Broken Arrow Casino -

[DolfanBob]

It looks more like the start of a gymnasium type structure.

[sgrizzle]

They are trailers.  They can be moved to another Native American owned site.  Or, converted into the county's largest smoke shop.   

As I'm betting this project represents the bulk of the Kialegee's piggy bank, this may have to become housing. Maybe start a call center business? "Dialegee?"

[DTowner]

As I'm betting this project represents the bulk of the Kialegee's piggy bank, this may have to become housing. Maybe start a call center business? "Dialegee?"

I doubt the Kialegee has any money in this project.  Typically, the backing group puts up all the money or obtains financing in exchange for a percentage of the gaming revenue for a period of years.

[Townsend]

Per TW post:

The National Indian Gaming Commission has determined that the site of a proposed casino in Broken Arrow does not belong to the Kialegee Tribal Town and is not eligible for gambling, U.S. Rep. John Sullivan announced Friday afternoon. Check comments for a link to this article!

[dbacks fan]

So what might be a good use for a half-finished building on the outskirts of BA?

A new temple for Rhema?

[sgrizzle]

I doubt the Kialegee has any money in this project.  Typically, the backing group puts up all the money or obtains financing in exchange for a percentage of the gaming revenue for a period of years.

They just got owned then

[patric]

Maybe a daycare... put those spinning wheels to good use.  

Smoke shop wouldn't be very original; how about a health-oriented business?

or a Minor Emergency Clinic?

[patric]

Broken Arrow Mayor Mike Lester resigned as mayor on Tuesday, but will retain his seat on the city council.
http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Broken-Arrow-Mayor-resigns-post/6Vpv-WL6jECg_ZuNHzpCtQ.cspx

[RecycleMichael]

I am sorry to see him do this. In politics, it is often the little things.

On the positive side, the new Mayor Craig Thurman is a great guy and progressive.

[zstyles]

Drove by yesterday..wow..not sure who would have wanted to go to that place...it was really starting to look cheesy with that steeple they were building in front of those little toy houses...I am sure something else will go up that no one will be happy about next....

[patric]

Sounds like a "sports bar" is the new plan.
Olympic Pole Dancing competition, anyone?

[DolfanBob]

And the two ladies that own the land have given up their Muscogee Creek membership and have joined the Kialegee Tribe. They are going to get their money.

[DTowner]

And the two ladies that own the land have given up their Muscogee Creek membership and have joined the Kialegee Tribe. They are going to get their money.

Given the historical connection between Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the tribal towns, most tribal town members are also Creek citizens.  Therefore, I doubt the sisters are giving up their Creek citizenship to be adopted by the Kialegee tribal town and will have dual citizenship.  Not sure it this will help their case because the restricted status of the land was a Creek.

The sports bar sounds like a way to get the injunction lifted so they can continue construction at the site.  If the court and NIGC's decisions are later overturned, they can easily convert the sports bar into a casino.

As for the BA mayor, he may have done goods things for BA, but it appears he clearly misrepresented what he knew and when he knew it to the citizens of BA. 

[swake]

Given the historical connection between Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the tribal towns, most tribal town members are also Creek citizens.  Therefore, I doubt the sisters are giving up their Creek citizenship to be adopted by the Kialegee tribal town and will have dual citizenship.  Not sure it this will help their case because the restricted status of the land was a Creek.

The sports bar sounds like a way to get the injunction lifted so they can continue construction at the site.  If the court and NIGC's decisions are later overturned, they can easily convert the sports bar into a casino.

As for the BA mayor, he may have done goods things for BA, but it appears he clearly misrepresented what he knew and when he knew it to the citizens of BA.  

It was reported they have given citizenship up. I think the legal argument is going to be that the land is reserved in the name of the land owner and not the tribe therefore whichever tribe the reserved land owner owner belongs to, the land is reserved under the jurisdiction of that tribe.

I doubt if that is going to fly in court or the BIA, but we will have to see. I would expect the Creeks to fight this pretty hard along with the city and state.

The easy answer is no way. Think of it like this. Someone has a Creek mother and an Osage father. You can't be enrolled in two tribes so the person is enrolled in the Osage tribe. The Osage tribe can't open a casino in the Creek nation in Broken Arrow on reserved land that the person has inherited from his Creek mother.

The rub is going to be the special relationship between the tribal towns and the Creek Nation, and defining what the Kialegee tribal area is, if any. If it matches the entirety of the Creek Nation, then The Kialegees may have an argument but the Creek Nation is going to have to fight that pretty hard in fear of the three independent tribal towns opening up competing casinos all over the Creek Nation.

Edit, I stand corrected. I just read that they are still enrolled in the Creek Nation. That makes little sense to me, but we will see.

[Conan71]

It was reported they have given citizenship up. I think the legal argument is going to be that the land is reserved in the name of the land owner and not the tribe therefore whichever tribe the reserved land owner owner belongs to, the land is reserved under the jurisdiction of that tribe.

I doubt if that is going to fly in court or the BIA, but we will have to see. I would expect the Creeks to fight this pretty hard along with the city and state.

The easy answer is no way. Think of it like this. Someone has a Creek mother and an Osage father. You can't be enrolled in two tribes so the person is enrolled in the Osage tribe. The Osage tribe can't open a casino in the Creek nation in Broken Arrow on reserved land that the person has inherited from his Creek mother.

The rub is going to be the special relationship between the tribal towns and the Creek Nation, and defining what the Kialegee tribal area is, if any. If it matches the entirety of the Creek Nation, then The Kialegees may have an argument but the Creek Nation is going to have to fight that pretty hard in fear of the three independent tribal towns opening up competing casinos all over the Creek Nation.

Edit, I stand corrected. I just read that they are still enrolled in the Creek Nation. That makes little sense to me, but we will see.

I know the Thlopthlocco's have an operation off I-40, the Golden Pony.  Not sure about the other two.

I'm still waiting to see when we pass the saturation point on casinos, it's got to be getting near.