Tribes Want Part Of Bridgeport Casino Plans

BRIDGEPORT, CT — If there is going to be a casino in the state's largest city, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes want to be included. The tribe wrote a letter to lawmakers Wednesday asking to be a part of discussions to build a third casino in Bridgeport amid discussion of MGM's plans to construct a $675 million casino.

The letter touted the partnership between the tribes and the state, and referenced a 2015 proposal to put three casinos in Danbury, Fairfield County and North-Central Connecticut. State lawmakers decided against the tribes' proposal in 2015.

It was the Legislature’s decision to move forward with only one site in the north-central Hartford region," The tribes wrote in a joint letter. "If circumstances have changed and there is now real interest in putting a casino in Bridgeport, we want to be a part of that discussion."

The letter comes less than 24 hours after the tribes released a video saying Connecticut is "getting played" by MGM. Since plans for the MGM casino were announced in September at Steelepoint Harbor, the tribes have called the plans a fib and a scam from MGM.

The video, paid for by the MMCT Venture, also included audio from MGM CEO Jim Murren's conference call stating the MGM Springfield development would be the company's last in North America.

“All comers are welcome. We’ve got the best site,” Uri Clinton, senior vice president of MGM told the Connecticut Post. “If someone else wanted to...make a proposal they’d have to have some deal with someone else who has land."

MGM promised their casino would create over 7,000 jobs and would be finished in 30 months. Both the cities of Bridgeport and New Haven have voiced support for the MGM project, and mayors Joe Ganim and Toni Harp spoke at the unveiling press conference.

The tribes did not refer to MGM directly by name, but mentioned unmet promises made to the Park City.

"Over the past 30 years, many promises have been made to residents of the Park City," The letter read. "Few if any have come to fruition. We like so many others see the tremendous potential of Bridgeport and would love to be one of the catalysts that lead to a real revival."

Image courtesy of MGM International