Springfield, Mass. casino plans to be heard
Dueling casino plans for Springfield, Mass. to be heard at public meeting
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- Hundreds of Springfield residents are expected to pack a public meeting to hear from two companies seeking to build casinos in the western Massachusetts city.
MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming Inc. are scheduled to make presentations and take questions at the meeting on Tuesday night.
MGM has proposed an $800 million resort casino, hotel and entertainment complex on a 10-block site in downtown Springfield.
Penn National has offered a plan for a resort casino and hotel on a 13.4 acre site in the city's North End.
A third company, Ameristar Casinos, recently withdrew from the Springfield competition.
Mayor Domenic Sarno is expected to decide sometime early next year whether to negotiate a host community agreement with one or both of the remaining developers.
