Henry P. Stawinski III, chief of police at Prince George’s County, Maryland, recently announced law enforcement plans for the December 8 grand opening and the next 30-45 days of operation at the .4 billion MGM National Harbor Casino. Stawinski said between 9,000 to 10,000 vehicles are expected to go to the casino over a 24-hour period, and up to 35,000 visitors are expected in that time period.
He noted 65 officers will work 24/7 on three 8-hour to facilitate traffic flow. “There will be officers there at 3 o’clock in the morning,” Stawinski said. The officers will earn overtime, at an average of $55 an hour, said police spokesman David Coleman. He added an agency helicopter will be in the air “all the time.”
County officials would not state what the traffic operation will cost in total, although it’s expected to reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. They said the county is in discussions with MGM about contributing but most likely taxpayers will foot the bill. Bradley Frome, a top aide to County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, said “A lot of the off-site activity, off the grounds of the property, the county is going to be paying for.” Stawinski said he didn’t know how much the traffic-control plan will cost. Coleman stated, “We will be able to tell what the cost is after.”
Stawinski said the department is ready to respond to several scenarios. In the worst case scenario, the department would use the maximum number of officers, but could drop back traffic subsides. He said he expects the traffic flow to stabilize after the first two weeks of operations, with peak hours from 7 p.m. to midnight, Thursday to Saturday.
Owned by MGM Resorts International, the MGM National Harbor integrated resort will offer a 308-room resort; 3,000-seat theater with VIP suites; 16,100 square foot ballroom with outdoor terrace; 50,000 square feet of versatile meeting space; the Conservatory; Potomac Plaza; dining concepts created by renowned international chefs; and much more.
Executive Director for Sales Sheila Hession said, “Our resort will offer groups flexible space as part of a stunning venue and overall experience. A short distance from Washington D.C. and just minutes from Alexandria, Virginia, MGM National Harbor will provide a resort destination unlike any other on the East Coast.”
