Although Arizona’s two U.S. senators are doing their best to stop the Glendale casino being built by the Tohono O’odham tribe by passing a law against it, the city of Glendale has asked the tribe to get the lead out and finish what will be the largest casino in the state.
Recently the city council asked the tribe to build the $600 million casino, “as expeditiously as possible to create jobs and a positive economic opportunity in the community.”
Tribal Chairman Ned Norris Jr. recently bragged, “This new venture will have the same economic impact as having a Super Bowl in the West Valley every two years.”
The casino resort will have 6,000 employees during construction and 3,000 permanent jobs upon completion. The tribe broke ground on the facility last August. Completion is projected for the second half of 2015. Besides a casino with 1,000 slots and 50 gaming tables, it will include a 600-room hotel, event center, two restaurants, spas and retail shops.
According to Norris, quoted by Indian Country Today, “Hundreds of area businesses will be positively impacted by supplying services and supplying materials and, in turn, governments will bolster their tax base.”
The tribe will also pay the city $26 million annually for the next 20 years.
