticipated that it will host everything from business conferences to boxing matches.
The Venue will cover an area of 150,000 square feet, and the design is primarily in the hands of OTJ Architects. The company already has an impressive portfolio when it comes to event spaces, and has previously been responsible for such venues as the famous Howard Theater in Washington DC, the Boston Opera House, New York’s Hudson Theater, Cincinnati Music Hall and numerous other famous landmarks across the United States. John Bow will be General Manager of The Venue and he said OTJ was one of several potential firms in the frame, but that what put them ahead of the rest was the creativity of their design ideas and their proven track record on projects of this type and scale. He said there was also an immediate connection between the design team, the resort leadership and the tribal council, which left all parties excited at the prospect of working together on making this dramatic concept into a reality over the coming months.
Grand opening
Work is only just beginning on The Venue, but already, both management at Thunder Valley and representatives from owners, the United Auburn Indian Community, are looking forward to opening day. Doug Elmets is a tribal spokesman, and he said it is anticipated that The Venue will be finished and ready to start hosting events by early 2023, and possibly as soon as the end of 2022.
He said that management at Thunder Valley are already in discussion with some of the biggest names in entertainment to book an opening act that people will remember for the rest of their lives. Names mooted so far include the likes of Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and Chicago, but none have been confirmed just yet.
