DeSantis makes a cryptic comment about ‘great people’ coming to Seminole Hard Rock guitar hotel. It suddenly makes more sense.

Anthony Man, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·2 min read
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A comment from Gov. Ron DeSantis about a “big act this weekend” that vaguely sounded like a plug for the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood now makes a little more sense.

It seems related to presidential politics, and DeSantis’ not-at-all-disguised interest in making another bid for the Republican nomination in 2028.

Politico on Friday detailed a two-day “Investor Appreciation Retreat” for DeSantis donors at the Hard Rock. It’s sponsored by Fight Right, one of the super political action committees formed to support DeSantis’ unsuccessful 2024 candidacy.

At the event on Friday and Saturday, DeSantis backers can attend panels, “enjoy late-night cigars and cocktails outdoors,” share feedback, hear from DeSantis’ wife, Casey, and hear the governor over dinner, Politico reported.

Details about the event (Politico posted copies of the agenda) seem to explain a cryptic comment DeSantis made Thursday at an event in Davie.

His official business in South Florida was signing legislation spelling out how the state would allocate almost all of its share of gambling profits from a deal DeSantis struck with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which is finally starting to produce significant dollars.

Among those who appeared with DeSantis at the bill-signing ceremony was Marcellus Osceola Jr., chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. He praised the gambling deal, the use of the money, and DeSantis “for everything that you do.”

After Osceola spoke and DeSantis returned to the mic, the governor brought up the Seminole Hard Rock’s guitar-shaped hotel, which, at 450 feet tall, can be seen from miles away.

“Who do we have comin’ to town? And you have a, the big act this weekend at the Hollywood, at the guitar?” a broadly grinning DeSantis asked.

Osceola: “We’ve got somebody there.”

DeSantis: “You got somebody there, yeah? They bring in some great people. I mean, it’s unbelievable the number of great concerts that they’re able to have.”

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(Technically, the concerts are at Hard Rock Live, an arena that’s part of the casino-hotel-shopping complex. Its website shows nothing scheduled for Friday night when the DeSantis donors are there. Saturday is stand-up comedian Kevin James, and on Sunday, Alabama performs.)

Campaign finance reports show dozens of contributions from people associated with Seminole Gaming, the Seminole Hard Rock and Hard Rock International to DeSantis’ campaign. Seminole Gaming also contributed to Never Back Down, a different pro-DeSantis super PAC.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Facebook, Threads.net and Post.news.