Update: Hard Rock still pushing for mid-2009 opening

When the Hard Rock casino proposal was selected last month by the Kansas Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board to build and operate the Wyandotte County casino, project officials said the first phase of the project could open as soon as June 2009.

Wes Harris, communications director with International Speedway Corporation - one of two partners in the project, the other being Baltimore-based Cordish Co. - said that ISC remains committed to that date.

"Nothing has changed on the commitment by ISC and Cordish to open the casino by mid-year," Harris said.

Harris' comments come after ISC released its third quarter financial statement released today, in which the company said the first phase opening is now more likely in late 2009.

“The estimated construction cost for the initial phase casino is between $80 million and $90 million, with construction beginning in January or February and opening in late 2009,” the release said.

To read the release, click here

But Harris says ISC was just trying give financial guidance to investors on the company's outlook for the remainder of 2008 and 2009 and because it doesn't have a clear picture on what impacts the project may have on ISC next year.

"We want to have (the casino) running by the fall race," Harris said, referring to Kansas Speedway's NASCAR Sprint Cup race, traditionally held in late September.

Harris added ISC would have a better picture on the 2009 outlook during a December meeting with analysts and investors, when the company is expected to look at 2009 in greater detail.