Turning Stone rounds out big week with HBO Boxing
Sports fans had plenty of action to get in on at Turning Stone this past week, with world champion golfers gracing the greens Wednesday, and world champion boxers duking it out Saturday. Our Andrew Sorensen tells us how the casino is handling their big name bookings.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
VERONA, N.Y. -- As the sun went down at Turning Stone Saturday night, crews were working double-time to get ready for HBO's Boxing After Dark.
"It's going to be a great show, it's going to be great television, great theater," said Arthur Pelullo, promoter.
People who don't often get to see this kind of event lined up for a steal of a boxing show, with eight different bouts scheduled.
"It's awesome, it doesn't come here enough, I'd love to see it here more," said boxing fan John Campana.
The fight's promoter pulled off a huge international ticket, hosting the World Middleweight Title between a Polish fighter and a German fighter.
"It'll be in 60 countries tape delayed, it'll be live in the United States," Pelullo said.
Despite the huge undertaking for the casino,l they don't seem to be sweating it, probably because they're already in the mode for hosting international superstars. Earlier this week, they also hosted the Notah Begay III Challenge with the best golfers from Asia and the Americas.
This isn't the first string of international sporting events the casino has hosted and Oneida Nation officials say they have good reason for making sure it's not their last.
"It's all about the future, for us, we think about future generations, so invest, all of this is in a way is an investment," Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter said.
Halbritter told us while coaching a kids golf clinic Monday with Notah Begay, he doesn't just mean a capital investment.
"I think they're great for the region and we really are invested in this community. This is our home, we're here for the long-term," he explained.
Halbritter says they're playing their future plans close to the chest, but some of their new partners are seeing big opportunities.
"Turning Stone is doing a great job, and it seems like they're going to be in a big sports business, big boxing business, which is all very good stuff for world class athletics," Pelullo said.
Though no other major sporting events are on the schedule, many of these fans are resting easy after this week's major one-two punch.