CEO Comes to Westchester to Make the Case
MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO Jim Murren recently came to Westchester to speak to a crowd of 1,000 for the Business Council of Westchester’s annual dinner. Murren touched on wide range of topics including MGM’s desire to see sports gambling and a full gaming license at Empire Casino at Yonkers Raceway.
“We have endeavored to be leaders in terms of the culture we have developed,” he said. “The majority of our employees are minorities; the majority of our employees are female. We have worked very hard to make sure everyone feels included, and that we are a diverse and vibrant organization. We are a strong community partner and our record speaks for itself.”
Murren also commented on the importance of having a full gaming license for Empire City Casino, an issue the BCW has been at the forefront of for many years.
“What we can do for Westchester can all be achieved if we get live gaming and full-scale gaming both in terms of sports betting and live table games,” he said. “We can provide more entertainment, whether it’s theatrical or sports. We can provide venues for your high schools, colleges and universities to have a place to play. We can bring our incredible talent of live entertainment. You want to see Lady Gaga? Well, I can bring her to Empire City.”
He also said full gaming at Empire City Casino would generate jobs. “Imagine, for a moment: We have 1,200 employees – some of the greatest men and women in our industry,” said Murren. “Imagine, if there were 2,000 or 3,000 more employees.”
On the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR), Murren noted that MGM Resorts is committed to a sustainable future. He said MGM Resorts is building a 100-megawatt solar array, which is one of the largest in the U.S. He noted that within two years, it will supply 90 percent of the power the company consumes in Las Vegas.
“Investors say they care about CSR, but they don’t put their money where their mouth is enough,” he said.
Murren also said he hopes to bring another successful piece of MGM’s philosophy to Yonkers – the combination of sports with entertainment.
“Clearly, we are thinking very strongly about sports and entertainment, expanding food and beverage offerings, making more of a regional destination in terms of conference space and business,” he said. “Sports and live entertainment is a very big part of what we do. We are really differentiated in how we use sports and entertainment to have a conversation.”
Murren also said MGM has plans for the 97-acre casino and raceway property in Yonkers – one of the largest pieces of property to work from in the metropolitan-New York City area. “When you have 97 acres in Yonkers, the development canvas that you have to paint on is rich, diverse and exciting,” he said.
All of the plans are reliant on New York State to allow downstate casinos like MGM Empire Casino to obtain a full gaming license before a moratorium on new licenses ends in 2023. MGM said it wants to get the license before then, and provide a larger share of its revenues to the state – and Yonkers – for education.
In January, MGM Resorts closed on a deal to acquire Empire City, its 5,200 slot machines and electronic games, and the raceway, for $850 million from the Rooney family.
MGM, and Resorts World Casino New York City in Queens, both offered $500 million for a full gaming license.
“We are proud that Empire City Casino has been able to support a tremendous amount of money for the state for many years,” said Murren. “We are just looking for a path to do more. The question really becomes: Why wait for these jobs? Why wait for the economic opportunity? Why wait to provide the economic jolt this type of development would have for the local community?”
MGM’s proposed expansion at Empire City Casino has the support of Mayor Mike Spano, and the Yonkers City Council, which passed a resolution earlier this year supporting full table gaming in Yonkers. Spano has called the possibilities at the casino-raceway “another game changer for Yonkers that could bring economic growth for the entire region.”
