Don H. Barden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Don H. Barden (born December 20, 1943, Detroit, Michigan) is an American casino executive.
Barden is the Manager, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Majestic Star Casino, LLC since its formation, with responsibility for key policy making functions. Since their formation, Barden is also President and Chief Executive Officer of Investor and Manager of Barden Colorado, Barden Mississippi and Barden Nevada; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Majestic Star, Majestic Investor Capital, Barden Colorado, Barden Mississippi and Barden Nevada; and Chairman and President of BDI. Barden also has served as a director of Majestic Investor Capital since its formation. Additionally, he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of a group of other companies he owns and/or operates. Over the past 30 years, Barden has successfully developed, owned and operated many business enterprises in various industries including real estate development, casino gaming, broadcasting, cable television and international trade. In 2003, Black Enterprise Magazine selected Barden as Company of the Year. In 2004, Barden received the Trumpet Award for Entrepreneur of the Year.
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When one of Barden's companies acquired the Fitzgeralds Las Vegas Casino in Las Vegas he became the first black casino owner in Vegas.[1] In 2007, Barden was awarded the rights to build a Casino in the North Shore Area of Pittsburgh, adjacent to Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The selection was made over heavy objections of local taxpayers who preferred another competing offer from Isle of Capri Casinos. That offer would have built a new multi-purpose arena adjacent to a casino complex in the area now occupied by the Civic Arena. Isle of Capri agreed to foot the entire cost of the new complex, valued at the time at 290 million dollars. Barden's selection by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Gamming Commission forced the city of Pittsburgh and the buildings principal tenant, the Pittsburgh Penguins, to come up with an alternate plan, using taxpayer money to fund the facility. In 2008, Mr. Barden defaulted on the casino project. He was unable to secure bridge loans that would have permitted work to continue on the North Shore Casino project. Work at the site was stopped for weeks, until another investor could be found. Only after Chicago Billionaire Neil Blum bought controlling interest in the project, did work continue. Mr. Barden retained a minority interest in the project.
[edit] References
- ^ "Don Barden, The New Black Face Of Vegas". http://www.blackwebportal.com/wire/DA.cfm?ArticleID=527. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
