It's been two months since MGM opened its doors in downtown Springfield. So far, what has business been like for the $960 million casino? How are its operations expected to impact nearby competitors, such as Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun?
This hour, we broadcast live from MGM Springfield. We check in with a panel of casino experts and officials. And we also hear from you.
Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
GUESTS:
- Ken Gosselin - Reporter for the Hartford Courant(@kennethgosselin)
- Michael Mathis - President and COO of MGM Springfield (@MGMSpringfield)
- Domenic Sarno - Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts (@SpfldMACityHall)
READING LIST:
NEPR: Casino Execs Support Baker-Polito, While MGM Goes Big For GOP In Senate Races – “Through the years, Stratton repeatedly donated to Polito and Governor Charlie Baker, going back to Baker's failed 2010 campaign against incumbent Democrat Deval Patrick. Stratton was also a supporter of independent candidate for Connecticut governor Oz Griebel -- during an earlier Griebel campaign back in 2010.”
Hartford Courant: Hartford's XL Center Concert Business Faces New Competition From MGM Springfield – “MGM is squeezing into an already tight regional market where Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino has established itself as a major concert destination, offering up to 10,000 seats."
NEPR: Revenues Down From Opening, But MGM Springfield Says Casino Is On Track – “The new casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, saw a dip in revenues last month. But an MGM official says it's on track financially. MGM Springfield said it brought in almost $27 million in September. It will pay the state nearly $7 million of that. On a daily basis, average revenues were down 32 percent from the opening week in August.”
Chion Wolf contributed to this show.