Tagged: casino

Officials with the Eastern States Exposition have struck a deal with Hard Rock International to pursue a resort casino development on the fairgrounds in West  Springfield.  According to informed sources the project on the 175 acre property would include a hotel, retail stores and an outdoor concert venue.   Brian Griffin, vice chair of the  town council, believes the project can overcome  what he predicts will be initial resistance on the part of townspeople.

City Councilor James Ferrera, who assured the council a place at the center of the casino debate last year by creating a casino site committee, was re-elected by his colleagues to a rare second consecutive one year term as council president.  Ferrera predicted the casino issue would top the council’s agenda in 2013.

A report to the gaming commission last year said there will be ten thousand jobs in the casino industry in Massachusetts.  William Messner, president of Holyoke Community College  said if there is not a trained pool of local people the casino companies will hire from out of state.

Two high powered casino operators competing to develop projects in Springfield submitted detailed proposals to the city and filed initial applications for a casino license to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.  WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.