Choctaw Casino nominated for CMA Touring Award

Dec. 26—The Choctaw Casino and Resort in Durant was nominated alongside seven other venues as one of the top venues of the year.

A two-time winner of the Academy of Country Music Award for Casino of the Year-Theater, the resort's Choctaw Grand Theater is nominated for the Country Music Association's 2023 Touring Award for Venue of the Year.

This is the first time the casino has been nominated for a CMA award and is the only casino and resort nominated for this category.

"Choctaw Casino and 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 of the resort in a press release. "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."

The CMA Touring Awards, originally called the 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 are comprised of 20 different categories, including Venue of the Year.

Known for its top-rated entertainment, guests travel to Durant to see the world's leading live entertainment acts at the 3,000-seat Choctaw Grand Theater 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 Durant casino is nominated alongside the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, TN; BankNH Pavilion in Gilford, NH; Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN; the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville; Joe's on Weed Street in Chicago; the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City; and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO.

The final five nominees in each category are selected after the nomination round. The winners are announced at the CMA Touring Awards. The eligibility period is from July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the current year.

The Choctaw Grand Theater has some of the nation's top acts scheduled to perform in 2024 including Old Dominion, Ashley McBryde, Eric Church, Jake Owen, Dwight Yoakam, Jon Pardi, and Bailey Zimmerman.

More information about the Choctaw Grand Theater and how to get tickets cand be found by visiting www.choctawcasinos.com.