AK-CHIN — So no finally means yes, it would seem.

As representatives from the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Harrah’s Entertainment and the city of Maricopa joined a crowd of more than 125 on hand last week for the groundbreaking of a $20 million, five-story hotel expansion project at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort, the facility’s general manager, Geoff Andres, gave a simple yet poignant anecdote to help answer an obvious question: “Why now?”

“Why would we be adding a hotel tower in a down economy? Well, I’ll tell you, my friends, we are sold out every night,” said an energetic Andres of the property’s current 140-plus-room setup. “In fact, do you guys want a room tonight? … Well you can’t have one, because we’re full!”

No, western Pinal County’s only gaming facility doesn’t have much availability, and yes, that’s exactly why the time is right, he contends, to expand.

“That’s been the story for us for quite some time,” he said. “We’re excited to be able to add these hotel rooms, we think it’s going to be a great thing for this business, and we also think it’s going to be a great thing for the city of Maricopa.”

The project, which in essence doubles the property’s available overnight space to nearly 300 rooms, puts the local Harrah’s casino — one of the greater Phoenix region’s first tribal gaming and resort facilities when it opened more than 15 years ago — right on par with recent resort-tower enhancement projects in nearby Chandler, by the Gila River Indian Community (Gila River Casino at Wild Horse Pass), and Scottsdale, by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (Casino Arizona — Talking Stick Resort).

But while other casino-resort ventures may have expanded first, Andres is quick to note that the Harrah’s Ak-Chin expansion is more a product of timing — rather than an effort in trying to keep up.

“At 148 rooms, [Harrah’s is] a pretty modest size,” he said. “Gila River and Casino Arizona built very nice projects — both very appropriate for their locations and proximity to the Phoenix area. Really the time is right, for us, to just add on. It’s really all about timing.

“We’re kind of hitting the sweet spot right now. … All the pieces fit,” he added, noting that cheaper construction costs plus a demand in the greater Phoenix market for the gaming-resort experience all led to the Ak-Chin community’s decision to expand.

Andres added that while Casino Arizona and Gila River Casino might have more freeway-direct locations, the Ak-Chin casino has the benefit of a nationwide network of customer loyalty.

“We have the benefit of having the Harrah’s brand. Harrah’s brand has the largest database in the country of gamers. There are Harrah’s properties all over the country,” he said of Ak-Chin’s biggest competitive advantage.

And, Andres noted, the property should speak for itself, with granite countertops and 50-inch flat-screen televisions in all new rooms, along with a sculpture and cactus garden, fire element and more new features, including a new hotel lobby.

“It is going to be a fantastic edition to an already fantastic resort.”

The Ak-Chin community also is expected to complete a purchase of the once-private Southern Dunes Golf Club off Arizona 238 in Maricopa — considered one of the top courses in the state. The goal, according to Ak-Chin council Chairman Louis Manuel, is to partner the course and the casino-resort together. Southern Dunes, once a male-only, 100 percent private club, has undergone multiple ownership changes in recent years. Manuel said that Troon Golf, which currently manages the course, would likely stay on once the deal goes through. Manuel said the sale is still pending, however, and not finalized.

In addition to construction labor during development, Andres said Harrah’s, which already employs nearly 700 people, would add 30 to 50 jobs upon the opening of the new tower — “the biggest building in Maricopa,” he contends.