The proposed changes in the original plan for the construction of the $800-million MGM Springfield would have a negative effect on the number of visitors traveling to the casino resort, gambling operator MGM International Resorts said in its application for a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Notice of Project Change.
Last month, the gaming company announced plans to reduce the 25-story hotel tower into a 6-story one. In addition to this, the company noted that it would reduce the square footage of the retail and entertainment spaces that will be part of the complex. The proposed bowling alley and movie theater would also take less space than originally announced. According to the latest presented plan, the size of the whole resort would be reduced by almost 14%.
The casino company said in its application for an Environmental Policy Act Notice of Project Change that the proposed changes would result in a 5-8% shrinkage in the number of trips to MGM Springfield. The Saturday midday trip peak is expected to see the most considerable hit with a 7.4% decline in primary trips. Saturday primary trips are expected to go down by 5%.
Friday daily trips are to go down by 5.6% and evening peak hour ones are to decline 5%. In other words, the casino complex is to garner about 18,570 Friday daily trips and about 20,824 Saturday daily trips, once filly operational.
Under the proposed changes, there will be about 1,204 primary trips in Friday peak hours and 1,215 daily ones in Saturday peak hours.
Carole Brennan, spokeswoman for MGM Springfield, said that given the resort’s scale, the drop in trips is considered relatively minor. She also noted that the company remains confident in its original gaming revenue estimates and that it is looking forward to seeing Springfield representatives and presenting them with details on the revised design. MGM Springfield officials will be meeting city representatives on November 16.
The proposed changes in the hotel and casino complex need to be backed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and Springfield officials. The state gambling regulator is accepting comments on the matter from the general public. It is expected to announce its decision before the end of 2015.
MGM Springfield is slated to be completed and launched in September 2018. The venue is expected to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue and to create more than 2,000 temporary construction jobs and 3,000 permanent ones.
