NEC Casino Plan For 'Las Vegas Of The UK'

Birmingham is aiming to turn itself into the Las Vegas of the UK with a new multi-million pound UK casino and concert venue at the National Exhibition Centre.

The "destination-style" casino, combined with a 2,000-seater concert venue, is designed to attract major stars for extended top-of-the-bill performances. There are also plans for a new hotel, of at least 200-300 rooms, and a new conference facility. Announcing the ambitious plans yesterday, Barry Cleverdon, NEC Group chief executive, said, "Elton John has just played two months at Vegas - why not the NEC?"

The NEC Group has already tested the water and the levels of interest in the idea were "en-couraging", said Mr Cleverdon.

"This is modelled on Vegas." He refused to be deterred by competitors like Star City and the proposed Coventry Arena casino venues.

"It will be tough," said Mr Cleverdon. "It will be a challenge. But we feel we have the best site in the UK." An NEC Group spokesman said a couple of locations had been earmarked as possibilities but he could not indicate how much the investment might be or speculate on possible new jobs.

He said, "The expressions of interest have come from major corporates who have a keen eye on the UK because of gaming deregulation."

The NEC Group had invited ideas and was evaluating the results.

The spokesman said, "It would be a major new facility and would enhance what the NEC has already. To date, the emphasis has been on expanding hall capacity and we now have the 200,000 square metres of exhibition space we require. We now have to consider what else the complex needs in terms of facilities."

There are currently four hotels at the NEC with about 1,400 rooms. Outline planning approval already exists for a fifth.

"We are currently marketing that site," added the spokesman.

The NEC already offers some conferencing facilities - for example in association with the likes of the Spring Fair, certain exhibitions and seminars.

As to the potential glut of West Midland casino projects, the spokesman said, "Deregu-lation has opened up the possibility of something that is attractive and we have to have a look at it."The NEC Group includes the National Exhibition Centre, the ICC and the National Indoor Arena.

Yesterday it revealed record turnover of £149.3 million for the financial year 2003/04, marginally ahead of the previous year.