Casino Stalker

White Earth Band proposes off-reservation casino at stadium

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The White Earth Nation wants to build an off-reservation casino and use the revenues to fund a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

Chairwoman Erma Vizenor said the $700 million casino will feature 150 table games, 4,000 slot machines and a hotel with up to 500 rooms. She said the facility could generate $300 million a year, to be split between the tribe and the state.

"We are here to provide a solution,” Vizenor testified at a hearing on Tuesday, ECM Publishers reported.

There was little to no reaction from lawmakers to the plan, according to news reports. But a casino manager for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe said it would be a bad idea.

The proposal assumes the Vikings stadium will be located in Arden Hills. The city of Minneapolis wants the team to stay there, Mayor R.T. Rybak said.

Get the Story:
White Earth tribe proposes Arden Hills casino to fund stadium (MinnPost.Com 12/6)
Tribes at odds over Vikings’ stadium casino proposal (ECM Publishers 12/6)
Vikings say L.A. has pitched moving team, White Earth proposes Twin Cities casino for stadium (The Fargo Forum 12/7)
Minneapolis pitches Metrodome makeover; Ramsey County feels left out in Vikings stadium hearing (The St. Paul Pioneer Press 12/7)
Minneapolis favors Metrodome site for Vikings stadium (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 12/7)