The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has announced its plans to begin construction on a new 166,341 square-foot gaming facility by the end of the month.

The facility will expand the casino at The Fort and offer a garden court with dining facilities, sports bar and entertainment stage. Thalden Boyd Emery Architects, W.E. O’Neil and Kitchell Construction have been named as the project team.

“We break ground on Friday, June 29…on a new casino and open a new chapter in the modern history of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation,” Tribal Council President Bernadine Burnette said in a statement. “Our tribe has overcome many challenges just to be here today. Our path has been difficult, but the obstacles we’ve endured have only made us stronger.

“We may be the smallest tribe in the Valley, be we built the first high stakes bingo hall in the Phoenix area three decades ago and today we are taking another huge leap forward.

“This project will set a new standard for quality entertainment in the Northeast Valley while providing economic security to our tribal government. We’re thankful that our past success enables us to make this investment in the future of our tribe and our region.”

Construction is slated to begin later this summer with the facility open to the public in the spring of 2020.