On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, during WFAA Channel 8 afternoon news it was broadcast that Choctaw Nation had bought the naming rights to the Globe Life Park, former home of the Rangers, and had been renamed Choctaw Stadium.  This is how many Choctaw Nation members including myself was informed of this multi-million dollar purchase.

I along with many Choctaw Nation tribal members were totally shocked at the brazenness of this purchase. There was absolutely no transparency in this business transaction.  During Gary Batton’s Labor Day address at Tuskahoma after Jason Merida’s embezzlement trial where Greg Pyle, former Chief and Gary Batton, Assistant Chief were called “unindicted co-conspirators” a contrite Gary Batton promised the members of Choctaw Nation there would be total transparency in his administration.  Transparency is Choctaw Nation’s obligation to share information with members that is needed to make informed decisions and hold Councilmen/woman and the Chiefs accountable for their conduct. There has not been any transparency regarding the Globe Life Park transaction.

 Some concerns Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma tribal members have that have not been addressed is:

What was the total cost of this renaming purchase and for how long?

What are the plans for the use of this Stadium?

How will the Tribe benefit from this Stadium?  How will the Choctaw Nation tribal member benefit? Will the Choctaw tribal members be able to use this facility for powwows, stickball games or other cultural activities?

Where is the Agenda and Minutes concerning discussions of the renaming purchase?

Does the Tribe own the physical structure or name only? How much did it cost?

Is Gary Batton, Chief trying to make Choctaw Nation a corporation similar to Disney?

These funds could have benefited Choctaw people living in poverty. Build/repair homes. Most people prefer better homes. We have children who go to bed hungry and vets who don’t have a roof over their heads.

Choctaw Nation members living outside the 10 ½ county are usually told No when requesting assistance but the Chief and Council members make a purchase in the state of Texas completely outside the Choctaw Nation boundary.

A Chief listens to tribal members. He has to show respect and treat all his members equally in order to receive respect.

Join me in showing Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin, Jr, and Councilmen/Woman, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that stifling our voices is regressive and unacceptable. We want to see more transparency and accountable in their fiduciary responsibility of funds which belong to the Choctaw Nation Tribal members. We also want answers to questions tribal members have regarding this transaction.