Hard Rock will also launch the formation of “West Side Yes,” a group of local supporters of the casino project.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino New England will host a grand opening on Tuesday for its West Springfield campaign headquarters at 1425 Westfield St. (Route 20) as part of the effort to get voters to approve a casino in the Sept. 10 special election. The casino is proposed for 38 acres at the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds.
The event will rally community support for the $800 million proposed project, according to Hard Rock. It will also launch the formation of “West Side Yes,” a group of local supporters of the casino project.
In a related development, Brian Griffin, vice-president of the West Springfield Town Council and chairman of the council’s Casino Mitigation Committee, said he has tried, without success thus far, to meet with MGM Resorts International regarding mitigation funds and traffic concerns.
“Two of the more serious concerns is the woefully underfunded mitigation account created by MGM and their parking and traffic plan which until now has been more of a mystery than a reality,” Griffin said in an email to Springfield City Council President James J. Ferrera III.
Ferrera has also sought a meeting with MGM.
