Alexandria Prepares for Opening of MGM Casino Resort

PHOTO is a rendering of the MGM Casino Resort in National Harbor

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Alexandria is preparing for the late 2016 opening of the $1.3 billion MGM Casino Resort across the Potomac, hoping to capitalize on the annual 9 million visitors expected, according to a report by a task force making recommendations to the City on how it can best capitalize on the influx of visitors.

Visit Alexandria CEO Patricia Washington presented the task force recommendations to the City Council Tuesday night, saying that they are hoping to not only spruce up the City but also create a heightened awareness in the City and get people in the mindset to roll out the red carpet.

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In addition to slot machines and table games, the resort will attract visitors from around the world with 120-150 entertainment shows in a 3,000-seat theater, more than 300 hotel rooms, 12 restaurants, a spa, upscale retail stores and more.

To prepare for the opening, the City Manager asked Visit Alexandria to convene a task force to make recommendations on how the City could best prepare to welcome new visitors to the City. The 20-person task force included a mix of citizens who looked at marketing, education, aesthetics and more.

The task force met in November and December and delivered a preliminary report in January. Six initiatives were included in the City budget. The task force recommendations would cost $290,000.

• Wayfinding signage: Identifying parking: $200,000
• Retail training: Training for frontline staff at hotels, attractions, retailers to increase local area knowledge. $10,000
• International trade shows: $5,000
• Marina refresh: Recognizing that it's the gateway...this was critical to making sure that our first impression was a good one. Funding would provide new welcoming signage, ongoing cleaning, enhanced seating: $45,000
• Public programming: A coordinated program of performers, reenactors, public arts: $30,000
• Flowers and tree wells on King Street

City Councilmember Paul Smedberg asked about public programming around the waterfront and noted that coordination of performers is needed around the first few blocks. "There are so many performers or artists or whatever they call themselves. It's out of control," Smedberg said. "It looks so bad."

"Sometimes it's a free-for-all," said Mayor Allison Silberberg. "I don't know that we should be spending money," she said, noting that the "water glass man" and some others are already working for free and are popular with crowds.

"It's one thing being entrepreneurial but it's out of control," Smedberg said.

Councilman John Chapman asked about possible signage directing cyclists to Alexandria and Councilman Willie Bailey asked about the resort holding a job fair in Alexandria.

Vice Mayor Justin Wilson asked about whether the water taxi transportation will step up trips between Alexandria and National Harbor.

"This really sounds like Las Vegas on the Potomac, I'm just glad it's not on our shores," said Councilwoman "Del" Pepper. Decorative lights on King Street were also brought up, with Pepper saying "It would be nice if we could have them all year long. They're our statement that 'we're open for business.' How many streets have the whole 12 blocks or however long it is, all lit up?"

Smedberg joked "The Las Vegas strip."