MGM Mirage, responsible for such hotels and casinos as the Mirage and MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been chosen to develop a casino complex in Birmingham, England at the National Exhibition Centre. The project itself is contingent on MGM Mirage receiving a British gambling license, approval from the local regulatory authority, adherence to a strict tax regime and various other permits. The casino, should all go as planned, will be known as "The MGM Grand at the NEC". The site is set to feature upon completion more than 300,000 square feet of resort space including the casino floor, a variety of restaurants, "high energy" entertainment facilities and a multi-story car park.
In a statement Lloyd Nathan, managing director of development in Europe at Las Vegas-based MGM, said "We believe the NEC site provides an excellent location and with our unparalleled experience, this joint casino proposal anticipates creating a showpiece architectural statement combining not just a casino gambling environment, but also exciting, new entertainment and dining experiences that will redefine the gaming and leisure experience for the West Midlands and the United Kingdom." If an additional plan is approved, the project may also come to include a four-star, 300 room hotel - just like the hotel-casinos in Las Vegas.
Earlier this year, the British government came very close to passing legislation which would have allowed the opening of eight large Las Vegas styled casinos as well as several other smaller projects, but only a law allowing a single, large casino was passed and it is because of this law that MGM Mirage put itself forward as a bidder for the casino site. There is no word yet on when exactly the casino would be finished, as the process for obtaining the various required licenses could take months before contractors are even allowed to break ground. |
