Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

March 14, 2007

MGM Grand Detroit

Posted by detroit1051

MGM Grand Detroit will be the first of the three "permanent" casinos to open. It's interim casino has been operating since 1999 in an old IRS processing center building. The permanent facility will be one block away in an ideal location to get traffic off the freeways and fairly close to the convention center.

The website has been updated to include hotel and meeting information. The "Image Gallery" shows photos and floorplans for the rooms. I was pleasantly surprised by how upscale the rooms will be. Although the hotel will only have 400 rooms, it will be a welcome addition to my long-depressed home town. The rooms put those at MGM Grand Las Vegas to shame, MGM Detroit's casino has been very profitable for MGM Mirage, and I'm glad MGM invested $700+ Million into the new facility and the city. Well done, MGM!

Photos:
MGM Grand Detroit


Categories: MGM Resorts International


Comments

Read archived comments (8 so far)
March 14, 2007 9:26 AM Posted by Pikes

Detroit, I'm from Kalamazoo and I can tell you that people are getting excited about this project here too!

March 14, 2007 12:58 PM Posted by Brett

I'm curious, do you know how the new casino floor will compare to the current one in size? I was there one weekend and it was so crowded you couldn't even move. We then attempted to head over to Greektown and we couldn't even get close to the building it was so busy!

The rooms do indeed look very nice. It seems that one thing downtown is really lacking right now is hotel rooms (at least that is my impression), so these will definitely help out.

March 14, 2007 1:20 PM Posted by detroit1051

Brett, the interim casinos were each limited to 75,000 sq ft. I believe the permanent ones will be limited to 100,000 sq ft of gaming floor. MGM will have the advantage of the best location, imo. Detroit needs first class meeting/conference space, and MGM should capture the lion's share of that business because of its reputation and location.
MotorCity is doing well since MGM was forced to sell it after taking over Mandalay Resort Group. The owner, Marian Ilitch, is the brains in the family. Her husband owns the Tigers and Redwings (they have to be very careful not to have her involved with the sports teams), and together they own Little Caesars Pizza. They have been very good for Detroit. MotorCity's problem is that it is in a less desireable location, about two miles from downtown. It will be intersting to see its hotel and meeting space.
Greektown just doesn't have the management strength of MGM and Marian Ilitch.

February was not good for MGM in Detroit, but it was weak elsewhere in the country for regional or locals casinos:
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070314/REG/70314005/1009/breaking

March 14, 2007 2:26 PM Posted by Brett

Detroit,
Thanks for the info. Your follow up made think of another question though. How do you feel that Casino Windsor (Now Caesars, I guess) compares to the Detroit casinos? It seems they have been undergoing some pretty big changes recently, and I was curious if you knew the status of that, too? thanks

March 14, 2007 8:05 PM Posted by detroit1051

Brett, in spite of my ID, I haven't been back home to Detroit (from South Florida) in 18 months. I'm planning a trip in May and will definitely include a visit across the river to Windsor. I've been wondering the same thing about Casino Windsor.

March 14, 2007 8:18 PM Posted by mr_game_101

I am from Windsor, and I have mixed feelings about the Casino here. Canadian casinos in general do not have that "atmosphere" feeling to them. I guess it is something I can not explain. However, the renovations here are amazing, and it really does give that Caesars feeling. The only thing that hurts it here is the Ontario no smoking ban, but I really do not think it hurts that much- it is still as busy as it was. The Casinos in Detroit are very small, and very crowded and as Brett posted it can be very tight to try to walk around. I am anxious to see the new MGM and I have been there a few times to use my Players Club card. However I do not think I will be making many trips over there once Caesars brings in their Total Rewards to Windsor June 1st. But with the renovations in Windsor, it is now more of a place to go to dine, get entertained, and grab a drink as well as gamble, so they did a good job of creating the total package here. It will be nice to see the finished project in December.

May 18, 2007 1:38 PM Posted by Jennifer

I am currently living in Las Vegas but from Detroit. I work at a MGM hotel as a massage therapist and I am very curious if there is going to be a spa inside the new MGM Detroit!?!?! I think about transfering back home. I see no positions listed yet on the employment site but in a couple publication it says "full resort spa". I also called up to MGM Detroit and noone seems to know the answer! any help!?

May 18, 2007 1:54 PM Posted by detroit1051

Hi Jennifer, it's nice to meet someone else from Detroit. Yes, there will be a spa according to the website:
"In addition to the beautiful new hotel offerings, MGM Grand Detroit will feature dining options ranging from casual to signature restaurants designed by world-renowned chefs, lounges offering a relaxed piano style bar to a high-energy dance club, the only full-service resort spa in southeast Michigan and 30,000 square feet of meeting space."

Detroit needs all the help it can get, and MGM Grand will be the showplace downtown. You can see the rooms and get other info at:
http://detroit.mgmgrand.com/ignite_your_senses.aspx
Jennifer, I had many great meals at the Hollywood Brown Derby before I moved to Florida. The Derby has been replaced with something more contemporary, but there will be more and better restaurants when they move a block up the street to the new property.
You need to contact the property. I know they had an employment fair, and there were many thousands more applicants than positions. You should be in a strong position since you already work for the corporation.
Good luck!