Seven Springs Sale Puts Slots Casino in Jeopardy

The sale of Seven Springs Mountain Resort to a part-owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates will create a conflict of interest that could stack the odds against a proposed gambling casino there. If the odds prove insurmountable, the deal between two families could mean the loss of an anticipated 355 jobs and about $126 million in annual revenue for Fayette and Somerset counties.

"We're fully aware that there is a conflict. We're being very upfront with Major League Baseball and will do nothing to jeopardize our position with the Pirates ... and we will do nothing to embarrass Major League Baseball," said Robert Nutting, chairman of the board and majority owner of the Pirates.

Nutting announced Monday that after 74 years of ownership, the Dupre family will sell the 5,500-acre property near Champion to his family, which owns Ogden Newspapers and Ogden Publications, for an undisclosed amount.

Scott Bender, Seven Springs president and chief operating officer, said the deal billed as a "family-to-family transaction" is effective July 1, pending approval of a majority shareholder vote Monday.

While he pledged to continue the Dupre family's commitment to the resort's growth and success, Nutting acknowledged that his ties to the baseball franchise could affect the resort's pending gambling license application.

"We would hope it wouldn't come to a choice. We don't want to do anything to jeopardize the gaming license, but our primary commitment is to the team," he said.

Major League Baseball had no immediate comment yesterday.

June 20, 2006
Posted By Hector Rodriguez
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!

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