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SPRINGFIELD ‒ Plans to reduce MGM Springfield's retail and entertainment square footage, along with other proposed project changes, could result in fewer guest trips to the casino than initially estimated.

The updated visit estimates come in the wake of MGM Springfield's recently revised site plan that included a proposal to reduce the size of its hotel from a 25-story, glass-facade tower to a six-story hotel at a new location at the corner of Main and Howard streets. MGM Resorts International has also announced plans to reduce the casino development's size by nearly 14 percent overall, including a significant cut in retail space, a smaller bowling alley and less space for its upscale movie theater.

Under the proposed changes, daily and peak period trip generation could shrink by an estimated five to eight percent compared to previous figures, according to estimates included in MGM Springfield's Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Notice of Project Change application.

Saturday midday peak hour casino traffic would likely see the biggest hit with an estimated 7.4 percent net reduction in primary trips, the notice stated. Saturday daily primary trips, meanwhile, are estimated to go down by five percent under the proposed changes.

New Friday daily and evening peak hour primary trips would also take a hit, with respective expected reductions of 5.6 percent and 5 percent, according to the notice.

MGM Springfield spokeswoman Carole Brennan said that given the project's size, the expected trip reduction is considered minor.

"We remain confident in our initial revenue projections, and we look forward to meeting with the city of Springfield the week of Nov. 16 to showcase the details of our revised design," she said in an email.

MGM estimates that the casino project will garner 18,570 new primary Friday daily trips - down from the 19,673 it previously expected - and 20,824 new primary Saturday daily trips - lower than the 21,925 estimated.

It also expects to see 1,204 new primary trips during Friday peak hours and 1,215 new daily trips during Saturday peak hours - reductions from the respective 1,290 and 1,312 previously estimated for those periods, according to the notice of project change.

Despite the expected visit reduction, MGM contended in the document that the trip rates remain consistent with those the Massachusetts Department of Transportation endorsed in its review of the Draft Environmental Impact Report and the Final Environmental Impact Report filed last year.

MGM Resorts International Chief Executive Officer James Murren and other top executives met with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno last week in wake of criticism on the proposed casino changes. Murren said the 14 percent square footage reduction will largely affect back of house space, adding that the new hotel design will create more energy for the city's downtown.

The casino project is being developed from east to west between Main Street and East Columbus Avenue and north to south from State to Union streets. MGM is slated to create at least 3,000 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs, and is expected to provide millions of dollars in new revenue to the city and state.

The proposed changes still need approval by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and the City of Springfield. The commission is seeking comments on the proposed changes from the general public. Such reactions can be emailed to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with 'MGM Springfield Design' in the subject line.