Fair board to review gaming agreement with Muscogee Nation

Monday, December 3, 2012
Filed Under: Business Deals
More on: immunity, muscogee, oklahoma, racetracks

A gaming agreement with the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma will be reviewed but a key provision regarding horse races is expected to remain intact, The Tulsa World reported.

The tribe is paying $1.4 million a year to name the Expo Square at the Tulsa Fairgrounds as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center. The deal requires the Fair Meadows Racetrack to end horse races, which the tribe was partially subsidizing under its Class III gaming compact.

The board will take public comments on the deal at a meeting this Thursday, the World reported. The issue affects the tribe's sovereign immunity.

“An agenda item will be considered for action on an amended Naming Rights and Sponsorship Agreement with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation regarding waiver of sovereign immunity which were made and approved by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation after the approval of the Agreement by TCPFA at its meeting last month,” according to a statement.

According to a November 26 story in The Native American Times, the tribe has been subsidizing races at Fair Meadows for $3.6 million a year.

Get the Story:
Fair board expected to revisit naming rights agreement with tribe (The Tulsa World 12/1)
Fair board to hear public comments on naming rights agreement (The Tulsa World 12/3)

Related Stories:
Lawmaker requests probe into Muscogee Nation gaming deal (11/26)