Some Hard Rockin’ Indians
Los Angeles Times and USA Today both have the story…
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is buying the famed Hard Rock business, including its casinos, restaurants, hotels and huge collection of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, in a groundbreaking $965-million deal.
The Seminoles were the first U.S. tribe to get into the gambling business in 1979. More recently, they had partnered with Hard Rock in successful hotel, gambling and entertainment complexes in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla. They now have the ability to expand their gaming interests nationally by partnering with a well-known brand, experts said.
“Our ancestors sold Manhattan for trinkets,” says Max Osceola Jr., a tribal council representative present at the press conference in the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. “We’re going to buy Manhattan back, one hamburger at a time.”
I like that. One hamburger at a time. These people are patient and quite possibly wise.