'This is a big day'; Gov. Charlie Baker, US Rep. Richard Neal tout MGM Springfield openingClick here to read the news story
Springfield, MA,
August 23, 2018
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Shannon Young, MassLive
SPRINGFIELD -- Local, state and federal officials praised MGM Resorts International's commitment to Springfield's history Thursday, as they gathered in downtown one day before the company's $960 million resort casino is set to open its doors to the public. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, joined MGM officials and state gaming regulators for a news conference previewing MGM Springfield. Casting MGM Springfield's opening as "a big statement about the people of Springfield ... and the folks who never quit," Baker said he has "no doubt there will be many big days associated with the impact this enterprise and this project is going to have on the community and this region." "This is a big day," he said. The governor, who noted that he toured the casino site in June, praised MGM for incorporating various elements into the resort that pay homage of Springfield's history. "It's creative, it's incredibly Springfield-centric," he said. "There are so many elements of this place that are subtle but speak loudly about the commitment that everybody made to honor the history and all that makes this part of Massachusetts special." The governor added that MGM has "exceeded all of the measures that were applied to them." Neal joined the governor in lauding MGM officials for incorporating Springfield and the Pioneer Valley's history into their casino resort project. The congressman noted that many of his early conversations with the company were focused on the role the region played in shaping America -- not gambling. "I think one of the ironies of the discussions that I had with Jim Murren and with Mike Mathis was that we never talked about gambling," he said in an interview. "We never once talked about the casino in terms of slot machines, or blackjack or anything like that. Instead, the conversation, from my perspective, was devoted to redevelopment. ... We also talked about the history of this city, how resilient the people of the valley have always been." MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren stressed that he saw the project as "investing in the revival of a great American city." "We didn't just build a beautiful building," he said. "For you in labor, you were cementing the spirit of Springfield ... you're building the future of Springfield." MGM Springfield will officially open to the public at 11 a.m. on Friday. The event will mark the culmination of a decades' long push to bring a casino to Western Massachusetts. Officials broke ground on the casino project in March 2015. The resort-style gaming establishment, which includes 2 million square feet of new development, spans 14 acres across three blocks in downtown Springfield. It features a 125,000 square-foot, smoke-free gaming floor, 250-room hotel and an array of shopping, dining and entertainment options. |