New details on casino proposals to be revealed at public forum

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - MGM and Penn National Gaming will reveal their casino proposals in a public forum Tuesday night.

The City asked the developers to make these public presentations, which are fairly common for areas exploring casino options. The meeting at CityStage is just another step the companies are taking to show their plans to residents, and perhaps win over voters for a potential city-wide referendum.

MGM unveiled it' plans for a South End casino site back in August. So far, Penn National Gaming, which hopes to develop on land in the North End, has not given us much more than an artist’s rendering and an area of town they hope to develop. On Tuesday night, we expect to hear more from both developers.

“We have been fairly quiet up to this point as to specifically what our plans are,” Penn National Chief Operating Officer Tim Wilmott said.

“They're still evolving. We have a lot of things that are going to ripple from our development in the
north end of town, with Union Station, the relocation of the Peter Pan, the relocation of The Republican, these things take time.”

MGM Springfield President Bill Hornbuckle says that their plans are developing, as well.

“It continues to evolve. We've done a lot of work since we've last presented publically, at least in the general format back in August, and we're excited to share that. 

The Massachusetts Gaming commission will have the final say as to if a license will be awarded in Western Mass and to whom. Mohegan Sun in Palmer and two potential options in Holyoke are the only known competition. 

Casino developers have to pay a $400,000 application fee to the state by January 15.  MGM is the only developer in Western Mass that has paid that fee.

Penn National is preparing to make their presentation first. The meeting opens to the public at 4:30 and is slated to officially begin at 5:00.