MGM reveals its Massachusetts casino plans
September 5, 2012
MGM
Resorts has targeted the Western Massachusetts city of Springfield for its proposed
$800 million mixed-use casino resort development.
Plans
calls for a world-class dining, retail and entertainment “district” to be
carved out of 10-acres of city land that was heavily damaged by a 2011 tornado.
MGM's Springfield plan envisions a revived Main Street area with people walking
along tree‐lined streets overflowing with
restaurant choices, a variety of shopping options, an outdoor stage, movie
theaters, a casino and hotel that all respect and feed off of the area's
existing architecture.
The
500,000-square-foot mixed‐used development
project would include a 25‐ story 250‐room hotel with world‐class
amenities including a spa, pool and roof deck; 89,000 square feet of gaming
space; about 70,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space that would
accommodate 15 shops and restaurants; and a multi‐level
parking garage. Plans also envision an approximately 130,000 square‐foot dining, retail and entertainment district,
tentatively named Armory Square, and directly accessible from the garage
parking
“We
believe this is a significant demonstration of our desire to partner with
Springfield and it gives the Massachusetts Gaming Commission [MGC] and the city
the resources they need to move forward during this groundbreaking phase for a
new industry in Massachusetts,” said Jim Murren, MGM Resorts CEO, in a prepared
statement.
MGM
Springfield would create thousands of permanent direct jobs as well as more
than 2,000 construction‐related jobs and
thousands of additional indirect jobs. MGM Springfield would generate millions
in annual tax revenues.
The
announcement came as MGM submitted its $400,000 application fee to the MGC. The
non‐refundable application fee will go to
both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Springfield to fund the
vetting and negotiating process that MGM hopes will result in a world‐class destination resort in Springfield.
Massachusetts casino enabling legislation calls for the establishment of
three land-based casino resorts, one of which will be located in the western
portion of the state.
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