Evers 'a long way from decision' on Hard Rock casino plans
The Menominee Tribe announced a partnership on Wednesday with Hard Rock International to open a casino and entertainment complex in Kenosha County.
The Menominee Tribe announced a partnership on Wednesday with Hard Rock International to open a casino and entertainment complex in Kenosha County.
The Menominee Tribe announced a partnership on Wednesday with Hard Rock International to open a casino and entertainment complex in Kenosha County.
Gov. Tony Evers would not commit, Wednesday, to a specific position over the latest development to bring a casino to Kenosha County.
"I'm a long way from a decision on that," the governor said after an event in Grafton Wednesday night.
The reaction came to the partnership announced between the Menominee Tribe and Hard Rock International to open a casino and entertainment complex in the county.
The village of Bristol owns the land at the targeted site west of Interstate 94. Its leaders recently approved an option agreement to sell the land.
The idea, however, is not new to Wisconsin.
Kenosha and Hard Rock, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe in Florida, pitched a similar development at the former Dairyland Park location. Then-governor Scott Walker, a Republican, shot down the idea in a process that requires gubernatorial approval.
12 News media partner Biz Times Milwaukee framed its reporting on the development with the headline, "Menominee Indian Tribe and Hard Rock will try again to build a casino in Kenosha". Its author and Biz Times Editor Andrew Weiland gave some insight into the outlet's reporting and outlook on 12 News at 4 Wednesday.
"The project was dead until now. Now they're looking at a new site west of I-94 and South of 60th in Kenosha and they're going to bring this proposal forward and see if it flies now," Weiland said.
"You have a new governor; you have a new presidential administration. These projects need federal and local approvals, which could take a long time. It's a similar project at a different site and we'll see, this time, if it gains approval."
Evers, a Democrat, was still unwilling to support or oppose the move.
"Obviously, I have approved a casino in Beloit not too long ago, so I'm not opposed to doing that, but it is a long, long process and I'm not about to take a position at this time," Evers added.