When you heard news about the Seminole Tribe for the past three years, it most likely involved the running legal battle that pit two parimutuels against the tribe over online sports betting. The U.S. and Florida Supreme Courts seem to have settled the issue in favor of the tribe, so news can focus on the more mundane, yet important information.
The mundane centers on the topping off ceremony for the construction of the Seminole Brighton Bay Hotel & Casino. The project replaces the current Seminole Casino Brighton, opened in 1980. The new development will feature:
- A 38,000 square foot casino
- 640 slot machines, 18 table games
- A smoke-free area with 104 slot machines and a high-limit gaming area carrying 42 slot machines and four table games
- A 24 hour restaurant, steak house, coffee bar and pizzeria
- An event center/performance hall
- A 10-lane bowling alley
- A four story, 100 room hotel and fitness center.
The hotel, when it opens in 2025, will mark the first development on the Brighton Seminole reservation. The Brighton Bay name refers to a popular fishing hole in Lake Okeechobee some two miles away. On an 1839 map, the area went by the Seminole name of Thlothlopopka-Hatchee, or “the river where fish are eaten.”
The largely symbolic ceremony involved lifting a final steel beam to the top of the structure. The on-site construction teams also had the chance to sign the beam.
“This is an exceptional day,” said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and Chairman of Hard Rock International said in a statement. “I thank everyone involved in this project, from the designers and engineers to the day-to-day laborers that are showing the world what the Seminole Tribe is truly about.”
The ceremony marks a special moment for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Brighton Seminole Reservation, said Marty Johns, general manager of the property. “We can’t wait to open our doors. The new casino and hotel complex is expected to increase the number of tourists to the region, which is very important.”
