People of Detroit' to star at opening

DETROIT -- Less than a week after hinting that stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Sharon Stone could attend the opening of MGM Grand's Detroit casino, the company's top official is revising the guest list. "The stars will be the people of Detroit," chairman and chief executive J. Terrence Lanni said Monday.

Lanni said last week that he and other MGM officials "would love to have" DiCaprio, Stone and other celebrities attend the gala opening tentatively scheduled for July 26.

http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Jul-14-Wed-1999/business/11551668.html

Gail,
More reasons to visit the Detroit area.
Visiting our old friends in the Detroit area.
Getting together with Larry and Loretta.
Just plain checking out the new casino. Hope we're more impressed when seeing it than we were with the one in Windsor.

Gail,
There is a small problem there is no gambling allowed in Detroit untill Aug.1st The Mayor is trying to work out this problem before the scheduled opening. <s> Which is VIP July 26th, and public July 27th.

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LarryinMich@prodigy.net


[This message has been edited by Larry Sowinski (edited July 17, 1999).]

Larry, That's really weird <g>. Who is allowing the gambling on Aug. 1st-- the people (a vote) or the politicians?

Gail,
The contract that MGM signed for gaming has a start date of Aug. 1st, so far they haven't been able to get the dates modified.

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LarryinMich@prodigy.net

Gail,
Thanks for the inof. The Grand National Tractor pulls are te end of August in Bowling Green, less than an hour from Detroit. A buddy and I usually leave early in the morning and go to the casino in Windsor then back to the tractor pulls that evening. Looks like we'll have a new casino to check out this year.

jm

Latest news. Michigan State law doesn't allow booze within 500 feet of a church, and as it turns out the casino is 265 feet from a church. What's next?

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LarryinMich@prodigy.net

Larry, Sounds like they are snake bit. I'll bet they find away around that law!
Lee-PA

Larry, Wow, this should be interesting. Now if it was Las Vegas and one of the big wheels owned the casino, they would just change the law to 250 feet or make the church move <g>.

Please keep us informed.

Or take over the church with iminate domaine (not so sure of the spelling here)
Lee-PA

The "latest" is that the casino will open, with gambling, when: the Mayor and City Council finish their "one-up-manship" grandstanding, the Michigan Gaming Board finishes their licensing review and pass a successful vote, the various departments assure the Council/Archer they are ready for everything (police, fire, etc.). All this will "happen" by tomorrow, July 28, according to the news. If all this develops, then MGM will have the necessary and legal waiver to open before the original opening date of Aug. 28.

Not sure of anymore news regarding the 500 feet/church issue.

We shall see. . .

Rick in MI

Hi All
The gaming board votes Wed. at 2:00. Then the wheels from MGM home office will make a anouncement about the grand oening MGM. The parking will be a bear in the area. The hi parking garage will be read in Sept. some time.

Tis sure will beat going to Winsor or Mt Pleasent MI. The only good if you win big in Winsor there is no tax unless you declair your winning at US Border patrol.
There machines are so tight in Windsor that the squeak.

Marion, I have to agree. Won very little at Mt. Pleasant (with many visits) and NEVER won anything in Windsor.

Hi Rick: Nice to see you here!

My friends in Birmingham have been after me to go to Windsor with them, but I've never had that desire. I might take them up on the idea of visiting the MGM Grand, though. It *sounds* good, but I'll wait for the reports. Do you plan on visiting it soon after it opens? If you do, could you let us know what you think? Thanks!

The MGM got approved today and should open in about a half hour from now.

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LarryinMich@prodigy.net

Hi all,
Today everyone said a go on the opening and the date is 29 July 1999 at 1600 hrs or 04:00 PM. We will be in line to deposit our money into the MGM bank account. It will be like Windsor or any of the Indian casino's we visit our money and deposit more.

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Marion Papciak


[This message has been edited by M Papciak (edited July 28, 1999).]

V, we plan on going Saturday, the 31st. If we get there and it looks like a mob scene and parking is too far away, we're not staying. I'll wait 'til it cools down a bit. Or else go during the week day.

The opening was delayed until around 4:30pm (was 4:00pm) but I don't know why. Parking is at a premium. Even the local Fox news truck drove around looking for signs for parking close by and it was very difficult. People were standing in line, under a canopy provided by MGM, from the early hours of the morning. The news talked to one lady at a $1 slot who was hoping for some opening day luck, but she was'nt having any at the time.

One of the rumors (many to follow, I'm sure) is that 21 and crap dealers start at $50,000 a year, PLUS TIPS. Yeah, right. Dealers at Mirage make that but that includes tips. At leaset that's what I've been told.

I'm sure there will be many updates as time goes on from the MI contingency.

Rick in MI

Here's some more "news" on MGM Detroit:

Brunch/Lunch Buffet $14.95
Dinner (includes rib-eye steaks) $17.95
Nine stations serving American, Italian, Mexican, Asian. . .

Bud-Lite $2.50 (no "free" drinks)

Other eatery's Neyla "A Mediterranean Grill"
Brown Derby
Games = 21, roulette, baccarat (mini also), Caribe Stud, Let It Ride, craps, Pai Gow poker---- 80 tables
Slots 5 cents to $500----2300 machines
Casino --- 75,000 sq. ft.

Take a virtual tour - www.freep.com/casinoguide

Rick in MI

Rick: Good update info, and it sounds like a typical mob scene for the Grand Opening.

Love those new casino rumors....keep 'em coming <g>.

Good luck tomorrow.

I know a dealer and some contractors who say the place is a real gem. I dont know if it would compare with Windsor. (it is a permanent casino), But everyone I talked to said it is nice.
I am glad to see Detroit getting a sort of rebirth. Those of you ever planning Windsor or Detroit trips, let me know. I am only twenty minutes away. Kevin in MI

At noon today, MGM Grand Detroit Casino opened its new parking structure to the public, providing 2,200 additional on-site parking spots, bringing the total number of free parking spaces to 3,300. Noteworthy features of the deck include ATM machines, coat rooms, full-time security patrol and a climate-controlled walkway directly
onto the gaming floor.

In addition, the casino added nearly 150 new slot machines to the gaming area.

Looks like all those gambling dollars quickly bought a bigger parking garage and a few more slots!

The Motor City Casino is planing on opening in about 2 weeks and should give the MGM a little compition. The Motor City Casino is operated by Mandaly Bay

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larryinmi@home.com

Kevin,

Planning to hit the Detroit car show on the 18th then go across the river and spend the night.

jm

jm, by the 18th the other casino might be open in Detroit.

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larryinmi@home.com

I should have been more specific. It's January 18th. The other place opens this moenth, doesn't it?

jm

jm, I was thinking that you might be playing
a trick here since you anounced that you would be in Detroit and Ohio at the same time, on the same day.

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larryinmi@home.com

Larry,

Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention .

jm