Massachusetts grants MGM Springfield license to operate casino

[unhappycamper]

http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20140613/NEWS/140617888/1994/NEWS

Massachusetts grants MGM Springfield license to operate casino

MGM Springfield on Friday was named the state’s first official casino operator, capping a more than two-year process that saw four other rival plans in western Massachusetts fall by the wayside.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted unanimously at the MassMutual Center to approve a deal granting MGM the casino license, pending the outcome of efforts to repeal the state’s casino law.

Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby said the $800 million proposal for a casino, hotel, and entertainment and shopping complex in downtown Springfield captures the “spirit” and “aspirations” that state leaders envisioned when they opened the door for resort-style casino gambling in Massachusetts in 2011.

MGM’s casino license is one of three authorized under the state’s casino law. The two others are in the Boston area and the Fall River/New Bedford area.

[Atman]

1. Oh, that's just Grand.

This area already sports two of the world's largest casinos. I mean, we're talking Connecticut here, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are both just a short drive down the road (where MGM already has a lavish hotel casino). Sure, they'll be in two different states...almost. Springfield, MA sits directly on the MA/CT border, on the interstate leading from NY to the Vermont ski slopes and tourist areas. It's probably a brilliant move on some level. Springfield is a nasty, crime-ridden hell-hole, and they'll probably find plenty of cheap (desperate) labor, and plenty of drive-by suckers who'll stop in and lose some cash on their way up north. But is this really necessary? I'll now have three giant casinos each within 45 minutes or less from my home...and I live in the middle of nowhere. After all, CT & MA could fit in the trunk of a Texas Cadillac.

[MADem]

2. A LOT of MA money goes to Foxwoods. And Springfield is overdue for a boost.

As you said, it's a nasty, crime-ridden hell hole.

I used to live in a nasty, crime-ridden hell hole of a neighborhood when I was a poor student. Now, with "gentrification" and the "urban young families" I'd need close to a half a million bucks (not happening) to buy an apartment in my old ratty building, which looks absolutely high end and fancy-pants now. I go by that old neighborhood every now and again and I see a mother with a stroller where some guy got stabbed back in the day, and an old guy walking a little dog where that drive by happened...and oh, I remember the day when that apartment...and that apartment... and that apartment got burgled, and so-and-so got jumped in the foyer getting his mail...! But nowadays, it's all nice and landscaped and clean and swept and pretty amazing. Children are playing in the little park where the heroin deals used to go down.

Money changes everything.

As for MA and CT fitting into the size of TX Cadillac, the population density of those two tiny states (around ten million) is nothing to sneeze at, even with recent migrations. Add in VT, NH and little ole RI and that's three million more. And WAY less drive time than someone going from one corner of TX to the other..!

[pipi_k]

3. I live in one of the Hilltowns

about 30 miles or so from Springfield, and while it's unlikely I'd ever go to the casino should it be built someday, I am excited about the prospects for some kind of revitalization in the area...even mine...as maybe people from NY or VT pass through the area on their way to the casino. Or maybe people staying there already wanting to take day trips.

We don't have any industry in my town, so we have to rely on taxes and tourism.

As for Springfield being a nasty crime-ridden hellhole, I can't argue with you there. I was born and raised there, and it makes me really sad to see it featured on the news just about every night for drugs, murders, etc. Even some of the nicer areas where I used to live are no longer immune.

So opponents of the casino are using !!!CRIME!!! as a reason for opposing it, but the crime rate has been rising for decades without having the excuse of a casino causing it.

Opponents don't want the casino, but can never seem to come up with some alternate (and feasible) plan for improving the quality of life in their own city. Only negatives...never positive solutions.

Anyway, my area often gets neglected (or given negligible mention, at best) in the "Visit Massachusetts!" pamphlets. It's all about Cape Cod and Boston, FGS.

Well, there's plenty of cool stuff to do out here, too! We could use some tourist business...

[Atman]

4. Cool post. Thanks.

I lived in Springfield for years. We raised our two sons there. Happy to have gotten out before the bottom dropped out. It's a shame. It actually has the potential to be a nice walkable city, but the corruption is so pervasive they're fucking themselves. But hey, they've got more strip bars per capita than just about about anyplace in America! Focus on the positive.