MP Holdings revives SCC property

MP Holdings is pumping in a more than $2 million into the CNMI economy. It is now developing the area beside the Saipan Country Club in Chalan Kiya with a Saipan Las Vegas e-gaming facility, which is located at the former Fashion Outlet.

SCC, considered the first golf course on Saipan, is also under MP Holdings. It remains a nine-hole golf course, with plans to expand it to 18 holes. SCC had already re-opened.

“We initially saw the [SCC] golf course. It was the original golf course on Saipan and I think it was built by the [United States] Department of Defense in the 1950s. It just kind of lost its luster and lost a bit of direction,” said Gus Noble.

“We see it as the hidden jewel of Saipan. [SCC] is a beautiful little golf course and it is very nice. We just can’t believe that it is just sitting here and no one is playing there anymore. We saw that there’s real opportunity here.”

Noble is a management consultant and advisor of MaxGaming Consulting LLC and is also one of the officials of MP Holdings in charge of the new e-gaming facility, Saipan Las Vegas.

Saipan Las Vegas opened last Monday with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog, Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan), Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan), and Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson in attendance.

Noble said they saw the building of the former Fashion Outlet and saw the opportunity of opening up a business and developing the adjacent area into an e-gaming facility near the iconic SCC golf course.

“We saw this building, the former Fashion Outlet, and it had some deconstructed stuff on top of it. It was a bit of an eyesore. But we saw another opportunity, renovated the building and developed it to an e-gaming facility,” said Noble. “Now, we’ve finished with the gameroom and opened on [Monday]. We want it to be an entertainment venue here on Middle Road.”

The gameroom, which also has a dining area and kitchen, has 93 e-gaming machines. They are open from 12pm to 10am the entire week. Starting March 27, their schedule would be from 12pm to 4am.

Noble said Saipan Las Vegas’ building also has three private rooms. “You can play golf and it is in a central location. Garapan and Susupe is just five minutes away, and it is also near the beach.”

Mini integrated resort
Noble said what they’re developing in the 200,000-square-meter property is a mini integrated resort with the e-gaming facility, a golf course, and the 50-room hotel that is currently being built using pre-fabricated materials like 20-foot containers.

“Others are building four- or five-star hotels. We saw the opportunity to offer affordable accommodations for tourists. We thought that there’s some real opportunity here with what’s happening with tourism in the CNMI. We had another record month with the number of visitor arrivals reaching 60,000 in February.”

“We’re building a 50-room hotel and turn this into a nice, little integrated resort. It will have gaming, golf, and accommodations. Something unique to offer for Saipan tourists and we’re very excited with this project.”

He added that they are also going to expand the hotel, adding 50 more rooms, which would only cost $50 a night. “We know tourism is doing great and we want to do our own contribution by offering something new for travelers.”

The 50-room hotel is expected to open on June 1. “The beauty of the materials that we’re using is you could build it quickly. It is quick to construct since the materials, for one room, is in flat packs where you just bolt them together.”