News

DURANT, Okla., (May 19, 2022) – The Academy of Country Music® announced the Industry Award winners for the 57th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS ™ and Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant won “Casino of the Year – Theater.”

Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant has been nominated for five ACM Awards for “Casino of the Year – Small Capacity” and won their first award in 2019. This is the first year they have been nominated for “Casino of the Year – Theater” and won.

“This is a huge achievement not only for the property but for our entire team and we are extremely proud and honored to represent Oklahoma as a world-class concert venue,” states Jeff Penz, Senior Director of Gaming Operations at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. “Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences for our guests and entertainers when they visit the Grand Theater. We’re grateful to all our performers and guests who attend our concerts week after week.”

The Grand Theater at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant has hosted several top country performers, including Entertainer of the Year nominee, Carrie Underwood. Other performers who have taken The Grand Theater stage include, Male Artist of the Year nominee, Chris Stapleton; Duo of the Year nominee, Dan & Shay and Group of the Year nominee, Old Dominion.

The casino will receive the award at the ACM Honors event on August 24 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.

Below is a complete list of the Industry Awards winners for the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards:

INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS:

• CASINO OF THE YEAR-THEATER: Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, OK
• CASINO OF THE YEAR-ARENA: Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
• FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR: Windy City Smokeout Festival – Chicago, IL
• FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR: San Antonio Rodeo – San Antonio, TX
• CLUB OF THE YEAR: Basement East – Nashville, TN
• THEATER OF THE YEAR: Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
• OUTDOOR VENUE OF THE YEAR: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
• ARENA OF THE YEAR: Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
• DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR: Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions
• PROMOTER OF THE YEAR: Brian O’Connell – Live Nation

All professional members of the Academy vote on the Academy of Country Music Industry Award.

The Grand Theater at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant is located at 4216 S. Highway 69/75 in Durant, Okla. To learn more, visit https://www.choctawcasinos.com/choctaw-durant/entertainment/upcoming-events/

About Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Okla.:

Located an hour north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex lies a AAA Four Diamond resort and entertainment destination in southeastern Oklahoma. Choctaw Casino & Resort–Durant is a three-level convention/entertainment venue offering more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space with seating for more than 3,000. Resort amenities include swimming, shopping, dining, a spa, and the region’s premier entertainment complex, The District, with dining, drinks, 20 bowling lanes, a 70-game arcade, and state-of-the-art movie theater. In August 2021, a major expansion added the Sky Tower: 21 stories high featuring 1,000 new luxury hotel rooms, 3,300 additional slot machines, table games, a new poker room, new restaurants, bars, movie theaters and three-acres of swimming pools. For more information, visit choctawcasinos.com.

About the Academy of Country Music:

Founded in Southern California in 1964 as a regional trade organization, the ACADEMY OF COUNTRYMUSIC (ACM)has grown in the almost-60 years since into a leading association for the Country Music industry. Today, the Academy boasts more than 5,000 professional members nationwide and serves as a powerhouse advocate for Country fans, artists, and all facets of the business, as well as a supporter of philanthropic work through charitable arm ACM LIFTING LIVES®, which works to improve lives through the power of music. 2022 will be a landmark year for the Academy, with a relocation from Los Angeles, CA to Nashville, TN and its iconic Academy of Country Music Awards streaming on Amazon Prime Video live from Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, in a historic partnership, the first time a major awards show has been streamed exclusively. For more information, log onto www.ACMcountry.com or www.ACMLiftingLives.org

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