A top executive with MGM Resorts International will be in Springfield next week to publically assure the company’s commitment to build a casino in the city.
A private meeting between MGM President Bill Hornbuckle and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, with a press conference to follow, was arranged after MGM disclosed plans to eliminate a 25-story hotel tower from its planned casino and substitute a more modest hotel design.
“Skyrocketing” construction costs were blamed for the change.
Sarno said MGM is not backing down on building the $800 million project.
"No doubts at all and I would not accept it, " said Sarno. " It is to move forward."
The tribes that run Connecticut’s two casinos say they’ll announced a location by the end of the year for a third casino that would compete with MGM Springfield.
