MGM Springfield celebrates one-year anniversary with new stadium gaming area

One year after opening in western Massachusetts, MGM Springfield celebrated one year of business Saturday with an anniversary bash that included the presence of Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International Jim Murren.

A look back at our ONEderful Anniversary Party on The Plaza this Saturday. Thank you to all who came out to celebrate with us! Here's to year 2. 🥂 pic.twitter.com/cx0mLfDZaM

— MGM Springfield (@MGMSpringfield) 26 de agosto de 2019

At the event, MGM Springfield’s team also unveiled another offering now available on the casino floor: stadium gaming. The new stadium casino area allows guests to play blackjack, roulette, and two games of baccarat on computer screens featuring live dealers running the games, Mass Live reports.

The games run quicker than at a traditional baccarat or blackjack game, as the computer system handles bets and payouts. Additionally, the stadium gaming setup can handle more games at once. If all 24 terminals were occupied by guests playing four games at once, 96 games would be played.

The stadium gaming area is located in a high-traffic part of the casino floor, next to the cashier’s station.

"Anything you can do from a live table you can do here," said Robert Westerfield, vice president of gaming operations at MGM Springfield.

"You get more action in," Westerfield said, comparing the energy of stadium gaming to a craps table. "This allows MGM Springfield to be a lot more creative with our limit."

The first year of business

One year after opening in western Massachusetts, MGM Springfield has not met casino officials’ expectations, WCVB reports.

Through July, MGM Springfield has generated just over $250 million in gambling revenue despite initially projecting more than $400 million in year one - and much more in succeeding years. The casino also opened with 3,000 workers but is down to roughly 2,300 as the company reduces its global workforce.

Casino president Michael Mathis has promised the gambling, hotel and entertainment complex is retooling for its second act, even as he and city leaders tout the resort's success in spurring new economic investment, drawing millions of new visitors to downtown and employing thousands of city residents.

"We're just ramping up. There's a lot of upside," he told The Associated Press ahead of Saturday's festivities. "The dominoes are falling, but not as quick as we've liked."

Mathis concedes casino officials underestimated the challenge of drawing loyal customers away from regional powerhouses Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. The Indian tribe-owned Connecticut resorts saw gambling revenues decline this year, though not as bad as some feared with MGM's entry.

Going forward, MGM plans to double down on high quality, non-gambling entertainment, like Aerosmith's slate of four concerts this week, Mathis said. The casino is also overhauling its slot machine offerings, introducing new amenities for high rollers and continuing to press for legalized sports gambling in Massachusetts, he said.

"This is a competitive market and each place has to find their niche," Mathis said. "Great entertainment and a unique property, I think, will be ours."

Mathis said he doesn't anticipate further local job cuts. He's quick to note that more than 40% of those employed are residents of Springfield - exceeding initial goals - and that the casino brought in roughly six million visitors its first year.

MGM Springfield - Onederful - First Anniversary