IN JUST OVER TWO WEEKS, MGM SPRINGFIELD WILL BE OPENING ITS
DOORS.
THE PROJECT COMING TO FRUITION AFTER SEVERAL YEARS IN THE
MAKING.
AS MANY AS 30,000 VISITORS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE CITY ON
THAT DAY.
TOO GET A PREVIEW OF -- TO GET A PREVIEW OF WHAT'S IN STORE FOR
THE CONSENT GRAND OPENING AND HE CASINO INTENDS TO MAINTAIN
LONG-TERM INTEREST, CAROLEEE McGRATH SAT DOWN WITH MIKE
MATHIS, THE PRESIDENT OF MGM SPRINGFIELD, TO FIND OUT MORE.
>> REALLY JUST MOVING INTO THE BUILDING.
TRAINING IS HAPPENING ON SITE.
WE'RE BURNING KITCHENS, PUTTING FINAL TOUCHES ON SOME OF THE
SPACES, AND JUST MAKING SURE IT'S READY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS ON
AUGUST 24TH.
>> SO YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE LIKE A DRY RUN OR A TESTING ON
AUGUST 14th.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?
>> YES.
WE'RE INVITING A SELECT FEW FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS FROM THE
COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND EXPERIENCE THE RESORT.
WE'RE GOING TO FIRE UP THE KITCHENS, TEST THE SLOT MACHINES
AND THE TABLE GAMES, AND MAKE SURE OUR STAFF IS READ FOR THE
24TH.
SO -- IS READY FOR THE 24TH.
SO JUST MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING AND OUR FOLKS ARE
TRAINED AND READY TO RECEIVE OUR GUESTS.
>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS TALKING ABOUT 30,000 VISITORS ON
OPENING DAY IN SPRINGFIELD.
WHICH IS REALLY INCREDIBLE.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE PREPARED FOR TRAFFIC AND PARKING?
>> YEAH.
WE'RE EXPECTING A TON OF FOLKS TO COME OUT.
WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR, YOU KNOW, SEVEN YEARS OR SO.
SO I THINK THE ANTICIPATION IS THERE AND IT'S REALLY A TEAM
EFFORT WITH THE CITY AND THE STATE.
WORKING WITH MassDOT, WITH THE SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT,
CITY PLANNING, TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT ALL THE DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF THAT OPENING DAY COVERED FROM TRAFFIC, PUBLIC
SAFETY, COMMUNICATION IS KEY.
WE'VE GOT AN OFFSITE LOT AT THE BIGGIE AREA SO WE CAN HAVE
PEOPLE PARK OFFSITE UNTIL THE GRAND CANYON IS READY TO RECEIVE
THEM.
AND IT'S A FRIDAY MORNING SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T
HURT THE DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AS WELL.
SO WE PROVIDED FOR OFFSITE PARKING, A SHUTTLE PROGRAM, AND
JUST A LOT OF COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS.
>> AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROCESSION BEFORE THE OPENING AS
WELL.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT?
>> WE ARE.
IT'S ABOUT 10:30 A.M.
ON FRIDAY THE 24TH.
WE'RE GOING TO START A PROCESSION.
IT'S GOING TO BE LED BY THE BUDWEISER CLYDESDALE HORSES AND
IT'S REALLY A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY ALL
THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, A LITTLE BIT OF ENTERTAINMENT, SOME OF
OUR LAS VEGAS-TYPE BRANDS ARE GOING TO BE OUT HERE.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO LEAD OUR EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
RIGHT DOWN MAIN STREET ALONG WITH THE MAYOR.
I THINK THE MAYOR AND I ARE GOING TO BE ON A -- ON A
TROLLEY.
AND ARRIVE TO OPEN UP OR DOORS OF.
SO WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL THE ANSWER -- THE ANTICIPATION
OF OPENING THE DOORS AND YESTERYEAR WHEN MAIN STREET WAS
FILLED WITH THE PARADES AND PROCESSIONS AND A CHANCE TO
CELEBRATE.
>> TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU'LL BE WORKING WITH THE SPRINGFIELD
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I KNOW THEY JUST OPENED UP A NEW METRO UNIT DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS
RIGHT BEHIND THE MASS MUTUAL CENTER.
I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR OWN SECURITY ON THE GROUNDS.
HOW WILL THAT BE COORDINATED?
>> SURE.
WE BELIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY IS YOU KNOW, CRITICAL IN TERMS OF THE
EXPERIENCE.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT,
GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO OUR INITIAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH MAYOR
SARNO.
HE STRESSED PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE NEED TO REALLY -- IT'S LESS
ABOUT THE CASINO.
JUST ABOUT BRINGING 30,000 PEOPLE ANYWHERE AND MAKING SURE
THE CITY IS PREPARED FOR THEM.
WE'VE DEDICATED TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE NEW
ACADEMY CLASSES AND THAT WE HAVE NEW CRUISERS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY
JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT FROM A CROWD CONTROL PERSPECTIVE, THAT
THE -- THAT THE CITY IS READY TO RECEIVE THESE FOLKS.
SO THERE'S GOING TO BE HIGH VISIBILITY UP AND DOWN MAIN
STREET.
I THINK THERE'S A 45-OFFICER DEDICATED DOWNTOWN PATROL UNIT
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE'VE GOT ABOUT 150 OF OUR OWN SECURITY OFFICERS THAT WILL
BE THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY ON BIKE PATROLS, ROVING.
WE'VE GOT STATE AGENTS FROM THE GAMING COMMISSION.
SO A REALLY -- A BIG PUBLIC SAFETY PRESENCE AND FULL
COORDINATION AND WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER REQUEST THE PARTNERSHIP.
>> I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUT HOW
IS THAT RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPING ESPECIALLY AS YOU'RE MOVING
FORWARD TO THE OWING DAY?
-- OPENING DAY?
>> SURE, IT'S BEEN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
I'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND SINCE 2012 AND WE FOSTERED SOME OF THE
THOUGH RELATIONSHIPS VERY EARLY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS EXTENDS BEYOND
THE FOUR CORNERS.
AND A COUPLE OF STRATEGIC WAYS WE DID THAT IS WE HAVE A
250-ROOM HOTEL AND THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO SERVICE ALL OF
OUR GUESTS, PUT WE WANT TO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SHERATON,
MARRIOTTS, THE HOLIDAY IN, THAT THEY FELT THE BENEFIT OF THE
EXTRA DEMAND.
SO WE'VE GOT CROSS-MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS, ROOM BLOCK
ARRANGEMENTS.
REALLIES ALL THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS THAT WE PARTNER WITH
SO WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO LEAVE THE RESORT, AND GO EXPLORE DOWNTOWN,
WE'VE GOT RESTAURANTS THAT THEY CAN GO TO.
PARTNERING WITH SIX FLAGS, THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS ARE ACTUALLY
PRESENT ON SITE WITH SOME EXHIBITS AND WE'RE GOES TO
CROSS-MARKET FOLKS TO CHECK OUT THE DR.
SEUSS MUSEUM AND ALL THAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.
A LOT OF ACTIVITY AND IT'S DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
ENJOY OUR RESORT AND REALLY THE DOWNTOWN.
>> YOU ALSO HAVE PARTNERED WITH LIKE STACK AND HCC BRINGING IN A
LOT OF PEOPLE TO WORK AT MGM.
HOW HAS THAT WORKED OUT?
THERE WILL STILL BE JOBS AVAILABLE ONCE YOU'RE UP AND
RUNNING?
>> THE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL AND ALL CREDIT
TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR THINKING ABOUT HOW COMMUNITY COLLEGES
COULD SUPPORT THIS EFFORT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH STICK AND HOLYOKE.
HOLYOKE ON THE CULINARY SIDE AND STICK ON THE GAMING SIDE.
SO WE'VE SET UP SCHOOLS WITH EACH OF THOSE PROGRAMS.
THE GAMING SCHOOLS ACTUALLY ON PROPERTY.
WE'VE GOT A FLOOR OF OUR BUILDING THAT'S DEDICATED TO A
GAMING SCHOOL WHERE WE TEACH BLACKJACK, CHANCE.
THE IDEA --P CONTRACTS.
MOST OF THE TABLE GAME DEALS ARE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCED, THAT'S
COMMON.
BUT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER WILL BE NEW TO THE INDUSTRY AND WE'VE
BROUGHT IN OUR TRAINERS TO TRAIN THEM.
SO REALLY EXCITED TO FRUIT OF THAT -- PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN
SOME REALLY GREAT CANDIDATES THAT ARE GOING TO OPEN UP THIS
RESORT.
WHAT'S COMMON IN OUR INDUSTRY IS ALSO -- AS PEOPLE GET PROMOTED
AND MOVE UP, SOME OF THOSE EARLY DEALERS ARE GOING TO BECOME
MANAGERS AND WE HAVE TO BACKFILL WITH NEW DEALERS.
SOME OF THOSE LINE COOKS ARE GOING TO BE -- BECOME SUE --
SOUS CHEFS AND WE HAVE TO BACKTILL WITH THOSE.
>> ONCE THE EXCITEMENT WEARS OFF --
>> THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
>> THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN, BUT IF IT DOES HOW DO YOU PLAN TO
KEEP THE INTEREST, THE PUBLIC INTEREST?
>> YEAH.
WE SUSTAIN IT THROUGH CONTINUOUS PROGRAMMING.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR RESORTERS IN LAS VEGAS OR --
RESORTS IN LAS VEGAS OUR REGIONAL MARKETS.
ENTERTAINMENT IS KEY FOR US.
WE SELL I THINK SEVEN MILLION -- 7 MILLION LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
TICKETS IN LAS VEGAS ALONE.
SO SOME OF THE BIGGEST ACTS IN THE WORLD COME THROUGH OUR
LAS VEGAS VENUES AND PART OF THE STRATEGY THERE IS IF YOU'RE
GOING TO PLAY IN LAS VEGAS, WE WANT YOU TO COME AND VISIT OUR
SATELLITE SISTER PROPERTIES, ONE WHICH WILL BE SPRINGFIELD,
ANOTHER NATIONAL HARBOR, WHICH WE JUST OPENED A YEAR AND A HALF
AGO OUTSIDE OF D.C.
SO PART OF THE EXCITEMENT WILL BE PUTTING IN DIE DYNAMIC, FRESH
ENTERTAINMENT ACTS AS WELL AS OTHER DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT ON
OUR PLAZA.
OUR OUTDOOR PLAZA IS A BIG PART OF THE ROISHZ AND WHAT MAKES --
RESORT AND WHAT MAKES THIS -- -- HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACTIVATE
SHSPACE.
>> ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE NORTHEAST.
IN THE BIRKSHIRE HIS OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS, THE HEARTWOOD
SCHOOL FOR HOME BUILDING CRAFTS IN PASH HAS DENVERED TIMLER
FRAMING CLASSES MORE THAN 35 YEARS.
USING MORTICE AND 10ON PEGGED JOINERY, STUDENTS TACKLE THE
PROJECT FROM THE GROUND UP UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOL'S
DIRECTOR WILL BEAMER.
WE VISITED THE SCHOOL AND WATCHED A POST AND BEAM PROJECT
COME TO LIFE ON THE FINAL DAY OF CLASS.
>> READY, LIFT, AND SEPARATE.
>> YOU'RE BUILDING SOMETHING WITH YOUR HANDS THAT'S GOING TO
HAVE A LONGEVITY, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
SATISFACTION, NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I THINK THAT'S
ONE OF THE EYE TRACTIONS AND REWARDS -- ATTRACTIONS AND
REWARDS IN GENERAL, BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING THINGS THAT HAVE A
PERM NEXT AND PHYSICAL REALITY THAT YOU CAN -- PERMANENT AND
PHYSICAL REALITY THAT YOU CAN GRAB AND SAY I CREATED THIS.
12 FEET, RIGHT ON THE MONEY. ? ?