Soaring Eagle Casino Public Relations
The all-clear has been given after officials say threatening calls prompted the evacuation of about 2,500 people from Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant. Interim public relations. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd. Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 888.732-4537 soaringeaglecasino.com. She has also worked at a public relations firm, focusing on environmental. Soaring Eagle announced at 2:30 p.m. 6 on social media that they sold out of items and will not be having a sale for the general public.
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- By CHEZ OXENDINE and JOE BOOMGAARD
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UPDATE: After this report was published, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians opted to close its five Kewadin Casinos for three weeks. The story has been updated.
Most tribal gaming operations in Michigan will remain open with some modifications even as the state imposes a new round of restrictions on commercial casinos and other sectors in a move aimed at curbing spiking cases of COVID-19.
On Sunday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Department of Health and Human Services announced that all three commercial casino operations in Detroit will close as of Wednesday, along with in-person dining at bars and restaurants, movie theaters, indoor ice rinks and bowling alleys.
As sovereign enterprises, the 24 tribally owned casinos that operate in Michigan do not have to comply with the mandated closures. While all tribal casinos in Michigan voluntarily closed in the spring at the same time the state issued a stay-at-home order, most are planning to stay open this time around, citing enhanced protocols and their track record for safety.
Among the exceptions: Bay Mills Resort & Casinos in Brimley, Mich., which plans to close for three weeks at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
“This pandemic is unpredictable,” Bay Mills Indian Community Chairman Bryan Newland said in a statement. “Fortunately, we budgeted CARES Act funds in anticipation another shutdown might occur. We believe in protecting our community and our employees.”
As of midday Wednesday, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians also opted to voluntarily close its five Kewadin Casinos in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with an expected reopening date of Dec. 9.
However, most other tribal gaming operations say they believe their precautions make it safe to remain open during the current spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
“We are confident that the recent significant increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases is not being influenced by FireKeepers’ operations because of the mitigation steps we have taken and which we continue to rigorously enforce,” Kathy George, CEO of Battle Creek, Mich.-based FireKeepers Casino Hotel, said in a statement provided to Tribal Business News.
FireKeepers, which is owned and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, will remain open under its “strict protocols,” and will continue to “vigilantly review these protocols in cooperation with health officials and the Tribe’s Gaming Regulators to determine if additional controls or actions are needed to support the effort to slow down the spread of this virus,” George said.
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The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s gaming facilities also will remain open, while the tribe plans to redouble “successful” safety measures already in place.
“We do not believe that closing the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel and The Slot Palace & Bingo Hall will reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Should new information emerge that indicates otherwise, we will revisit this decision,” the tribe said in a statement.
The Pokagon Band of Potawtomi’s Four Winds Casinos in Southwest Michigan will also remain open under various safety guidelines.
“Like other governments we are continually monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and have taken extensive health and safety precautions to help protect our Tribal Citizens, our employees that work in our Tribal Government, as well as our Four Winds Casinos employees, and guests that visit our four casino locations in Michigan and Indiana,” according to a statement from the Pokagon Gaming Authority, which added that it “will continue to be diligent with the current safety and sanitation procedures as the health and safety of our employees and guests remains our top priority.”
The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians’ Northern Waters Casino Resort in Watersmeet and the Grand Traverse Bay Bands of Ottawa Indians’ two operations — Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel in Williamsburg and Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Peshawbestown — did not indicate any plans to close on their respective websites.
The closures of the commercial casinos come amid growing concern from state officials and health systems across the state that the escalating caseload could soon overrun the capacity for hospitals. As of Nov. 15, the statewide positivity rate for COVID-19 reached an average of 12.5 percent, Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said in a press conference, noting the virus was “spreading like wildfire.” Health experts say the test positivity rate should be around 3 percent to manage the spread of the virus, regional business publication MiBizreported. As of Tuesday, the state reported a total of 272,034 positive cases of COVID-19 and 8,128 deaths.
As cases continued to rise, some tribes opted to take certain actions to help to limit possible exposure.
For example, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (Gun Lake Tribe) has reduced hours of operation at Gun Lake Casino in Wayland, Mich., located about 25 miles south of Grand Rapids, the state’s second-largest city where cases have been surging beyond levels experienced in the initial spring wave of the virus.
Instead of being open 24 hours a day, Gun Lake Casino will now close between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. As part of its “Play It Safe” initiative that takes effect on Nov. 20 and runs until Dec. 9, Gun Lake Casino also placed plexiglass barriers between slot machines or spaced them out to maintain distance between patrons and closed all bars and restaurants. Additionally, the casino closed its retail sportsbook counter and most table games, except for the High Limit Room, which will have limited occupancy.
“Gun Lake Casino is a critical business to the Gun Lake Tribe and to the local communities that we serve,” said Alexis Bolo, the operation’s community and public relations coordinator. “We are proud to provide financial stability and healthcare benefits for over 900 Team Members, which will continue during this time.”
At the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, near the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians reduced hours of operation to 8 a.m.-10 p.m., effective Nov. 17 until “at least” Dec. 8. Little River also closed all table games, turned off every other slot machine where distancing was not possible and closed its retail sportsbook, although on-site sports betting will be available.
Little River Casino, along with Gun Lake Casino, also widely banned smoking in most indoor areas.
Larry Romanelli, ogema of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, said tribal officials carefully considered its options this week, all while the effects of the spring closure continue to weigh heavily on the tribe.
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“As you know, business is tough and LRBOI wants to assist the Governor and also help keep citizens safe but we are also up against decreased revenues from closing before,” Romanelli said in an email to Tribal Business News.
According to previous estimates from MiBiz, Michigan tribes are believed to have lost more than $200 million during six to eight weeks of closures beginning in March 2020. Gaming revenue generally accounts for a significant portion of tribes’ operating budgets, which fund various services, ranging from health care and education to public safety and housing.
Elsewhere in Michigan, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community closed table games at its Ojibwa Casinos in Marquette and Baraga and the Hannahville Indian Community canceled all bands and entertainment through Dec. 10 and switched restaurants to take-out at its Island Resort & Casino in the Upper Peninsula town of Harris. Likewise, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians canceled entertainment and closed its sports bar at Petoskey-based Odawa Casino.
A common theme in all the tribal casinos’ plans is a commitment to following best practices and guidance aimed at keeping people safe. To some tribal leaders, the only safe option is shutting down.
In a statement to Tribal Business News, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairperson Aaron Payment said he supports “shutting down all non essential operations in collaboration with the Governor’s order to stave off the spread of this deadly virus during an exponential outbreak.”
“If we save just one life, especially an Elder, it will be worth it,” Payment said.
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Tribal Business News Publisher Levi Rickert contributed to this report.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated with comment from the Pokagon Gaming Authority and to note that after this report was published, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa opted to close it five Kewadin Casinos.
Contact: Charlie LeibCRL Public Relations (for Rockford Fosgate)480-380-0673charlie@crl-pr.com
Soaring Eagle Casino Public Relations History
BUCHANAN, Mich. (June 29, 2016) – RedBud MX, “America’s Motocross Track,” is pleased to welcome Rockford Fosgate and Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort as co-presenting sponsors for the upcoming (July 2nd) Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship MX National at RedBud.“And just when you thought motocross couldn’t get any louder … RedBud welcomes the paint-peeling, neighbor-rattling, motor mount-loosening audio fanatics from Rockford Fosgate,” said RedBud’s Tim Ritchie. “It’s gonna get LOUD next weekend!”An industry-leader in all things audio – and well known for its generosity toward the motocross industry for the past two decades – Rockford Fosgate joins RedBud MX for the first time as a presenting sponsor for the popular MX National. Sponsor of the RCH Racing team, Rockford Fosgate subwoofers, car speakers and car amplifiers are a mainstay in the rides of top pro motocrossers as well as amateur racers across the country.“Great atmosphere, great crowds, and a hard-core passion for racing are what RedBud MX is all about,” said Tammy Lowe, Rockford Fosgate director of marketing. “As a presenting sponsor for the five-day festival and championship with a legion of our own hard core audio fanatics, as well as with our partnership with RCH Racing, it’s only natural for Rockford Fosgate and RedBud to align for such a great event. We are excited to be part of it.”Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort continues its partnership with RedBud, returning for the third-consecutive year as the presenting sponsor for RedBud’s long-running (since ’74) MX National. And the partnership with Soaring Eagle continues when Michigan’s top gaming destination opens its doors to motocross racers for the annual running of the “Edge of Summer MX” event this September – produced by RedBud – on the grounds of Soaring Eagle.“We’re pumped to have the premier gaming facility in Michigan, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, back on board this summer. We’re looking forward to working with them on both the RedBud National and the ‘Edge of Summer MX’ event,” added Ritchie.Said Raul Venegas, Director of Marketing and Entertainment for Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort: “Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is proud to continue its partnership with RedBud MX. The tie into the outdoor nationals, Edge of Summer and the multiple activities at our luxury resort & casino is an amazing pairing. We’ll be on-site at RedBud giving away some really aggressive promotions for both the resort and gaming. We look forward to another great race at RedBud and for our Soaring Eagle RCH boys to take home another win!”For more information on RedBud MX and the upcoming Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship MX National at RedBud, presented by Rockford Fosgate and Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, please visit: www.redbudmx.comPhoto credit: Simon CudbyAbout Rockford Corporation
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Setting the standard for excellence in the audio industry, the Rockford Corporation markets and distributes high-performance audio systems for the mobile audio aftermarket and OEM market. Headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., Rockford Corporation is a publicly traded company and manufactures or distributes its products under multiple brands: Rockford Fosgate(R), Rockford Acoustic Design(TM), Lightning Audio(R), CrimeStopper, and Renegade. For more information, please visit: www.rockfordfosgate.com, www.rockfordacousticdesign.com, www.lightningaudio.com, www.crimestopper.com, and www.renegadecaraudio.com.
About Soaring Eagle Casino & ResortVoted as the Midwest’s “Favorite Casino” and “Best Overall Gaming Resort” (Midwest Gaming & Travel), the massive Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort sits right in the heart of Michigan’s mitten – Mt. Pleasant. Owned and operated by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Soaring Eagle is also known throughout the region for its superior live event promotion and production capabilities and partners with RedBud MX on the popular “Edge of Summer MX” event held annually on the grounds of Soaring Eagle.RedBud supports the sport of motocross and has since 1973! For 43 years the region's most prestigious amateur events and Round Six of the AMA Lucas Oil Motocross Championship have rolled through the beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Michigan. A state with an affinity for off-road recreational vehicle use, RedBud owns the bragging rights to the highest attended U.S. motocross race year after year. Just the right soil mix, lots of passing and the BIGGEST jump on the circuit (LaRocco’s Leap), the track provides for some terribly exciting motocross racing … definitely a top motocross destination in a region that loves its motorsports!
About Rockford Corporation
Setting the standard for excellence in the audio industry, the Rockford Corporation markets and distributes high-performance audio systems for the car, utv audio, and marine audio aftermarket and OEM market. Headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., Rockford Corporation is a publicly traded company and manufactures or distributes its products under the brand: Rockford Fosgate(R). For more information, please visit: www.rockfordfosgate.com.