Date: 7/16/2015
SPRINGFIELD – The Massachusetts Gaming Commission considered a request for a year delay in the completion of MGM Springfield on July 9 and the implications of the commission’s decision remain unknown.
“The commission is reviewing MGM’s request to amend its construction schedule. They hope to take this up at an upcoming commission meeting either in two weeks or four weeks; at this time, no set timetable for a decision on MGM Springfield’s request has yet been set,” Michael Sangalang, the commission’s digital communications coordinator, told Reminder Publications.
Reminder Publications asked MGM management how this additional delay in their request would affect their construction plans and if the commission denies the extension, how would it proceed.
In response this statement by Seth Stratton, vice president and general counsel, MGM Springfield, was released: “MGM Springfield is pleased with the progress that was reported at today's Massachusetts Gaming Commission hearing. We continue to work with the commission staff and their consultants to facilitate the review of our project schedule and have it approved as soon as possible. We thank the commission for its financial commitment to the Springfield Historic Preservation Trust Fund MGM has proposed, as well as its support of the agreement we reached with the Massachusetts Historical Commission.”
An additional statement by a MGM spokesman said after the commission and the Massachusetts Historical Commission finalize their decisions, “we will have better idea of ‘what's next’ and will begin to discuss construction plans moving forward.”