Creek chief calls agreement with Tulsa County fairgrounds a win-win
BY KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer
Friday, November 02, 2012
OKMULGEE -- Creek Nation Principal Chief George Tiger said Friday that the tribe's naming rights agreement with the Tulsa County fair board is a win-win for both entities.
Speaking at a news conference at tribal headquarters, Tiger said the deal is part of efforts to reach out and work with local communities.
"When we came in as an administration, we felt it important that we establish good working relationships by collaborating, and we felt like this fit what we wanted to do," he said.
Tiger made it clear that the tribe has no plans to construct a casino on the fairgrounds property.
Beginning in January, the tribe will pay the fairgrounds $120,000 a month - or $1.44 million a year - to put its name on the 448,400-square-foot event center currently called the QuikTrip Center as part of an agreement to end live racing at the Fair Meadows Racetrack.
According to the contract, the exposition center will be renamed the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center.
The agreement runs through 2019 but will stay in effect beyond that as long as the state's Indian tribes have a gaming compact with the Remington Park and Will Rogers Downs racetracks in Oklahoma City and Claremore, respectively.
The new contract also gives the Creek Nation the first right to propose over the next two years a plan for development of the land now occupied by Drillers Stadium.
Associated Images:
Muscogee (Creek) Nation principal chief George Tiger. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World File
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