The MGM Grand Detroit is one of three

casino A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertai ...

resort hotels in Detroit, Michigan, and one of four in the Detroit–Windsor area. It is owned by

Vici Properties Vici Properties Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in casino properties, based in New York City. It was formed in 2017 as a spin-off from Caesars Entertainment Corporation as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. It ow ...

and operated by MGM Resorts International. The casino opened in its temporary location on July 29, 1999. The permanent, luxury resort hotel opened on October 3, 2007 with a grand event which included models and celebrities including Ashanti,

Kid Rock Robert James Ritchie (born January 17, 1971), known professionally as Kid Rock (also known as Bobby Shazam), is an American singer, songwriter and rapper. His style alternates between rock, hip hop, country, and metal. A self-taught musician ...

, and fireworks. It is the first luxury casino resort hotel in a major metropolis outside Las Vegas. Detroit is one of the largest American cities and metropolitan regions to offer casino resort hotels.Mink, Randy, and Karen Mink (July 2001).Detroit Turns 300 - Detroit 300 Festival. ''Travel America'', World Publishing Co., Gale Group.

History

In 2005, the MGM Grand Detroit Casino was the subject of a possible sale when parent company MGM MIRAGE announced that it was acquiring rival casino company

Mandalay Resort Group Mandalay Resort Group (formerly Circus Circus Enterprises) was an American hotel and casino operator based in Paradise, Nevada. Its major properties included Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur and Circus Circus, as well as half of the Monte Carlo. In ...

, owners of the MotorCity Casino. Due to Michigan state gaming laws prohibiting casino owners from acquiring or owning more than one casino in the state, MGM Mirage was forced to sell either the MGM Grand Detroit or the MotorCity casino. MGM MIRAGE had several serious buyers for the MGM Grand Detroit, but ultimately sold the MotorCity Casino to

Marian Ilitch Marian Bayoff Ilitch (born January 7, 1933) is an American billionaire businesswoman, and the co-founder of Little Caesars Pizza with her late husband, Mike Ilitch. As of March 2018, Ilitch was one of the world's seven richest women, according ...

. On December 13, 2005, the Michigan Gaming Control Board approved MGM Grand's plans for a permanent casino with of casino space, 401 hotel rooms, and an eight-story self-parking garage to be located on John C. Lodge Freeway and Bagley Street, three to four blocks from the temporary casino. The facility has of meeting space for conferences and live performance seating for 1,200. The Casino also rebuilt 3rd Street into a two way boulevard to facilitate traffic movement around the site. The permanent casino opened to the public on October 3, 2007. The grand opening celebration attracted Hollywood stars. A Celebrity Poker Match was taped there for a televised release at a later date. The MGM Grand Detroit stands across from the DTE Energy Headquarters which includes a reflecting pool and landscaped areas. Designers on the project include the joint venture of Hamilton Anderson Associates and the SmithGroup, both of Detroit, Cleo Design of Las Vegas, Carol Harris of Detroit, Lawrence Lee of California, Toni Chi of New York, and Super Potato out of Japan. The lead architects were Paul Tonti of the SmithGroup and Thomas Sherry of Hamilton Anderson Associates. In 2007, DTE Energy announced a major transformation of the area around its downtown headquarters into an urban oasis with parks, walkways, and a reflecting pool adjacent to the MGM Grand Detroit. Just across the river, Caesars Windsor attracts about six million visitors annually.Cordiano, Joseph (February 15, 2005)
Government of Ontraio invests in a competitive Casino Windsor
.''Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade''. Retrieved on October 28, 2007."Casino Windsor attracts around six million visitors each year and is a key driver of the local economy." More than fifteen million people cross the

Ambassador Bridge The Ambassador Bridge is a tolled international suspension bridge across the Detroit River that connects Detroit, Michigan, United States, with Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1929, it is the busiest international border crossing in North A ...

and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel annually.Trade Point Detroit Windsor
Retrieved on May 24, 2009. An estimated 46 million people live within a 300-mile (480 km) radius of Metro Detroit. Since 2000, the city has seen continuous annual increases in tax revenues from its casinos; the city estimates it will collect $178.25 million in casino taxes alone for 2007, with the casino resorts open in 2008. Ownership of MGM Grand Detroit, along with many other MGM properties, was transferred in 2016 to

MGM Growth Properties MGM Growth Properties LLC (MGP) was a real estate investment trust based in Summerlin South, Nevada, that invested in large-scale casino properties. The company had whole or majority ownership of 15 properties, all of which were operated by MGM ...

(which was later acquired by

in 2022), while MGM Resorts continued to operate it under a lease agreement. On May 17, 2017,

Chris Cornell Christopher John Cornell ( né Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American singer and musician best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist and songwriter for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. ...

, the frontman of the

grunge Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock Music genre, genre and subculture that emerged during the in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington (state), Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby to ...

band Soundgarden was found dead with a "band around his nape of neck" in his room after performing at the Fox Theatre. Officials ruled his death a

suicide by hanging Suicide by hanging is the intentional killing of oneself (suicide) via suspension from an anchor-point such as an overhead beam or hook, by a rope or cord or by jumping from a height with a noose around the neck. Hanging is often considered t ...

References

External links

* Wikimedia graph of Detroit's casino revenues {{DEFAULTSORT:Mgm Grand Detroit Casinos in Michigan Casino hotels Skyscraper hotels in Detroit MGM Resorts International Resorts in Michigan Casinos completed in 2007 Hotel buildings completed in 1999 2007 establishments in Michigan 1999 establishments in Michigan Economy of Detroit Tourist attractions in Detroit

History

See also

References

External links