Menominee Tribe relaunches Wisconsin casino plan with Hard Rock International
The Wisconsin tribe will revive its plan to open a casino and entertainment venue in Kenosha.
US.- Seven years after its first bid to open a casino in Kenosha failed, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has announced a partnership with Hard Rock International to relaunch the project. Together the companies will aim to open an entertainment centre and casino with a hotel, a Hard Rock Café and a Hard Rock live music venue.
The previous plan was approved by the City of Kenosha, County of Kenosha, and United States Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior in 2015, but it was blocked by Wisconsin’s governor at the time, Scott Walker.
The Menominee says that the situation and the proposal is now very different. The tribe’s chairman, Ronald J. Corn, Sr said: “Much has changed since our 2015 effort, but the needs of our tribe and its members have continued and in some cases grown more acute.
“We need to make greater investments into healthcare for our children and elders, we need to make more investments into educating our young people and we need to do more to reduce the high levels of poverty, hunger and unemployment on our reservation.
“A casino and entertainment centre in the city of Kenosha is the best path for our tribe to obtain the resources to help achieve those important goals.”
A new 60-acre site is proposed, less than a mile from the previous site and just west of the Interstate. In comparison to the previous $800m plans, the size of the casino proposed now would be smaller. The project will need a revised federal gaming application and updated intergovernmental agreements due to the site change.
Jon Lucas, Hard Rock International COO, said: “Hard Rock has a long-standing partnership with the Menominee Tribe and is proud to support them in their continued efforts to bring a world-class gaming and entertainment resort to the Kenosha community.”
See also: Hard Rock Las Vegas to open in 2025
