Mashantuckets’ rights to Biloxi land pass by
MASHANTUCKET — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe’s bid for a Mississippi casino could be in jeopardy, but it hasn’t ended.
Foxwoods Development Co., the economic development arm of the tribe, has allowed an exclusive purchase agreement with Broadwater Development to lapse. The agreement gave Foxwoods Development Co. exclusive rights to negotiate for a 15-acre casino site in Biloxi, Miss.
“We remain interested in the Biloxi market and we are continuing to explore our options,” tribal spokesman Arthur Henick said.
The tribe, owners and operators of Foxwoods Resort Casino, the largest casino in the world, had planned on a $1.2 billion casino in Mississippi, which would have included a golf course, restaurants and shopping outlets. The first phase of the development would be $400 million.
Letting the purchase agreement expire allows another developer to negotiate for the purchase of the property, in essence snatching it away from Foxwoods Development Co.
An earlier report from a Biloxi television station announced Foxwoods Development Co. had backed out of a deal for the property. But Henick said that is not true.
“FDC has not pulled out of Biloxi,” he said.
Henick would not say why the development company didn’t renew the purchase agreement or come to an agreement before its expiration.
The owners of Broadwater Development did not return calls seeking comment.
The tribe announced last month it is working with the Pauma Band of Mission Indians near San Diego on a $400 million casino there and also is working on projects in Kansas, the Virgin Islands and Philadelphia.
Source: Norwich Bulletin
Reach Brian Wallheimer at bwallheimer @norwichbulletin.com
