Skycity Auckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skycity Auckland |
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Inside the gambling hall
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| Location | Auckland CBD, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Address | Corner Victoria and Federal Streets |
| Opening date | February 2, 1996 |
| Signature attractions | Sky Tower |
| Casino type | Land |
| Owner | Skycity Entertainment Group |
| Renovated in | 2016 |
Skycity Auckland is a fun entertainment place in the heart of Auckland, New Zealand. It's located between Victoria and Federal Streets. This big complex is right at the bottom of the famous Sky Tower. It was the second casino to open in New Zealand. Today, it's still the only casino in Auckland.
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What You Can Find at Skycity
Skycity Auckland has lots of cool things to do! Besides the amazing Sky Tower, there's a large theatre with 700 seats. You can also find twenty-three different places to eat and drink. There are three hotels, too, with one opening in 2021.
The complex also has a casino. It was updated in 2006. Inside, you'll find over 1,600 gaming machines. There are also more than 100 gaming tables. Some special rooms are set aside for guests who like to play for higher stakes.
In 2013, Skycity Auckland bought a 21-meter motor yacht. It's called "Horizon II". They use it for special events and entertaining guests.
In 2018, Skycity Auckland opened New Zealand's first e-sports broadcasting studio. This is a special place to film and share video game competitions. It's located on Level 2 of the Sky Tower.
A Look at Skycity's History
The Sky Tower, the convention centre, and the hotel were all built by a company called Fletcher Construction. They finished building them in 1997.
Skycity's casino was the second one built in New Zealand. When it was being built, some people had concerns about it. However, many people agree that the complex has been good for Auckland. It brings in many visitors and creates jobs.
The casino provides nearly 2,000 jobs for people. It also helps the community. A small part of its earnings, about 1.5%, goes to charity groups.
Places to Stay: Skycity Hotels
Skycity Auckland has two main hotels. They offer different experiences for guests.
Skycity Hotel
The Skycity Hotel is a four-star hotel. It first opened in February 1996. It's one of the busiest hotels in New Zealand. This hotel is right inside the main Skycity complex. It's a popular choice for families, business travelers, and people visiting the casino. The hotel has 323 rooms. These rooms were updated in 2013. Guests staying here can use all the fun facilities at Skycity.
The Grand by Skycity
The Grand by Skycity is a very fancy five-star hotel. It officially opened in April 2005. It cost about $85 million to build. This hotel is not inside the main complex. However, it's very close by on Federal Street. It's even connected to the main complex by a special skybridge. This hotel is often chosen by older guests and VIPs. Many famous people have stayed here, like Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
Exciting Events at Skycity
Skycity's Convention Centre has hosted some big events. In 2019, it held two World boxing title matches. These events were promoted by Rival Sports Promotions.
The first event was on March 30. Geovana Peres fought Lani Daniels for a world title. This event was called "History in the making." All 680 tickets were sold out! It was filmed to be shown on TV later.
On July 30, another world title event was announced. This time, Geovana Peres fought Claire Hafner. To promote this event, Geovana Peres did something amazing. She practiced boxing on top of the Sky Tower! She was 193 meters (about 633 feet) up in the air. This event also sold out, with over 1,000 tickets. It was shown live on TV.
New Convention Centre Project
In 2013, the New Zealand Government and Skycity made a deal. Skycity agreed to build a new convention centre. It was expected to cost $402 million. In return, Skycity would get some special permissions. They could add more gaming machines and tables. Their casino license would also be extended until 2048. Skycity agreed to pay for the whole project.
The government believed this new centre would be great for New Zealand. Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said it would add about $90 million a year to the local economy. It would also create 1,000 jobs during building. Once it was open, it would create 800 more jobs.
In 2015, the cost of the convention centre went up. It was now expected to be up to $530 million. There was talk about the government helping with the extra money. However, after some discussion, Skycity decided to build a slightly smaller centre. This way, the cost would stay around $400 million.
Fire at the Convention Centre in 2019
A fire started in the roof of the new convention centre. This happened on October 22, 2019, while the building was still being built. The fire burned for about two days. Firefighters worked hard to put it out. They even let the roof burn to help save the lower parts of the building.
The fire caused a lot of problems in Auckland's city center. The air quality in the city also became unhealthy for a short time.
Images for kids
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Inside the gambling hall
