YONKERS, NY — MGM Resorts International has unveiled an ambitious vision for Empire City Casino, should the historic property be awarded a commercial casino license.
Plans unveiled on Thursday promise a gaming and entertainment destination to rival casinos on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and Las Vegas Strip.
The renamed MGM Empire City would include a major casino floor redevelopment and expansion, a 5,000-capacity entertainment venue, a new sportsbook along with celebrity chef-driven dining and cocktail spaces.
“MGM Resorts has a long and proud history of delivering world-class entertainment and gaming experiences, and we couldn’t be more excited to build on that track record at MGM Empire City,” MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said, revealing the company’s vision. “A full-scale casino and entertainment destination will provide unparalleled experiences, create thousands of jobs, boost the state’s economy, and be a game-changer for the entire region.”
The company said it would completely redevelop the property as the casino shifts from a video lottery terminal “racino” into a full-scale commercial casino with live-dealer table games, slot machines and even a high-limit gaming area.
According to company officials, the entertainment venue will be the first-of-its-kind in the region, hosting A-list performers and events. MGM Resorts International said it will be able to leverage its status as the third-largest ticket seller for live performances in the United States to bring top acts to town, attracting new events to the Hudson Valley market and bringing in crowds that include locals and tourists.
A commercial casino license will also enable MGM Empire City to introduce The BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge, offering sports fans and bettors game day experiences with a 112-foot wrap-around LED screen, stadium seating and VIP areas.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said that while the awarding of commercial casinos licenses is a relatively new development in New York, the Yonkers Raceway has a long and storied history.
“This is a momentous opportunity for the City of Yonkers, and I’m excited for the future, knowing the development of MGM Empire City will create thousands of good-paying union jobs and the economic growth that will ensure our city continues to flourish and prosper,” Spano said. “Already drawing millions of guests annually, this development plan will solidify Empire City’s status as a premier entertainment destination. Generations of Yonkers residents have worked at, enjoyed, and supported this historic property for 125 years, and I am excited about the significant impacts this project will have for residents now and for the next 125 years.”
Ed Domingo, General Manager of Empire City Casino, said that the unique property’s legacy and what it means to the community is something that his company considers its duty to protect.
“When MGM Resorts acquired Empire City Casino in 2019, we knew we were becoming stewards of a historic institution that has served generations of New Yorkers as a gathering place for entertainment, a source of jobs for the community, and a driver of economic development,” Domingo said. “As MGM Resorts prepares to enter its sixth year at the helm of this iconic property, we are excited to be able to combine the knowledge we have developed of the New York market with our expertise as a global entertainment brand, to bring the next chapter of New York’s entertainment landscape to the incredible community we are part of.”