Hard Rock Donates to Surfside Tragedy
The gambling ventures of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming, have revealed that they have pledged to donate funds to aid the ongoing relief work surrounding the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida. The 12-story building partially collapsed in the early morning of June 24th.
Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming have pledged to donate funds to aid the ongoing disaster relief work surrounding the collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida. ©webtop1/Pixabay
Hard Rock Program Will Also Include Public Fundraising Campaign
Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, the gambling arm of Florida’s Seminole Tribe, have announced that they have pledged to donate large sums to aid the ongoing relief work in the recent partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida.
Part of the 12-story building block collapsed during the early morning hours of June 24th, 2021, claiming the lives of at least 28 people and injuring another 11. Rescue efforts with the aim of recovering any trapped survivors are still currently underway.
Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming announced that they would be supporting these rescue efforts with the Support Surfside Program, which already includes an immediate cash donation of $250,000 to the Support Surfside Fund.
Furthermore, the program is set to feature a public fundraising campaign across all physical retail, restaurant and hotel venues associated with Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock. Guests will be encouraged to round up their purchase amounts up to the next whole dollar, as well as donate any leftover change to the Support Surfside Fund.
Team members of both Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will have the opportunity to make a difference with the ability to directly contribute to a special account linked to the Support Surfside Fund. Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming will subsequently match the total donations made to this account.
Hard Rock Cafe Miami Will Also Prepare 100 Dinners Each Day
In addition to its Support Surfside Program and Support Surfside Fund, Seminole Gaming’s Hard Rock Cafe Miami location, situated at Bayside Marketplace, will be preparing and delivering 100 dinners everyday to feed rescue workers leading recovery efforts at the site of the collapse.
Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Marcellus Osceola described the Champlain Towers South collapse as a “terrible tragedy,” pledging the tribe’s resources towards aid efforts:
“This is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the many people affected by it. The Seminole Tribe pledges to marshal our resources and do everything we can to help.”
Hard Rock International chairman and Seminole Gaming chief executive Jim Allen evoked one of Hard Rock’s founding mottos when describing the motive behind the team members’ desire to do something meaningful to help the victims of the Surfside building collapse:
“In keeping with one of Hard Rock’s founding mottos of ‘Take Time to Be Kind,’ Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming team members want to do something meaningful to help people affected by this tragic event. Our Support Surfside Program is about reaching out to our neighbors in need and extending a helping hand.”– Jim Allen, Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming Chief Executive
Remaining Section of Surfside Tower Demolished Ahead of Tropical Storm
Following the initial collapse of part of the Champlain Towers South apartment complex, the remaining section of the block was demolished in a controlled explosion during the night of Sunday, July 4th, 2021.
Explosive charges were employed to safely bring down the last standing portion of Champlain Towers South after it had been fully evacuated, due to safety fears over incoming Tropical Storm Elsa, which could potentially reach Florida as soon as Tuesday, July 6th.
On June 24th, 2021, a large section of the housing complex suddenly collapsed overnight, initially claiming twenty-four victims, with another 121 still missing. The rescue crew resumed efforts to locate victims a few hours following the controlled demolition.
The cause of the partial collapse of the 40-year-old Champlain Towers South is as of writing still unclear, however a 2018 inspection had in fact warned of “major” flaws in the apartment complex’s original design.
Seminole Tribe and State of Florida Recently Passed Betting Compact
In recent Florida gambling news, the state of Florida’s House and Senate combined forces to approve and ratify an amended compact with the state’s Seminole Tribe, thereby allowing it to operate physical sports betting offerings in Florida.
Following extended debate, the piece of legislation was amended to include a clause which stipulates that the two will “engage in good faith negotiations” within three years as to the question of whether or not the tribe can provide iGaming offerings.
A previous clause in the compact would have allowed the Seminole Tribe to offer online gambling, subsequently inciting heated opposition from numerous house Republicans. As a result, Rules Committee chairman Paul Renner and committee chair Randy Fine conducted negotiations with the tribe in order to amend the compact.
Under current Florida gambling law, the Seminole Tribe can only offer slots, banked card games, raffles and drawings. The compact would have also enabled it to offer craps, roulette, fantasy sports and sports betting.
Seminole Casino Briefly Reopened in May 2020 Following First Lockdown
Following the first state lockdown to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in March and April 2020, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa became the first casino in Florida to reopen to customers.
Having initially closed six of its Florida locations on March 20th, 2020, the casino was granted permission to reopen part of its businesses — however only provided safety measures to promote hygiene and social distancing were implemented.
Therefore, the requirement for everyone on Seminole premises to wear a mask became mandatory. Furthermore, all guests arriving without masks were given them upon entry. Temperature checks at casino and hotel entrances were also conducted.
