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The casino and entertainment complex boasts all the flash and amenities that many have come to expect.
By Luz Lazo, Lori Aratani and Ashley Halsey December 9 at 1:30 PM
<article itemprop="articleBody" style="box-sizing: border-box;">With the grandeur and racket of a gambling palace, with a hiccup in traffic late Thursday night that was resolved by Friday morning’s rush hour, the MGM National Harbor casino opened for business on the banks of the Potomac beside a gateway into the nation’s capital.
Police were out in force Thursday night when the doors opened, but their presence was not enough to keep traffic from backing up the Capital Beltway as drivers tried to exit for the massive complex of hotels, condominiums and shops that have sprung up on the riverfront in the past decade.
With the casino anticipated to attract 25,000 or more people daily, just what that new volume will mean to the region during two normally congested rush hours created much worry.
When the doors opened to the public at 10:30 p.m., a half-hour earlier than scheduled because of the crowds and the cold, hordes of would-be gamblers rushed inside. By 11:30, the casino had reached capacity — about 9,000 — and officials were not allowing any more patrons in.
The scene repeated itself Friday when at about 2 p.m. casino officials tweeted that the facility had again reached capacity and people would only be permitted to enter as others left.
First glimpse inside the new MGM National Harbor Casino
[FONT=FranklinITCProBold !important]Play Video[/FONT][FONT=FranklinITCProLight !important]1:55[/FONT]
The Washington Post was given an exclusive tour of the new MGM National Harbor before its grand opening on Dec. 8. (Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post)
Casino officials met just after 2 p.m. to discuss the conditions and the opening success. They decided they would urge people to reconsider their trip to the casino this weekend, as crowds are expected Friday night.
“We estimate that we have had more than 50,000 visitors to the property before noon today,”casino spokesman Gordon Absher said. “It is a tremendous level of support.”
But he said it has come to the point to tell people to change their plans, consider visiting for breakfast, or wait a few days or longer to visit. “We need to encourage folks to consider planning their trip,” he said.
Absher blamed some of the Thursday night issues on unfamiliarity with roads and the parking facilities, and an “awful lot of people” trying to get into the casino on opening night.
“We have been opened less than 24 hours. There is a lot of newness,” he said. “Is this weekend going to be crowded? Absolutely. There is going to be a lot of locals who want to come experience it.”
[MGM National Harbor opens Thursday, bringing a slice of Las Vegas to the doorstep of the nation’s capital]
A fight broke out on the casino floor at one point Thursday night — video of which was posted on social media. MGM officials Friday described it as a “minor altercation” between two or three people. It was unclear if anyone was arrested.
Mark Brady, spokesman for Prince George’s fire and EMS, said the department responded to 10 EMS-related calls Thursday night — not an unusual amount given the number of people.
Brady said fire and EMS crews were staged in the area to respond quickly and will continue to have pre-staged fire and EMS units there for 10 days.
Prince George’s County officials hope the glitzy new entertainment destination will be the beginning of a new era of economic growth and prosperity for the county.
The casino is also a point of progress and pride for county residents who have long complained of being snubbed by high-end retailers offering the type of amenities and cachet that the resort brings.
“This facility is a watershed moment for us,” County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) said Thursday as he and other top elected officials gathered to mark the opening. “The comments I made when I first took office — about how we are the economic engine of Maryland — and I dare say the Washington region — this facility says that is true, and it also says to businesses ‘This is the place to come.’ ”
Just how many will come is a question of the hour, as the National Harbor venue became the sixth casino to open in Maryland. Once restricted to Nevada and, later, Atlantic City, there now are dozens of casinos across the country, including those in adjoining Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Edward Aperson, who drove with his wife from their Spotsylvania home early Friday, took a look around and decided he preferred the Rocky Gap Casino and Resport in Flintstone, Md.
“This is more city,” he said as he surveyed the casino floor. “At Rocky Gap there’s a beautiful lake — we can camp. It’s more natural.
“It’s the traffic. City, traffic — it’s too much hassle,” he said.
Edward and his wife, Donna, said they consider themselves casino aficionados.
“It’s very pretty,” Donna Aperson said. “It looks so new.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) called it “simply amazing.”
“MGM National Harbor will have a transformational impact on this region,” Hogan said Thursday. “It will be a tremendous economic benefit to Prince George’s County and the state of Maryland.”
In addition to the nearly 4,000 jobs created, the $1.4 billion casino resort is projected to generate between $40 million and $45 million a year in tax revenue for the county — and millions more for the state.
[MGM lauds hiring and giving record as it readies to open in Prince George’s]
As dignitaries and special guests entered the resort for an opening ceremony, they lauded its offerings of fine dining and an intimate concert venue in addition to the gambling. They chuckled at promotions saying that “Mankind was not born to be bored” and that MGM is in “the holy s--- business.”
The elevators from the parking garage were so packed Thursday night that guests feared they would overload, and they shouted “Nooo” at those who tried to shove their way in.
Security officers tried to ask people crammed into a vestibule to go back outside, and many refused, pressing up against the glass doors instead. “Open! Open! Open!” they chanted, and “Let us in! Let us in!”
Inside, nearly every machine in the 125,000-square-foot casino was taken almost as soon as the doors opened. Roxana Pimental, who had waited outside for two hours, seized a Mayan wheel game. “The wait was so worth it,” said Pimental, 31. “I want to play all of them. All of them.”
Others groused about not being able to find an open slot machine as they lined up in ever-growing queues at the many casual eateries. Around 12:30 a.m., security reopened the doors and a new crowd swarmed the lobby and conservatory.
Domingo Bernardo, a 46-year-old construction worker and salesman from Fort Washington, was eager to get right to the Texas Hold’em tables. “It’s gonna be more fun tonight because a lot of dealers are rookies,” said Bernardo as he waited outside before the casino opened. “Sometimes they make mistakes, but you make money.”
Claude Thompson, 68, of Bel Air, Md., had the same hunch. “Some people think the machines pay you better to get you something” on opening day, the former UPS driver said.
Thompson misunderstood and thought the casino opened at 11 a.m., so he had arrived at 8 a.m. After waiting 14 hours, he was even more eager than most to get inside.
Brandy Seipel gave him a run for his money, though. The 33-year-old insurance agent from District Heights, Md., live-streamed her reactions for about 30 friends watching on Facebook Live. “It’s so beautiful,” she squealed, spinning around on the steps of chef Marcus Samuelsson’s new restaurant. “You gotta come. Even if you have to get up for work at 5:30 a.m. I’m going to pull an all-nighter here. I’m going to.”
The casino, nine miles south of the U.S. Capitol, sits on a 23-acre parcel on the banks of the Potomac River. Maryland officials, marking the opening, noted the building’s architecture as a gateway landmark just off the Capital Beltway.
But MGM aimed for the glamour of Las Vegas and Hollywood.
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and the celebrity chefs José Andrés, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, and Samuelsson, who have restaurants in the resort, posed for selfies as politicians and corporate officials mingled during the open house earlier in the day.
[Fears of traffic gridlock as MGM casino is set to open; officials urge patience and planning]
Parker chose the casino as the site for her first stand-alone boutique. During the pre-opening hours for VIPs, she knelt to personally help a shopper try on a pair of $350 Italian-made shoes, while a line of curious customers grew longer by the minute.
The resort has already booked Bruno Mars, Cher, Sting and Ricky Martin for concerts in its 3,000-seat theater, which will also feature comedy shows and boxing matches.
Also at the resort is a day spa and a large collection of art by local and international artists.
Then there’s the gambling: The casino will be open 24 hours a day and has more than 3,300 slot machines, 124 gaming tables and 39 poker tables.
The casino is the first to open in the greater Washington region.
Some industry analysts have questioned whether the market Maryland and East Coast market are saturated. Others say there is still room for growth in a state where casinos have yet to reach their revenue projections.
“Is gaming vibrant enough to take some more? Yes,” said Richard Clinch, who tracks the gambling industry as director of economic development at the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute. “I think MGM creates a market because it is a national-level operator. It is one of the elite operators of casinos.”
That’s why, officials say, MGM could be a driving force in attracting international visitors. Although the casino is expected to attract gamblers from across the Washington region, MGM executives say their goal is to draw people from across the continental U.S. and worldwide.
Still, MGM is likely to affect revenue at Maryland Live in Anne Arundel County, its nearest competitor, and one that markets to the District and Northern Virginia, where casino-style gambling remains illegal.
The opening was a major undertaking for local law enforcement. Police deployed dozens of officers to manage traffic near the casino, which residents and commuters fear will exacerbate gridlock in the area. Fences were put up to discourage pedestrians from crossing outside the crosswalks, and the county police helicopter started patrolling the skies in the early afternoon.
Outside the casino, some who gathered around weak heat lamps to await the opening gave in to the bitter cold and went home. Henry Rubio, 24, of Alexandria tuckered out around 7:30 p.m. “It’s way too cold,” he said through a ski mask. “My toes are freezing.” Because of the traffic, he and his friends trekked half a mile to a McDonald’s down the road to catch a ride.
But inside the casino, the VIPs were reveling already. Zeno St. Cyr III, a Prince George’s County activist, said he was most excited about the amenities, which is what many resident were approving when they voted to bring the casino to Prince George’s in November 2012.
Local Headlines newsletter
Daily headlines about the Washington region.
“That’s what we are getting,” he said. “I know my wife would like to go to the day spa there and get pampered. I have no idea how much it’s going to cost me!”
He’s not much of a gambler, he said. But he played $50 at the slot machines on Thursday night and managed to win $222. Cash out voucher in hand, he looked around the gaming room and said, “It’s really something special.”
Bill Boasberg, general manager of MGM National Harbor, said the building, the size of five city blocks, is the product of thousands of workers.
“After we christen our resort with an inaugural party tonight, we will open the doors to the public. And then they will never close,” he said.
Lynh Bui, Arelis Hernandez and Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report.
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View Photos
The casino and entertainment complex boasts all the flash and amenities that many have come to expect.
By Luz Lazo, Lori Aratani and Ashley Halsey December 9 at 1:30 PM
<article itemprop="articleBody" style="box-sizing: border-box;">With the grandeur and racket of a gambling palace, with a hiccup in traffic late Thursday night that was resolved by Friday morning’s rush hour, the MGM National Harbor casino opened for business on the banks of the Potomac beside a gateway into the nation’s capital.
Police were out in force Thursday night when the doors opened, but their presence was not enough to keep traffic from backing up the Capital Beltway as drivers tried to exit for the massive complex of hotels, condominiums and shops that have sprung up on the riverfront in the past decade.
With the casino anticipated to attract 25,000 or more people daily, just what that new volume will mean to the region during two normally congested rush hours created much worry.
When the doors opened to the public at 10:30 p.m., a half-hour earlier than scheduled because of the crowds and the cold, hordes of would-be gamblers rushed inside. By 11:30, the casino had reached capacity — about 9,000 — and officials were not allowing any more patrons in.
The scene repeated itself Friday when at about 2 p.m. casino officials tweeted that the facility had again reached capacity and people would only be permitted to enter as others left.
First glimpse inside the new MGM National Harbor Casino
[FONT=FranklinITCProBold !important]Play Video[/FONT][FONT=FranklinITCProLight !important]1:55[/FONT]
The Washington Post was given an exclusive tour of the new MGM National Harbor before its grand opening on Dec. 8. (Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post)
Casino officials met just after 2 p.m. to discuss the conditions and the opening success. They decided they would urge people to reconsider their trip to the casino this weekend, as crowds are expected Friday night.
“We estimate that we have had more than 50,000 visitors to the property before noon today,”casino spokesman Gordon Absher said. “It is a tremendous level of support.”
But he said it has come to the point to tell people to change their plans, consider visiting for breakfast, or wait a few days or longer to visit. “We need to encourage folks to consider planning their trip,” he said.
Absher blamed some of the Thursday night issues on unfamiliarity with roads and the parking facilities, and an “awful lot of people” trying to get into the casino on opening night.
“We have been opened less than 24 hours. There is a lot of newness,” he said. “Is this weekend going to be crowded? Absolutely. There is going to be a lot of locals who want to come experience it.”
[MGM National Harbor opens Thursday, bringing a slice of Las Vegas to the doorstep of the nation’s capital]
A fight broke out on the casino floor at one point Thursday night — video of which was posted on social media. MGM officials Friday described it as a “minor altercation” between two or three people. It was unclear if anyone was arrested.
Mark Brady, spokesman for Prince George’s fire and EMS, said the department responded to 10 EMS-related calls Thursday night — not an unusual amount given the number of people.
Brady said fire and EMS crews were staged in the area to respond quickly and will continue to have pre-staged fire and EMS units there for 10 days.
Prince George’s County officials hope the glitzy new entertainment destination will be the beginning of a new era of economic growth and prosperity for the county.
The casino is also a point of progress and pride for county residents who have long complained of being snubbed by high-end retailers offering the type of amenities and cachet that the resort brings.
“This facility is a watershed moment for us,” County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) said Thursday as he and other top elected officials gathered to mark the opening. “The comments I made when I first took office — about how we are the economic engine of Maryland — and I dare say the Washington region — this facility says that is true, and it also says to businesses ‘This is the place to come.’ ”
Just how many will come is a question of the hour, as the National Harbor venue became the sixth casino to open in Maryland. Once restricted to Nevada and, later, Atlantic City, there now are dozens of casinos across the country, including those in adjoining Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Edward Aperson, who drove with his wife from their Spotsylvania home early Friday, took a look around and decided he preferred the Rocky Gap Casino and Resport in Flintstone, Md.
“This is more city,” he said as he surveyed the casino floor. “At Rocky Gap there’s a beautiful lake — we can camp. It’s more natural.
“It’s the traffic. City, traffic — it’s too much hassle,” he said.
Edward and his wife, Donna, said they consider themselves casino aficionados.
“It’s very pretty,” Donna Aperson said. “It looks so new.”
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) called it “simply amazing.”
“MGM National Harbor will have a transformational impact on this region,” Hogan said Thursday. “It will be a tremendous economic benefit to Prince George’s County and the state of Maryland.”
In addition to the nearly 4,000 jobs created, the $1.4 billion casino resort is projected to generate between $40 million and $45 million a year in tax revenue for the county — and millions more for the state.
[MGM lauds hiring and giving record as it readies to open in Prince George’s]
As dignitaries and special guests entered the resort for an opening ceremony, they lauded its offerings of fine dining and an intimate concert venue in addition to the gambling. They chuckled at promotions saying that “Mankind was not born to be bored” and that MGM is in “the holy s--- business.”
The elevators from the parking garage were so packed Thursday night that guests feared they would overload, and they shouted “Nooo” at those who tried to shove their way in.
Security officers tried to ask people crammed into a vestibule to go back outside, and many refused, pressing up against the glass doors instead. “Open! Open! Open!” they chanted, and “Let us in! Let us in!”
Inside, nearly every machine in the 125,000-square-foot casino was taken almost as soon as the doors opened. Roxana Pimental, who had waited outside for two hours, seized a Mayan wheel game. “The wait was so worth it,” said Pimental, 31. “I want to play all of them. All of them.”
Others groused about not being able to find an open slot machine as they lined up in ever-growing queues at the many casual eateries. Around 12:30 a.m., security reopened the doors and a new crowd swarmed the lobby and conservatory.
Domingo Bernardo, a 46-year-old construction worker and salesman from Fort Washington, was eager to get right to the Texas Hold’em tables. “It’s gonna be more fun tonight because a lot of dealers are rookies,” said Bernardo as he waited outside before the casino opened. “Sometimes they make mistakes, but you make money.”
Claude Thompson, 68, of Bel Air, Md., had the same hunch. “Some people think the machines pay you better to get you something” on opening day, the former UPS driver said.
Thompson misunderstood and thought the casino opened at 11 a.m., so he had arrived at 8 a.m. After waiting 14 hours, he was even more eager than most to get inside.
Brandy Seipel gave him a run for his money, though. The 33-year-old insurance agent from District Heights, Md., live-streamed her reactions for about 30 friends watching on Facebook Live. “It’s so beautiful,” she squealed, spinning around on the steps of chef Marcus Samuelsson’s new restaurant. “You gotta come. Even if you have to get up for work at 5:30 a.m. I’m going to pull an all-nighter here. I’m going to.”
The casino, nine miles south of the U.S. Capitol, sits on a 23-acre parcel on the banks of the Potomac River. Maryland officials, marking the opening, noted the building’s architecture as a gateway landmark just off the Capital Beltway.
But MGM aimed for the glamour of Las Vegas and Hollywood.
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and the celebrity chefs José Andrés, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, and Samuelsson, who have restaurants in the resort, posed for selfies as politicians and corporate officials mingled during the open house earlier in the day.
[Fears of traffic gridlock as MGM casino is set to open; officials urge patience and planning]
Parker chose the casino as the site for her first stand-alone boutique. During the pre-opening hours for VIPs, she knelt to personally help a shopper try on a pair of $350 Italian-made shoes, while a line of curious customers grew longer by the minute.
The resort has already booked Bruno Mars, Cher, Sting and Ricky Martin for concerts in its 3,000-seat theater, which will also feature comedy shows and boxing matches.
Also at the resort is a day spa and a large collection of art by local and international artists.
Then there’s the gambling: The casino will be open 24 hours a day and has more than 3,300 slot machines, 124 gaming tables and 39 poker tables.
The casino is the first to open in the greater Washington region.
Some industry analysts have questioned whether the market Maryland and East Coast market are saturated. Others say there is still room for growth in a state where casinos have yet to reach their revenue projections.
“Is gaming vibrant enough to take some more? Yes,” said Richard Clinch, who tracks the gambling industry as director of economic development at the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute. “I think MGM creates a market because it is a national-level operator. It is one of the elite operators of casinos.”
That’s why, officials say, MGM could be a driving force in attracting international visitors. Although the casino is expected to attract gamblers from across the Washington region, MGM executives say their goal is to draw people from across the continental U.S. and worldwide.
Still, MGM is likely to affect revenue at Maryland Live in Anne Arundel County, its nearest competitor, and one that markets to the District and Northern Virginia, where casino-style gambling remains illegal.
The opening was a major undertaking for local law enforcement. Police deployed dozens of officers to manage traffic near the casino, which residents and commuters fear will exacerbate gridlock in the area. Fences were put up to discourage pedestrians from crossing outside the crosswalks, and the county police helicopter started patrolling the skies in the early afternoon.
Outside the casino, some who gathered around weak heat lamps to await the opening gave in to the bitter cold and went home. Henry Rubio, 24, of Alexandria tuckered out around 7:30 p.m. “It’s way too cold,” he said through a ski mask. “My toes are freezing.” Because of the traffic, he and his friends trekked half a mile to a McDonald’s down the road to catch a ride.
But inside the casino, the VIPs were reveling already. Zeno St. Cyr III, a Prince George’s County activist, said he was most excited about the amenities, which is what many resident were approving when they voted to bring the casino to Prince George’s in November 2012.
Local Headlines newsletter
Daily headlines about the Washington region.
“That’s what we are getting,” he said. “I know my wife would like to go to the day spa there and get pampered. I have no idea how much it’s going to cost me!”
He’s not much of a gambler, he said. But he played $50 at the slot machines on Thursday night and managed to win $222. Cash out voucher in hand, he looked around the gaming room and said, “It’s really something special.”
Bill Boasberg, general manager of MGM National Harbor, said the building, the size of five city blocks, is the product of thousands of workers.
“After we christen our resort with an inaugural party tonight, we will open the doors to the public. And then they will never close,” he said.
Lynh Bui, Arelis Hernandez and Faiz Siddiqui contributed to this report.
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