Arizona tribal casino gets final approval

The state had been challenging whether Tohono O’odham could operate a Class III facility on ground that wasn’t theirs when Arizona first established its Indian gaming compact in 2002. To resolve the conflict, the state agreed to cease its legal battle and issue a Class III permit, but in exchange, Tohono O’odham agreed not open another casino in the Phoenix metro area for a minimum of 15 years.

The DOI ruled that the terms satisfy federal Indian gaming regulations. The Desert Diamond Casino West Valley presently sits in a temporary warehouse one mile from the University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. The casino now offers over 1,000 electronic bingo machines.

The $400 million expansion will include the addition of 1,089 traditional slot machines, 75 table games, a 600-room hotel, five restaurants and a convention center.

Casinos Moving in on NFL

In addition to West Valley, Tohono O’odham operates three other Desert Diamond casinos, two of which are full-fledged venues with slots and table games. But the tribe is going all-in on its Glendale venue, as it will benefit from being closer to the University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Cardinals’ 70,000-seat facility is one of the premiere sporting venues in America. In addition to hosting at least eight NFL games and the college football Fiesta Bowl each year, since its opening in 2006, the venue has welcomed two Super Bowls, a NCAA Final Four, and CONCACAF Gold Cup.

 At just a little more than a mile, the Desert Diamond Casino will be the seventh-closest full-fledged gambling venue to an NFL stadium. The closest is the Rivers Casino in Pittsburg, which is just 0.2 miles from Heinz Field, home of the Steelers.

Naming Rights

Earlier this year, the University of Phoenix announced it was removing its name from the stadium, meaning the state-owned facility needs a new company to spend millions of dollars for naming rights. It’s unclear if Gila River is still interested, or if the Tohono casino positioned just outside the stadium has made that sponsorship less attractive. Gila River already has its name attached to the Arizona Coyotes’ arena, which is adjacent to University of Phoenix Stadium.