Stretching skyward, the MGM Grand Detroit Casino’s hotel tower beckons. The tower lures visitors into a world of gambling and entertainment. This isn’t just any casino. This is a Detroit landmark.
The MGM Grand Detroit opened as the first legal casino in Detroit in July 1999. It occupied a renovated Internal Revenue Service office. The temporary casino cost 235 million dollars. Plans were already underway for a grander permanent resort.
Fast forward to October 3, 2007. The permanent luxury resort hotel opened. The grand event included models and celebrities like Ashanti and Kid Rock. Fireworks lit up the Detroit sky. Detroit became one of the largest American cities with casino resort hotels.
In 2005, MGM Grand Detroit faced a potential sale. Parent company MGM MIRAGE acquired rival casino company Mandalay Resort Group. Michigan gaming laws prevented owning multiple casinos. MGM MIRAGE ultimately sold the MotorCity Casino to Marian Ilitch.
The permanent casino boasts 100000 square feet of gaming space. It features 401 hotel rooms and an eight-story parking garage. The location is on John C. Lodge Freeway and Bagley Street. There is 30000 square feet of meeting space. Live performances can seat 1200 people. Third Street was rebuilt into a two-way boulevard. This eased traffic around the MGM Grand Detroit.
Many designers contributed to the MGM Grand Detroit. Hamilton Anderson Associates and the SmithGroup of Detroit worked together. Cleo Design of Las Vegas contributed. Carol Harris of Detroit added her touch. Lawrence Lee of California also helped. Toni Chi of New York and Super Potato of Japan rounded out the design team. Paul Tonti of the SmithGroup and Thomas Sherry of Hamilton Anderson Associates were the lead architects.
Across the river, Caesars Windsor attracts about six million visitors annually. Metro Detroit is within a 300-mile radius of an estimated 46 million people. Since 2000, Detroit has seen increasing casino tax revenues. The city estimated 178.25 million dollars in casino taxes for 2007.
Ownership of MGM Grand Detroit changed in 2016. It was transferred to MGM Growth Properties. Vici Properties later acquired MGM Growth Properties in 2022. MGM Resorts continues to operate the MGM Grand Detroit under a lease agreement.
Visible from the John C. Lodge Freeway, the MGM Grand Detroit stands out. Its neo-Art Deco design reflects the style of “new” Las Vegas. The hotel tower has a boomerang shape. A precast-concrete base resembles limestone. The casino complex spans twenty-five acres. It offers 1.1 million square feet of space. 100000 square feet are devoted to gaming. The eighteen-story hotel features luxury restaurants and nightclubs. There is a pool and spa. Valet parking accommodates 1500 cars.
MGM Grand Detroit Casino contributes significantly to Detroit’s economy. It generates tax revenue for the city and the state. It attracts tourist dollars from Michigan and beyond. The MGM Grand Detroit outdoes the other casinos. It establishes MGM Mirage as the dominant gambling presence in the region. The Detroit casino is related to the Mirage in Las Vegas. Remember that the glitz and glamor is not just luck. It is Detroit’s determination shining bright.