MGM National Harbor, Maryland To Open On Dec 8, 2016

MGM Resorts recently announced that one of its major casino development projects which is the $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor being constructed in Maryland will have its official opening on Dec. 8, ahead of the key holiday season.

Announcements regarding the inaugural events and festivities will be shared over the next few weeks according to MGM National Harbor officials. The property has a vast array of facilities including an integrated theatre, conference centre, art gallery, a boutique hotel, and several dining options. A unique attraction for the property is its conservatory with over 70,000 flower sculptures housed in a two-story glass atrium. The extensive casino facility is spread over 125,000 square foot with 150 table games and 3,600 slot machines.

ABC 2 News – WMAR

The design of complex allows visitors to avoid the casino floor if they are only visiting the hotel or its entertainment facilities. In a statement, Bill Boasberg, the resort’s general manager, said,

When people come see it, they are going to be awestruck. There is going to be something for everyone in this resort. We are not just targeting casino customers.

MGM National Harbor will start taking hotel reservations this week onwards for stays beginning Dec.10. The luxury hotel with just 300 rooms priced between $399 and $599 offers exclusivity and stylish decors. The casino which was approved in 2012 with bare minimum support in the house will be the sixth for the state of Maryland. Opponents were worried that the casino would result in crowding the state’s gambling market. The project was however the first large scale project for the county of Prince George and is likely to provide a major boost to jobs and economic growth in the area.

So far MGM has hired 350 people and made employment offers to over 2,200 people. In all, the company plans to hire 3,600 workers. Around 60 percent of these workers need to be residents of Prince George according to a commitment made by MGM while acquiring its license. The casino has paid over $220 million to minority businesses during the course of the construction and has awarded contracts to 148 firms. Businesses based in the county received $170 million in payments from MGM and 88 local firms won contracts from the company.

County spokesman Scott Peterson welcomed the announcement of the opening date and said that the MGM project will play a key role in improving the quality of life for residents of Prince George by virtue of offering thousands of jobs and delivering millions in county payments.

Adrian Sterne

More articles by Adrian Sterne