The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is extending its gaming brand to Asheville, North Carolina.
In a naming rights deal worth up to $5.75 million over 10 years, the main entertainment venue in Asheville will be known as the "Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville." The agreement starts on January 1, 2020. “The city of Asheville is looking forward to growing our relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians through the naming rights for the Civic Center,” Mayor Esther Manheimer said in a press release. “We appreciate the investment they are making in downtown Asheville.” The city council voted 6-1 on Tuesday to enter into the agreement. It calls for Harrah's Cherokee to $3.25 million over five years. Potential extensions would bring the total value to $5.75 million over 10 years. The tribe owns the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and the newer Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel on its homelands in the western part of the state. Asheville is about an hour's drive from Harrah's Cherokee and and about 2 hours from Harrah's Cherokee Valley River. The civic center, located in downtown Asheville, is home to the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. It was branded as "U.S. Cellular Center Asheville" under a deal that ends on December 31, 2019. U.S. Cellular submitted a proposal but it was valued at far less than the tribe's.