MGM Springfield opens

Several years and $960 million later, it’s finally opening day for MGM Springfield. Here’s the 411 on what it offers, along with copious traffic directions — access is clearly the front-of-mind concern as gaming madness comes to Springfield. Amidst all the new amenities, the sense of local history remains powerful, even to having the ceiling of the casino emulate the trusses of a nearby bridge trestle. Mayor Domenic Sarno proclaimed of the occasion, “For years people have said, ‘Why Springfield?’ Now we can say, ‘Why not Springfield?'”

As guests strolled across carpets embedded with quotations from local-girl-made-good Emily Dickinson, a reporter described the scene thusly: “Inside it was like a giant but luxurious version of a beach side arcade: chatter of hundreds of men and women strolling along carpeted aisles beneath the ‘ring’ and ‘whir’ and ‘bings’ and ‘bongs’ of gaming machines with indecipherable music playing from somewhere above. The air hung in spots with the aroma of women’s perfume and powder.” And since it’s a no-smoking facility that same air will never be choked with the stench of cigarette smoke, unofficial smell of the casino industry.

The pre-opening goodies also surpassed the usual chicken-on-a-stick that marks Las Vegas debuts: “mini lobster rolls, walnut shrimp, smoked salmon, chef seasoned vegetables, garlic roasted potatoes, grilled chicken thighs, striploin steak, charred asparagus and salaquinoa salad.” The names of the ballrooms reference other MGM Resorts International pleasure palaces: Bellagio and Aria. The suites are both whimsical and distinctive, and even the bowling alley is redolent of history, with its carved-wood fixtures and exposed-brick walls. The experience will be unquestionably distinctive and a destination resort, even with only a small inventory hotel rooms. (A USA Today photo gallery of Resorts World Catskills cruelly exposes how Genting Group spent $60 million more than MGM and wound up with a casino-hotel totally devoid of personality. MGM Springfield has nothing if not personality.)

“It appears that they paid a tremendous amount of attention to the historic significance of our area. There is a sense of pride in the city that Springfield is taking a big step forward,” said Basketball Hall of Fame exec Greg Procino. Thanks to a partnership with Springfield Museums, five museums will lend exhibits to MGM Springfield, reaching the public in a new way. Said Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson “They made a very conscious effort to integrate the resort with downtown Springfield. They will be encouraging their guests to actually venture out of the casino to explore downtown Springfield.” We’ll see how that works, since CEO Jim Murren‘s previous experiments with New Urbanism have had, at best, mixed success. As chef Michael Mina (yes, MGM imported him too) put it, “When you’re part of a casino, you’re a part of your own little city.”

There’s no forced march through the casino floor to reach the amenities. The food court is directly accessible from State Street. While MGM was reported to be flirting with the acquisition of Encore Boston Harbor, MGM President William Hornbuckle stressed the opportunity in the western part of Massachusetts: We thought there was an opportunity there. We think the market capture is substantive in terms of location and appeal, the uniqueness of the resort and offerings. They have been grossly under-leveraged for years. We can be a catalyst for the city.” While the casino primarily targets Albany and Hartford, it will have at least a temporary draw on Boston, only 80 miles distant.

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby gave the new casino his benediction.”Forty-eight hours from that time, 49 hours, everything looks good,” he told Boston reporters. “You gotta go. It’s an incredible facility. It’s right smack in the heart of what was the rundown center of a post-industrial city, dilapidated, and it is now bustling and it’s alive. People are excited. We’ve been at this for six and a half years and we’re thrilled to see it finally come to fruition. But I think the people of Massachusetts are going to kind of like it too. It’s pretty incredible.

“OK, let’s go hear the lion roar.”