Friday marked the opening of the MGM Springfield casino. A parade helped to mark the occasion, complete with a marching band and famous Clydesdales taking part.
And people were lined up for several hours before the late morning opening of the $960 million resort, hoping to be some of the first people to enter the facility.
The casino is expected to have 3,000 employees, with hiring goals set for Springfield residents, ethnic minorities and women.
The lastest numbers show MGM is likely to hit these goals, or get close. But they won't say how many of the expected 2,200 full-time positions will go to employees in these categories.
And problem gambling is on the mind of some with the casino now open for business. The state gaming commssion is touting its GameSense program to help deal with the issue.
Some social service agencies are ramping up to deal with those with gambling problems, and there are concerns state and local public health officials aren't prepared for what might come.
With Springfield's large economic development project now a reality, Worcester is taking a big gamble of its own: on minor league baseball.
The city has a deal in place to bring the Red Sox's top farm club, the Pawtucket Red Sox, to their city. Worcesteris willing to borrow about $100 million for a new ballpark, with the state chipping in $34 million for market-rate housing and infrastructure around the stadium.
Guests:
- Mike Dobbs, managing editor, The Reminder
- Ron Chimelis, columnist, Springfield Republican
Listen to all our The Short List podcasts.
Disclosure: MGM has purchased underwriting from New England Public Radio publicizing the company's non-gambling activities. The NEPR newsroom operates independently of the station's development department, and editorial decisions are made without regard to any funding relationships.
