MGM proposing Brimfield casino

BRIMFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - There's a new company throwing its hat in the Western Massachusetts casino ring. MGM Resorts International says they have signed a contract to develop land in the town of Brimfield.

It's an empty plot of land in Brimfield that's not accessible now besides a rugged, winding, muddy road up to the top of the hill. That's where the Las Vegas casino Company MGM Resorts International hopes to purchase 150 acres of land from the Rolling Hills Realty Trust.

Right now, though, there's no off-ramp from the turnpike to the location. That ramp will have to be created. Proximity to the Mass Pike is a key element in the proposed location the plot of land  currently overlooks the highway.

For some residents like Tony Bys who has lived in Brimfield for over 30 years, he doesn't want the casino to interrupt the small town of 3500 residents. “It just expands our taxes kind of thing so I would not be in favor of that, I like the small town character, part time employees kind of thing,” said Bys of Brimfield.

Even though the resort casino will bring over 3,000 jobs to the area, developers say they don't want to disrupt the small town either, so there would only be access from the Mass Pike, not from the surrounding towns.

Bill Hornbuckle, Chief Marketing Officer for MGM Resorts said,“Other than life safety for Brimfield we have no design, desire and I don't think the community does as well to have access through that community so that answer ultimately will hopefully be no, that's up to the town of Brimfield to decide that as well but that's what we believe they want and that's where we're going.”

David Callahan, CEO of Palmer Paving Corp. and principal of Rolling Hills Estates Realty Trust said,“We think this site delivers the best benefit with the least amount of impacts not only to Brimfield but the entire community and region.”

Springfield, Holyoke, and Palmer are just a few of the other locations that have expressed interest in building a casino in Western Massachusetts. President of the Palmer Town council, Paul Burns, says he welcomes the competition but he believes the nearby Palmer site is stronger.