BB&T Center owner pitches casino to state

BB&T Center in Sunrise
BB&T Center in Sunrise

The head of the Florida Panthers is already working on persuading state lawmakers to change gambling laws to accommodate a casino in Sunrise.

Three months before the Florida Legislature’s annual legislative session, Panthers CEO Michael Yormark was in Tallahassee pitching a hotel and casino at the BB&T Center to the state Senate’s Committing on Gaming on Monday, the Sun-Sentinel reported. Yormark is also CEO of Sunrise Sports & Entertainment, which owns the 21,000-seat arena. He argued that the nearby Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood has an unfair advantage in booking concerts and other entertainment.

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Sunrise Sports announced a partnership with Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming to run a Broward County casino in July 2012.

BB&T Center is located very close to regional shopping hub Sawgrass Mills Mall. Yormark believes a hotel and casino near the mall and arena would put the area on even footing with the Hard Rock. [Sun-Sentinel]Eric Kalis