MGM Springfield changes President after record revenue low

MGM Springfield replaced its president following the lowest revenue-generating month since the Massachusetts venue opened.

Chris Kelley will replace Mike Mathis as President, while Mathis will now serve as Senior Vice President of Business Development for MGM, working under MGM Resorts’ President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Hornbuckle’s office, the casino said. Kelley now also holds the title of COO at MGM Springfield, as Courtney Wenleder, current VP and COO for the property, will also leave her role in the leadership transition.

“Kelley has served in the same capacity at MGM Northfield Park in Ohio since April 2019, where he spearheaded the transition of the property from a Hard Rock branded entity into an MGM Resorts operated property,” MGM said, as reported by Hartford Business Journal.

MGM removed Mathis following a recent disclosure to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission that MGM Springfield brought in about $18.9 million from slots and table games last month, less than any full month since the casino opened in Aug. 2018. MGM Springfield posted that revenue low just after reporting $19.9 million in November, which is now the second-lowest revenue the casino generated in a month.

Mathis blamed inclement weather for December’s numbers released last week. “We’re grateful for the many guests who braved some of December’s most inclement winter weather days in order to be with us, and thrilled many of them were winners at the slots and tables."

Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett took in $54 million from slots and table games last month, its highest revenue-generating month since it opened last June, Gaming Commission records show. Plainridge Park Casino, a slots-only facility in Southeastern Massachusetts, reported $10.2 million in gaming revenue last month, down slightly from November.

Mathis was named President and COO of MGM Springfield in 2014, ahead of the state gaming commission’s approval of the company’s gaming license. He acknowledged lower-than-expected revenue figures during a Gaming Commission meeting last March. “These numbers are certainly lower than what we had hoped to see in our initial months,” Mathis said at the time. “Anybody in our industry will tell you, typically we look at a three-year stabilization period.”

“(Mathis’) leadership was instrumental in the successful opening of the property and the great relationships we have built with the Springfield community and our partners in New England,” said Jorge Perez, Regional Portfolio President of MGM Resorts International.

Kelley joined MGM Resorts as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MGM Grand Detroit in 2017, according to MGM. Before that, he spent 18 years working for Viejas Casino & Resort in San Diego.

“We are excited to have Chris lead the MGM Springfield team,” Perez said. “Chris’ experience in Ohio, rebranding and integrating a property and introducing MGM to the community, will be an asset for Springfield as we continue to work closely with the community and strive to not only be a world-class entertainment destination but also a good corporate neighbor."