It Looks Like A Casino Is NOT Coming To This North Dakota City

The largest tribe in North Dakota, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, was looking to expand its footprint in the state. 

With around 31,000 members, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa has been looking to add a casino in the state for a while now.

They currently operate a casino in Belcourt already, known as the Sky Dancer Casino and Resort, and the Grand Treasure Casino in Trenton, North Dakota.

According to KVRR TV, they had purchased a parcel of land just southwest of the current city limits of this major North Dakota city along Interstate 29.

The tribe had hoped to open a casino and entertainment center just south of Grand Forks.

News has surfaced that this project is now officially "dead". Despite the approval by a Grand Forks Committee for the project, it's not happening.

According to a TV news story on WDAY-TV on Wednesday, September 3rd, Mayor Brandon Bochenski of Grand Forks told the city council, "We tried, but it will likely remain dormant, until the legislature has a change of heart."

This all stems from a couple of bills that failed in the last legislature, which included language to allow the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa the ability to expand its casino operation beyond its current tribal land. Existing state law prevents that from happening.

Grand Forks still has a lot going for it when it comes to entertainment.

The Alerus Center entertainment and the Ralph Englestad Arena with its hockey and entertainment, and not to mention the University of North Dakota. Both those venues attract tens of thousands of people every year.

Have I mentioned that the Capital City needs an Event Center that holds closer to 20,000 people?

That way, we would never miss out on a big country concert again. It never hurts to dream.