Jackpot! MGM National Harbor Filled to Capacity Within First Hour of Opening
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Doors opened earlier than expected and within less than an hour MGM National Harbor reached capacity. News4’s Tracee Wilkins and Shomari Stone have team coverage of the opening of the region’s newest casino.
Less than an hour after opening its doors for the first time, the MGM National Harbor casino and resort filled to capacity -- and hundreds of people were still waiting to get inside.
Traffic going into the casino was backed up for miles and police shut down the Beltway Outer Loop exits 2A, 2B and 3B to National Harbor to relieve traffic on Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Those exits have since reopened.
The casino was set to open at 11 p.m., but officials decided to open the doors 30 minutes early after thousands of cars filled the MGM's parking lots and garages.
Just after 11 p.m., the MGM parking garage was full and all outdoor parking lots were filled a few of hours earlier.
Heavy traffic is expected Thursday evening for the opening night of MGM National Harbor. News4’s Adam Tuss has the look from above in Chopper4.
The $1.4 billion casino is expected to have a big impact on traffic and tourism in Prince George's County and the greater Washington, D.C. area. News4 is reporting live on the ground and in the air all night.
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Ahead of the grand opening, officials and the head of MGM said the luxurious resort and casino will pump money into Maryland and beyond.
"This wasn't about just getting our slice of the pie," MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren said. "This is about growing gaming revenue in the State of Maryland and bringing more people into Maryland to spend their time and tourist dollars here."
Gov. Larry Hogan said he expects that the impact will extend beyond Maryland.
It’s finally here! The $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor casino and resort opens to the public Thursday. News4’s Justin Finch reports.
"We're going to bring a lot of money into Virginia and D.C., and it's really a project the state can be proud of," he said.
Murren said he believes that MGM National Harbor would be "the most successful resort in the State of Maryland."
News4’s Chris Gordon takes at look at MGM National Harbor’s non-casino offerings, including a theater and 15 shops.
Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker said the casino and resort will spark economic development.
"This says to businesses around the region that Prince George's County really is the place to be and the economic engine. This is just the start of it," he said.
If you're not a fan of gambling, MGM says the casino still has lots to offer. There are 15 stores and several restaurants with well-known chefs, plus a full-service hotel and 3,000-seat theater.
News4's Tracee Wilkins spotted actress Sarah Jessica Parker at the grand opening of her shoe store in the resort, SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker.
MGM designed the Oxon Hill, Maryland, resort to complement the city of monuments across the Potomac River. It has a 308-room hotel and spa.
The casino is also home to a gambling floor "bigger than the White House'' and an art collection that includes a large welded collage by Bob Dylan. It is the singer and Nobel laureate's first work of art for a public space on permanent display.
Brittany Johnson
Brittany Johnson
MGM National Harbor will open its doors at 11 p.m. Thursday.
Brittany Johnson
MGM National Harbor is gearing up for the holidays with gold and white decorations of snowflakes, trees and hanging lights.
Brittany Johnson
MGM National Harbor is gearing up for the holidays with gold and white decorations of snowflakes, trees and hanging lights.
Brittany Johnson
MGM National Harbor is gearing up for the holidays with gold and white decorations of snowflakes, trees and hanging lights.
Brittany Johnson
MGM National Harbor is not skimping on the details.
Brittany Johnson
Local artists from Prince George's County created several of the art pieces inside MGM National Harbor.
Several artwork pieces found inside the MGM National Harbor were created by local artists from Prince George's County.
Brittany Johnson
MGM National Harbor will also host conferences, events and meetings in the future in the MGM Grand Ballroom. There is more than 50,000 square feet of event space available.
Brittany Johnson
Beautiful chandeliers and decorative lights can be found throughout MGM National Harbor.
Brittany Johnson
Make your way down to the casino when you're ready to try your luck at a slot machine or a game of poker.
Brittany Johnson
The 125,000 square feet of casino floor have 3,300 slot machines, table games and poker tables.
Brittany Johnson
The 125,000 square feet of casino floor have 3,300 slot machines, table games and poker tables.
Brittany Johnson
The 125,000 square feet of casino floor have 3,300 slot machines, table games and poker tables.
Brittany Johnson
Need a pick-me-up? You'll find a Starbucks right next to the casino, or if you're craving something else, check out the other nine restaurants around the MGM National Harbor, owned by renowned local and national chefs. They're serving up cuisine from around the world.
Brittany Johnson
A close-up of the painting by the Starbucks. Some of the paintings and artwork pieces around the MGM National Harbor were made by local artists in Prince George's County.
Brittany Johnson
Craving Asian food? Ginger can take you on a culinary tour around Asia with authentic Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese dishes. The restaurant will also be offering an extensive dim sum menu as well.
Brittany Johnson
The seating area outside Ginger is just as gorgeous as the rest of MGM.
Brittany Johnson
Love award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson? He's launching a new all-day restaurant in MGM National Harbor called Marcus. The menu features classic American dishes and drinks with Marcus's unique twist, as well as local Maryland ingredients and traditions.
Brittany Johnson
Need a place to unwind and get a drink before you go back to the casinos or back to your hotel? Felt, a bar and lounge, is one of the many places that you can go to to kick back.
Brittany Johnson
The decor inside Felt gives the bar and lounge an easygoing, relaxed feel -- perfect for a little drink and to get away from the casino excitement.
Brittany Johnson
The decor inside Felt gives the bar and lounge an easygoing, relaxed feel -- perfect for a little drink and to get away from the casino excitement.
Brittany Johnson
Is your favorite team playing tonight? Sit down in front of any of the 95 flat screen televisions in Tap and enjoy a burger and a beer while you're at it. The sports bar will be serving local and seasonal craft beers, and it overlooks the D.C. skyline and the Potomac -- definitely scenic.
Brittany Johnson
There's a bar and lounge for almost everyone at MGM National Harbor. The decor at Blossom Cocktail Lounge is inspired by the gorgeous cherry blossom trees of the D.C. area. The lounge is near the casino, so you can just step right over to grab a drink and escape the noise of the casino floor for a refreshing cocktail.
Brittany Johnson
Blossom Cocktail lounge's decor is inspired by the gorgeous cherry blossom trees of the D.C. area.
Brittany Johnson
Blossom Cocktail lounge's decor is inspired by the gorgeous cherry blossom trees of the D.C. area.
Brittany Johnson
Feeling fancy? Try out the Voltaggio brothers' Steak House. "Top Chef" winners Bryan and Michael Voltaggio are opening up their first venture together. Their dishes draw inspiration from their home state of Maryland.
Brittany Johnson
Bento is located inside of the National Market, a food hall that includes cuisine from around the world. The sushi bar will have your usual sushi fare, like fresh sashimi, nigiri, specialty and hand rolls, all served in a bento box. Other venues inside the National Market include Bahn Mi Vietnamese Kitchen, Amos Los Tacos, District Deli, Honey's Fried Chicken & Donuts, S'Cream and more.
Brittany Johnson
With all the excitement from the casino and the possible food coma from all the venues available, step out for a little bit for a breather. The view outside overlooks the nation's capital and the Potomac River.
Brittany Johnson
With all the excitement from the casino and the possible food coma from all the venues available, step out for a little bit for a breather. The view outside overlooks the nation's capital and the Potomac River.
Many musical acts are heading to the stage at MGM.
The iconic group won't be the only famous musical act performing at The Theater during the venue's inaugural month -- Lionel Richie (Dec. 22), Bruno Mars (Dec. 27) and Duran Duran (Dec. 31; Jan 1) also are on the roster.
Neighbor Jeffrey Fisher said looked forward to seeing the entire complex.
"It's all first-rate and it's all so exciting because we live in the neighborhood," he said.
MGM hired more than 4,000 employees, many from Prince George's County.
"It's a great place to work, great place to be," employee and Suitland resident Deborah Brown said.
The casino will be open 24 hours.
The MGM National Harbor casino and resort is ready to roll. Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins is inside the casino as people prepare to celebrate.
