News

DURANT, Okla. (Dec. 12, 2023) – Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant has been nominated for the Country Music Association’s (CMA) 2023 Touring Award for Venue of the Year. This is the first time Choctaw Casino & Resort has been nominated for a CMA award and is the only casino and resort nominated for this category.

The CMA Touring Awards, originally called the SRO (Standing Room Only) awards, were created in 1990 to honor outstanding professional achievement within the touring industry. They were renamed the CMA Touring Awards in 2016 and is comprised of 20 different categories, including Venue of the Year.

“Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant is known for our top- rated live entertainment, and we are honored to be recognized by the Country Music Association,” said Frank Deal, Assistant General Manager at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. “To be nominated alongside some of the nation’s most popular and sought after music venues, is a testament to the elevated experience our guests enjoy and the memorable experience the entertainers have while performing at the Choctaw Grand Theater.”

Known for its top-rated entertainment, guests travel across Oklahoma and North Texas to see the world’s leading live entertainment acts at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant. The 3,000-seat Choctaw Grand Theater is a two-time winner of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards for Casino of the Year – Theater and is an intimate venue that gives fans an exciting, close-up experience every time.

“The entertainers are the ones who make The Choctaw Grand Theater so special,” Deal said. “Because we are such an intimate venue, the connection with the audience is incredible. Artists are able to engage with the audience and see their fans’ excitement during the show.”

The Choctaw Grand Theater has some of the nation’s hottest acts scheduled to grace the stage in 2024 including 2023 CMA Vocal Group of the Year – Old Dominion (January 26-27); and Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Ashley McBryde (May 10); Eric Church – 2020 CMA Entertainer of the Year (March 16), Jake Owen (March 24), Dwight Yoakam (April 5), Jon Pardi (May 17-18) and Bailey Zimmerman (August 30-31).

Other nominees for the CMA – 2023 Touring Awards Venue of the Year include:

• Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TN
• BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH
• Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
• Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant, OK
• Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN
• Joe’s on Weed Street – Chicago, IL
• Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

About Country Music Association

Founded in 1958, CMA is the premier trade association of the Country Musica industry. Representing professionals making a living in Country Music globally, the organization serves as a critical resource of support and information, honors excellence in the genre and provides a forum for industry leadership. CMA is dedicated to expanding Country Music around the world through a number of core programs and initiatives including the organizations’ three annual television properties – the CMA Awards, “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas” all of which air on ABC. The organizations’ philanthropic arm, the CMA Foundation, works tirelessly to provide equitable access to music education in order to create impactful change for students and teachers across the United States.

About Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Okla.

Located an hour north of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant is a AAA Four Diamond casino resort, entertainment and convention destination in southeastern Oklahoma. The casino has more than 7,400 slot machines, table games, a poker room, and a large non-smoking casino.  The resort offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and seats more than 3,000 at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) award-winning Grand Theater. The resort also includes more than 1,600 luxurious rooms and suites, 20 restaurants, 20 bars and lounges, six retail stores, two fitness centers, a spa, and two outdoor pools and a water park. The family-friendly District offers guests 20 bowling lanes, a 6-screen premier movie theater, 70 arcade games and dining options. Additionally, guests can enjoy the 77-camper Choctaw RV Park located across from the casino. For more information, visit choctawcasinos.com.

###