Penn National and MGM Resorts International officials will be back in Springfield to pitch entertainment and traffic plans for their proposed projects, which would rise along the northern and southern edges of downtown, respectively.
New renderings released Sunday by Penn National Gaming include an outdoor dining area for the casino company's proposed hotel and gaming facility for Main Street in Springfield. The $807 million project would rise on 13 acres straddling the city's Metro Center and North End neighborhoods.
SPRINGFIELD — Penn National Gaming has released updated drawings of its proposed casino project for Main Street, including new designs for an outdoor patio dining area and an expansive plaza entrance to the hotel and gaming complex.
As Penn National prepares for Monday's public presentation on the $807 million project, company officials said they released new sketches Sunday to demonstrate the seamless link between their development, Main Street and the rest of downtown Springfield. The project, among several proposals competing for the state's lone casino license for Western Massachusetts, would rise on 13.4 acres straddling the city's Metro Center and North End neighborhoods, including properties currently owned by The Republican and Peter Pan Bus Lines.
The updated designs are the byproduct of "ongoing negotiations with the city," said Will Keyser, president of Keyser Public Strategies, the Boston-based public relations firm representing Penn National. Keyser said the fresh designs are the direct result of feedback received during the casino company's ongoing discussions with city leaders.
The renderings no longer include sky bridges linking the casino and hotel to Union Station and the Paramount Theater – changes suggested by the city, according to Keyser.
This new rendering by Penn National Gaming shows the plaza entrance for the company's proposed $807 million casino and hotel complex for Springfield. The project would be built on 13.4 acres spanning sections of Metro Center and the North End.
Officials from Penn National and MGM Resorts International, the other company trying to build a casino in Springfield, are expected to discuss the impact of their projects on entertainment and traffic during presentations at CityStage on Monday, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Local officials have encouraged area residents and business owners to attend the forum at the Springfield performance space, which is located at 1 Columbus Center.
The chief executive officers of Penn National and MGM Resorts are slated to attend the forum, according to Kevin E. Kennedy, Springfield's chief development officer. The presence of "upper management" from both companies indicates they are "very interested in traffic considerations and entertainment considerations," Kennedy said.
Tim Wilmott, Penn National's president and chief operating officer, said a "major focus" of his company's proposal is to help spur new economic development that "cascades down Main Street into the heart of the downtown." The new renderings represent a plan that will help that process take root, according to Wilmott.
"We believe one of the benefits of the updated design is that it will link the casino and hotel more seamlessly to Main Street and encourage visitors to venture into the downtown area," Wilmott said.
MGM officials were quick to launch a hearts-and-minds campaign aimed at winning support for their plan. That effort has included sponsorship of the city's hockey and basketball teams, donations to community initiatives totaling nearly $100,000, numerous multimedia advertisements, and a Hollywood-style video flyover of downtown Springfield featuring a new MGM skyscraper and street-level views of a revamped Main Street.
Penn National has stepped up efforts to boost its profile, including multiple paid advertisements in The Republican and various high-profile gestures, including donations to a food-assistance program and a joint $25,000 donation with Springfield businessman Peter Picknelly, the casino company's local partner, to Square One Early Education and Care Center. The nonprofit group's downtown Springfield facility was heavily damaged in November's devastating natural gas explosion.
Last week, Penn National announced plans to partner with Early Childhood Centers of Greater Springfield to provide child-care services for casino employees at its proposed Springfield site.
This new rendering by Penn National Gaming shows the facade of the company's proposed casino-hotel complex on Main Street in Springfield. The project would rise on more than 13 acres of land straddling the city's Metro Center and North End neighborhoods.
On Friday, Penn National unveiled another partnership: A signed agreement with the New England Farm Workers Council to help restore the Paramount Theater. The Farm Workers Council owns the 84-year-old Main Street theater, and the organization has agreed to lease the venerable venue to Penn National for live entertainment.
Eric Schippers, Penn National's senior vice president for public affairs, said revitalization of the Paramount is an important part of Penn's planned "ripple effect" to link its casino to the rest of downtown Springfield. Specific details about the lease agreement, including how much Penn will contribute toward theater refurbishment costs, have not been released.
Penn National officials claim their proposal includes direct involvement of local minorities, who collectively form the city's majority population. Springfield's growing Hispanic community alone represented nearly 40 percent of the city's overall population in 2010, according to U.S. Census data, making Latinos the city's single largest ethnic group.
"Our proposal is the only one that has involved the local minority community at this level, and we are incredibly proud to be associated with an organization that is such a powerful and effective voice for the Latino community in Springfield," Schippers said.
Heriberto Flores, president of the Farm Workers Council, said Penn National officials approached his organization "early on in the process" to include Hispanics in the casino company's revitalization plans for Springfield. "We are excited to have a signed agreement that will revitalize the Paramount Theater and bring a diverse group of entertainers that will appeal to not just one segment of our city, but to all our citizens," Flores said.
Following Monday's public presentations by Penn National and MGM Resorts, city officials and consultants will negotiate host community agreements with the casino companies. An agreement with one or both firms needs approval from Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, the City Council and city voters. The agreements, if approved, would then be submitted for consideration by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, officials said.
The Gaming Commission will grant up to three casino licenses statewide, including one designated for Western Massachusetts.
Two other companies are vying for this region's sole casino license: Hard Rock International wants to build a $700 million to $800 million resort on property belonging to Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, while Mohegan Sun last week upped its $600 million Palmer proposal by another $200 million, bringing project costs closer to those of its rivals.
MGM's proposal, which includes an outdoor performance area, jumbo television, and pedestrian mall lined with restaurants and retail establishments, ranges in cost from $750 million to $850 million. The multi-block project would stretch roughly from the MassMutual Center at the corner of State and Main streets into the city's South End.