The hospitality company founded by Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones is a
step closer to opening one of the first full-service casinos in
Arkansas.
Jones' Legends Hospitality is partnering on the project with
Cherokee Nation Businesses, which manages a variety of businesses for
the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Plans call for 1,200 slot machines, a
200-room luxury hotel, a music venue and an outdoor water park.recommend casino
Local officials endorsed the Legends Resort & Casino Arkansas
plan this week, but the approval wasn't won without controversy. Other
casino operators who submitted proposals for the northwest Arkansas site
allege Legends' plan was chosen in private meetings before final offers
were considered.
Warner Gaming, one of five casino operators hoping to land the
project, said it had learned its Hard Rock Cafe-themed proposal wouldn't
be chosen. The Las Vegas company operates casinos and resorts
throughout the western and midwestern U.S.
"We've been invited to submit a new proposal at a hastily called
emergency meeting, and have been informed that the selection of an
operator has already been made, without any kind of public
deliberation," Hard Rock Arkansas wrote in a Facebook post Monday a day
before Pope County officials voted to support the Legends' project.
Arkansas voters last fall amended their state constitution to allow
the licensing of four casinos, including the one Jones is competing for
in Russellville. It's the last license to be handed out.
Jones and late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner formed
Legends Hospitality in 2008 to manage hospitality services at Cowboys
Stadium (now AT&T Stadium) and Yankee Stadium.
It has since become a major player in the sports marketing industry,
landing deals to handle everything from premium seating sales to
sponsorship deals at a host of sports venues. A 2017 deal valued the
company at $700 million.
If the casino is built, Legends will direct building design,
culinary experience and guest experiences unrelated to gambling. The
casino will be operated by Cherokee Nation Businesses, which describes
itself as the nation's largest tribe with 360,000 citizens and more than
$1 billion in revenue in 2017.
