MGM officials announced Monday the much-anticipated $1.4 billion casino resort in Maryland’s National Harbor will open Dec. 8.
The resort will accept hotel room reservations starting Dec. 10 with nightly rates at $399 and suites at $599.
“After years of planning, designing and developing, we are thrilled that the moment is almost upon us to share this very special resort with the community and visitors from around the world,” Lorenzo Creighton, president of MGM National Harbor, said in a statement. “We are grateful to Prince George’s County, the state of Maryland and all of the local designers, artisans and businesses that have collaborated with us to deliver this international resort with very local roots.”
The main aspect focuses on the 3,600 jobs separated into 100 categories MGM has available, with about half designated for county residents.
A full description of the positions that include cooks, engineers and poker floor supervisors can be viewed at https://mgmresorts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/307.
The property at National Harbor will feature about 125,000 square feet of casino space of gaming tables and slot machines, more than 27,000 square feet of convention and meeting space and a 3,000-seat theater for concerts, shows and boxing matches.
MGM also houses a National Harbor employment center that opened in June in Oxon Hill, less than a half-mile from National Harbor. When MGM completes its use of the 24,000-square-foot building, it will be turned back over to the county for a community center.
“I think it is going to really help strengthen our local economy with good, family supporting jobs in the hospitality industry,” said former Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who’s running for Congress in the 4th District and spoke after a Democratic rally in Largo. “Officials with MGM are committed to local hires and local businesses in their supply chain. I think it will be a real boom for the county.”
One county resident, Roger Boston of Clinton, said he supports the casino, despite the traffic headaches that will likely come with it.
“As long as the community gets jobs, then it will be good,” he said. “Why should we give all of our money to Atlantic City? Keep the money here in this community.”
But another resident, Billie James of Suitland, said she could take it or leave it.
“I’m not a gambler, I don’t visit casinos,” she said.