Dating back to the early 1990s, self-styled casino syndicator and promoter Mike Malik has been trying to get a deal that would allow the Bay Mills Indian Community to build an additional casino somewhere off-reservation, far from their Northern Michigan U.P. reservation lands and outside their recognized ancestral territory, in an urban area that would be even more of a financial goldmine. Ever the deal broker, Malik had originally brought in Harrah’s to partner with the tribe and included the Ilitch Family on various urban locations including several in Detroit and Port Huron.
Detroit Free Press (MI) - December 22, 1992
HARRAH'S PUTS BETS ON PORT HURON FOR A CASINO
Port Huron isn't known as a tourist destination, but Harrah's International along with Mike Malik had decided the numbers were right to make the city of 35,000 into one. The gambling company wants to put a casino costing up to $60 million in a vacant Sears store in downtown Port Huron, about an hour north of Detroit. The proposal, unveiled Monday, faces long odds, including opposition from Gov. John Engler. Port Huron officials also expect some local opposition
Detroit Free Press (MI) - May 29, 1993
CASINO PLAN FLOATS NEAR FOX THEATRE INDIAN-RUN CENTER COULD HELP FUND A NEW DETROIT STADIUM FOR TIGERS
With attention centered on a plan to put an Indian-run casino in Greektown, developers and lobbyists quietly are seeking to build an Indian casino near the Fox Theatre. The Detroit casino would be part of a sports and entertainment complex that could include a new baseball stadium financed with casino revenues, a hockey arena, a shopping mall, and the Mike Ilitch-owned comedy club under construction, according to people close to the casino discussions. The exact location for the casino was...
Detroit Free Press (MI) - December 10, 1993
TRIBE SEEKS APPROVAL OF CASINO NEAR FOX
The Bay Mills Indian Community, which runs a small casino in the Upper Peninsula, has asked the federal government to approve a casino in Detroit on an acre of land next to the Fox Theatre. The tribe has an option to purchase the land, according to an application filed Nov. 26 with the Michigan office of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. The land is located in an area of commercial buildings and vacant property north of Grand Circus Park at Woodward and Adams.
Detroit Free Press (MI) - August 11, 1994
NEW CASINO PLAN ON TABLE FIRM SAYS COMPLEX IN FOXTOWN COULD FINANCE STADIUM
A major casino company Wednesday unveiled plans for a casino near the Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit that would be one of the biggest in the nation. The $300-million, 10-acre project would include a 400-room hotel, a parking structure, six restaurants, two bars, a 500- seat theater, parking for 5,000 cars, a game room and child care centers. Tom Carr, senior vice-president of Indian gaming for Harrah's Casino Hotels, said the company has been working on the project for...
These attempts by Malik failed; but Malik and those financing his schemes have continued to pursue the pot of gold and are now back in Port Huron again. And Marian Ilitch, sole owner of Detroit's MotorCity Casino has reportedly been pushing the Port Huron plan.
For a compendium of posts on this topic: Posts set context and detail scheming, conflict$ behind Detroiters' off-reservation casino proposal
No comments:
Post a Comment