Let's Talk about Springfield (Boston, Holyoke: low income, section 8, apartments)

[IWLC]

Originally Posted by MamaKin1977

I don't know about Bruno Mars, but this morning the Dropkick Murphys announced an appearance at the Plaza on the 25th. Tickets are $10 and the proceeds are going to the Thomas Sullivan Foundation.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dropkic...ts-48483886610

Assuming I'm still unemployed, I'll probably walk the neighborhood so I can hear it.

Damn, I'll be there for sure. I can never get to Boston to see them.




I read some promo for the casino in the Boston paper today. They are going to have a 25,000 dollar cocktail in the bar. They are calling it 'The Indian' - has some fancy ingredients and the rim of the glass is dipped in gold dust. Buy one and you get an Indian Motorcycle.


One thing MGM has that the smaller casino operators don't is an extensive mailing list of high rollers. I saw pictures of the high roller suites - they have ore square footage than my house 400 to 600 a night. You know they'll be flying in some big gamblers to play in the VIP poker room.

[MamaKin1977]

Originally Posted by IWLC

Las Vegas buffets are the BEST. The best breakfast is at Paris Casino. I think there is a strategic reason for not having a buffet in Springfield MGM - keeps the Golden Corral patrons away. Plus, of course, Las Vegas gets 40 million visitors a year and all the properties are trying to lure them with the best offerings.

I think this is MGM going for the "boutique" feel. If they plan to expand down the road, they have real estate options. Heard a rumor about a bar going in right across the street and other businesses planning to expand hours depending on the volume of casino patrons. If people really want the buffet option, it's not like we're all that far from Mohegan & Foxwoods. MGM won't aggressively court the casual player looking for those amenities. They'll be after the high rollers, the ones who make casino employees sick by the amount of money they casually spend playing blackjack or baccarat. (I might be a little jaded after a few years in the business.)

If I'm not mistaken, quite a few of the design choices were made as part of the agreement to build here (i.e. the armory, materials from local historic buildings, maintaining a particular aesthetic, etc.). I'm just happy there's a Regal Cinema that'll be nice and close.

[MamaKin1977]

Originally Posted by IWLC

Damn, I'll be there for sure. I can never get to Boston to see them.




I read some promo for the casino in the Boston paper today. They are going to have a 25,000 dollar cocktail in the bar. They are calling it 'The Indian' - has some fancy ingredients and the rim of the glass is dipped in gold dust. Buy one and you get an Indian Motorcycle.


One thing MGM has that the smaller casino operators don't is an extensive mailing list of high rollers. I saw pictures of the high roller suites - they have ore square footage than my house 400 to 600 a night. You know they'll be flying in some big gamblers to play in the VIP poker room.

I heard about that. Talk about a sidecar....

The hotel is supposed to incredible. With the opening event being invite-only, you can guarantee a lot of that kind of activity. Hell, the Budweiser Clydesdales are being brought in for the parade.

[timberline742]

Oh boy, big horses.

[IWLC]

Originally Posted by MamaKin1977

If I'm not mistaken, quite a few of the design choices were made as part of the agreement to build here (i.e. the armory, materials from local historic buildings, maintaining a particular aesthetic, etc.). I'm just happy there's a Regal Cinema that'll be nice and close.

Yes, they are going heavy on the Western Mass aspect. Emily Dickenson is being themed in some decor aspect - not sure how they're doing that. Also, the New York sculptor who did the large featured pieces is incredible. She works in large sheets of laser cut aluminum and steel - she's been working on the commissions for quite a while, including one large piece representing our tornado.


When you think about all the aspects of building multiple venues, apart even from the actual gaming floor, the details are incredible, all the way down to branded napkins and bowling shoes. They must have had a huge purchasing staff. And, everything has to be in place for opening day,

[MamaKin1977]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Oh boy, big horses.

That surprisingly draw a crowd. Whatever works!

[MamaKin1977]

Originally Posted by IWLC

Yes, they are going heavy on the Western Mass aspect. Emily Dickenson is being themed in some decor aspect - not sure how they're doing that. Also, the New York sculptor who did the large featured pieces is incredible. She works in large sheets of laser cut aluminum and steel - she's been working on the commissions for quite a while, including one large piece representing our tornado.

Interesting. I've not seen anything not currently available to the public, just what I'm told by the folks I know who are working inside. Quotes from her works as artwork, perhaps?

When you think about all the aspects of building multiple venues, apart even from the actual gaming floor, the details are incredible, all the way down to branded napkins and bowling shoes. They must have had a huge purchasing staff. And, everything has to be in place for opening day.

With a week to go, this is the big push. And they're still not done hiring. There are a ton of people from other properties and corporate on-site to finish the prep and to launch.

[IWLC]

Originally Posted by MamaKin1977

There are a ton of people from other properties and corporate on-site to finish the prep and to launch.

I have a feeling that with the way they are focusing on reviving the downtown area by spreading out around town, they are looking to make it a new model for future expansion into medium sized cities. I don't think this model has been done anywhere else. If this works and other tenants begin occupying the empty retail spaces (something Springfield could never make happen before), it will look very attractive to other cities who are in a similar boat to Springfield. I bet the landlords of those empty spaces will be sprucing up the exteriors to attract tenants.


Also, of course it's something that no slot parlor in Enfield could compete with.


A friend whose son was a dealer in Vegas, has moved home to work as a pit boss here and has rented an apartment downtown. Maybe the ball is rolling in getting people moving downtown (other than the subsidized folks)



Besides, it's entertainment geared towards adults. Every other event in Springfield is a face painting, bounce house, balloon animal extravaganza.


Dropkick Murphys were sold out almost as soon as they were announced - going to have to wait for Aaron Lewis in September.

[MamaKin1977]

We chose downtown. Between desperation to find a place quickly and the convenience of not having to drive to work, it turned out to be a good decision.

I'd love to see this work as a foundation for downtown businesses. Hotel guests are always looking for something to do, as I found out while working for Harrah's during the World Series of Poker. The poker players had an agenda, but their companions wanted more than just the gaming floor or browsing the hotel shops. The property opened a "multi-tainment" center (bowling alley, arcade, and dining spaces) and it's slowly developing into expansion for "more to do" since the casino was the biggest thing between Asheville and Knoxville. There are plenty of outdoor activities (hiking, rafting, riding the Tail of the Dragon), but come winter it's a virtual ghost town. Developing businesses outside of the casino's footprint can only help.

[IWLC]

Originally Posted by MamaKin1977

We chose downtown. Between desperation to find a place quickly and the convenience of not having to drive to work, it turned out to be a good decision.

I'd love to see this work as a foundation for downtown businesses.

I imagine they have a fair number of people from the corporate offices and experienced people from their other properties who will be moving here semi-permanently and will need to find apartment rentals close by, along with some employees. They will want to have other places to relax when they aren't working too.


Any businesses that move into the area will probably want to have nice store fronts and be more suited to the restaurants and shops that MGM has on Main street (i.e. not bling, sneaker and urban clothing store with cheap looking signage)


I'm definitely glad that MGM was chosen to be the casino operator and the out of the way locations, like Palmer and the Page Blvd spot lost out.


I bet the restaurants that chose to cluster themselves down by the hall of fame to be far away fro the riff-raff wish they had chosen downtown locations now.


One thing that HAS to go is the clinic that Richard Neal put his name on. Whoever heard of putting a health center right in an area that they were trying to revitalize? Please tell me it's not a needle exchange program. Same with the social program offices further down. That's what happens when landlords are desperate for tenants - they end up cutting their own throats. The city needs an ordinance in regards to what kind of operations are allowed in the revitalization zone.