FireKeepers Casino expansion begins

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) - The expansion of the FireKeepers Casino in Calhoun County is officially underway.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi owns the facility, which opened in August 2009, just off I-94, east of Battle Creek.

The tribe held two ceremonial events. The first was on Saturday for the NHBP Tribal Membership, and included tribal drumming and tribal blessing ceremonies. The second was on Monday.

The plans include a 242-room resort-style hotel, complete with an indoor pool, exercise facility, full service restaurant and business center.

There will be a multi-purpose event center added to the casino. The center will be capable of seating more than 2,000 guests in a concert venue. It can also be configured to accommodate banquets, corporate meetings, trade shows and other events.

Bingo operations will be expanded to 10,000 square feet of gaming space, doubling the capacity from 250 players to 500 per session.

The expansion project has a targeted completion date in fall 2012.

"Our tribe has always believed in looking ahead seven generations. This expansion opportunity represents our continuing efforts to build a solid economic foundation for the future of our tribe and our continuing efforts to look ahead seven generations," Homer A. Mandoka, NHBP tribal council chairman, said in a news release.