Michael Jordan a Player in Kansas Casino Bidding
As the battle royale over which contender will win the coveted casino license in Wyandotte County, Kansas, continues to rage, one of the six applicants has entered into an agreement with the nation's most famed athlete. Legands Sun LLC, a partnership between Mohegan Sun, Red Development, and Olympia Gaming, has come to terms with Jump Higher LLC, a restaurant corporation principally owned by Michael Jordan, to host Michael Jordan's Steakhouse at their proposed casino-resort.
If Legends Sun is awarded the casino license, the company plans a $770 million hotel, casino, and resort, in which the famous basketball player's restaurant would be featured. Jordan already has three previous restaurants opened in the last five years in conjunction with Mohegan Sun.
Mohegan Sun president Mitchell Etess noted that the steakhouse would be a great draw, remarking on "Kansans' high standards for steaks and basketball."
Others among the competing casino companies have also attempted to use big names to make their proposals more attractive. Golden Gaming, Incorporated has signed golf legend Tom Watson to design a golf course for their resort plans, and the Cordish Company has overlooked past lawsuits against the Seminole Tribe to enter into an agreement using the Hard Rock brands, controlled by the tribe, as a staple of their projected casino.
Still, what could be more natural than an association between the iconic Jordan and a Kansas casino? Not only is there the aforementioned connection between Kansas, basketball, and steaks, but Jordan is quite possibly the most famous gambler alive, well-known for his competitive spirit and eagerness to wager on anything.
