Centex Construction Snags Prestigious Opryland Hotel Texas Contract

GRAPEVINE, TX-Centex Construction’s Dallas/National Division is holding the region’s brass ring, with a pending contract for the highly sought general contractor’s job for Opryland Hotel Texas, GlobeSt.com has confirmed.

Centex, Opryland Hotels and its parent company, Nashville-based Gaylord Entertainment, have confirmed the contract is waiting for legal signoffs so the “i’s” can be dotted and the “t’s” crossed, a feat that is hanging on the eve of Centex Corp.’s second quarter 2001 earnings report to be released Wednesday. Executives for all parties yesterday had declined comment, saying the pending contract needs to be finalized before its details or information about a construction start would be forthcoming.

The contract decision had been made, but not announced, about a week after Gaylord Entertainment had secured $200 million in interim financing for Opryland Hotel Texas and a sister project, Opryland Hotel Florida and general corporate purposes from Merrill Lynch Mortgage Capital Inc.