The newest casino in Maryland, despite the frigid temperatures, is still on schedule for the 2016 opening. This will be Maryland's sixth casino. The specifics for the actual date are not known as of yet. The location is going to be at National Harbor, with 23 acres. The casino will have 140 gaming tables, and 3600 of the slot machines. MGM Casino Resort, will be having 21 floors with retail shops that are upscale, hotel with 300 rooms, restaurants that are celebrity driven, and an entertainment venue with seating for 3000 people. They will operate 24 hours a day, with a staff of almost 4000 people. Besides the need for dealers, there will also be the need for supervisors, chefs, accountants, retail managers, technicians for the spa, among many more jobs. A great boost for the local economy.
The permits needed for the building of the project were received in 2014, and with a cost of approximately 1.3 billion. Through the tough weather conditions, approximately 100 workers remained working to prepare the space that the first parking level will be located. There will be seven parking levels total, with the first to be complete in just a few short weeks. By the time Memorial Day comes there with be more than 1,000 workers, and 11 cranes, with work taking place at all hours to make sure the casino opens as planned in the later part of 2016.
The concerns about traffic to the new casino, and from it, will be addressed with a traffic management plan. The hope will be for a metro station to be placed at the National Harbor, since the casino is projected to have thousands of people to come to that area. One problem that might occur when the casino opens, is a parking issue with the free parking the company wants to offer. There is going to be approximately parking spots for 5000 vehicles. This will need a prevention plan, for non patrons of the casino to not park, and not leave enough spaces for the patrons. As of now there is plenty of time to come up with a plan.
