Behind The Sound Bite: Brimfield Casino Plan
Add another to the list. MGM Resorts International, which owns casinos in Las Vegas, Detroit, Mississippi and China, has thrown its hat into the ring to build a resort-style casino in Brimfield. MGM’s CEO made the trek out to Brimfield this month to discuss plans to bid for one of the three casino licenses the state is expected to award within the next two years. In this issue’s Behind The Soundbite, we look at how the plan stacks up against others.
What does the MGM plan entail?
MGM has an agreement to purchase a 150-acre site from Rolling Hills Estates Trust, which is owned by officials with Palmer Paving Corp. in Palmer. MGM officials said a development could generate 3,000 permanent jobs.
How does that compare with other casino proposals in the region?
The biggest competitor could be Mohegan Sun, which has proposed a similar $600-million resort-style casino on 152 acres in neighboring Palmer, just off the Massachusetts Turnpike. But the legislation allowing expanded gaming would limit the western part of the state to one casino license. so if MGM wins it, the Mohegan tribe cannot. But the two sites will also compete against proposals from Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee.
What other casino plans could impact Central Massachusetts?
There have been two others proposed or discussed in Central Massachusetts, including a $750-million, 300,000-square-foot casino in Milford with a 350-room hotel. There have been discussions about a casino proposal in Foxborough, but that has met with resistance from townspeople. Other proposals in the Eastern part of the state include a slots parlor in Plainville and a resort-style casino at Suffolk Downs in East Boston.
What’s next for these proposals?
Expanded gaming is in the early stages. The state’s new gaming commission will vet all proposals and award licenses through a competitive analysis process.
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