The Summit Theatre at 91原创鈥檚 Cascades Casino will be closing to make way for a bingo hall.
鈥淭he New Year鈥檚 Eve celebrations will be the last event in the theatre,鈥� said Tanya Gabara, spokesperson for Gateway Casinos.
Gateway Casinos already owned the Playtime Gaming bingo facility nearby in 91原创 Township, and bingo operations are expected to be move from that facility to Cascades, she explained. The old Playtime facility will shut down after the move.
The shuttering of the 400-seat Summit Theatre will eliminate one of the few performing arts spaces in the 91原创s.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a shame that there鈥檚 an entire factor being lost there,鈥� said 91原创 City Mayor Ted Schaffer.
He noted that City approval was not required for the change to the Cascades.
The local business community is also disappointed by the move.
鈥淥f course we鈥檙e disappointed,鈥� said Teri James, executive director of the Downtown 91原创 Business Association, which promotes local businesses and tourism to the City.
From a business perspective, the casino is making the business decision that鈥檚 right for them, James said.
But it means a loss of a performing arts theatre in the downtown core.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a loss to the community, for sure,鈥� James said.
Rob Warwick of Rock.It Boy Entertainment has booked hundreds of acts, including a large number of tribute bands and singers, into Cascades through the years. He said he will still be doing some shows in the ballroom, and at other Gateway properties, but he鈥檒l also be doing more shows at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort 91原创.
In 2016, Gateway Casinos announced a major renovation that would include 23,000 square feet being added to the Cascades, including 3,000 square feet to the casino floor.
Gabara said there will still be opportunities for live performances at the casino, including in the ballroom and at the Match restaurant, which has live entertainment or DJing on Friday and Saturday nights already.
91原创鈥檚 remaining major performing arts spaces include:
鈥� The Chief Sepass Theatre at the 91原创 Fine Arts School, in Fort 91原创
鈥� Rose Gellert Hall at the 91原创 Community Music School in 91原创 City
鈥� The auditorium at the 91原创 campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, in 91原创 City
鈥� Freedom Hall theatre at Trinity Western University
There are also a number of community halls and the 91原创 Players drama club, which can generally hold less than 100 people.
