BRIMFIELD, Mass., Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts International's Chairman and CEO Jim Murren today announced the company (NYSE: MGM) signed a contract with Rolling Hills Estates Realty Trust to purchase a remote 150 acres of land in Brimfield, MA. The company will seek to develop a world-class resort on the land just north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, 65 miles west of Boston.

Murren, who grew up in Connecticut, expressed his desire to work closely with the people of Brimfield to come up with a project that honors the community and the people who live in it.

"When we decided to get actively involved in Massachusetts, we scoured the state for a location that would provide the rural setting that New Englanders want," said Murren. "The remote nature of this property, along with its proximity to the Mass Pike, is exactly what we had in mind."

MGM's working name for the development is Rolling Hills Resort. It would be developed on a wooded parcel adjacent to and just north of the Mass Pike. The initial plans include building a new off ramp from the Pike into the resort. 

Murren estimated the resort development would create some 3,000 permanent direct jobs as well as several thousand indirect jobs; along with several thousand construction-related jobs.

Murren was introduced at the announcement at Hitchcock Academy by David Callahan, a principal of the realty trust that owns the Brimfield property. Callahan, a West Brookfield resident, and his family own Palmer Paving Corp. of Palmer. Murren and other members of the MGM Executive Team were in Brimfield yesterday and today to meet with town officials, residents and other community leaders.

Callahan first introduced the idea of a resort casino on his property at the Oct. 24 Brimfield Board of  Selectmen's meeting. At that time, he told Selectmen that he wanted to find the best possible world-class development partner for Brimfield.

"We believe that proposing a site in Brimfield will allow this town to control its own destiny," Callahan told the Selectmen when he met with them in October. Today he told the group gathered, "I think I have brought you the best casino resort operator in the world." 

Callahan has been meeting with town officials, department heads and residents for months to understand their priorities and suggestions regarding hosting a resort casino in Brimfield.  

Both Murren and Callahan committed to continuing this dialogue with local residents throughout the development process in order to come up with a design that respects the character of the town and the way of life to which Brimfield residents have grown accustomed.

"In the communities where we locate we get to know our neighbors well," said Murren. "We listen to what they have to say, to their ideas and thoughts. And then we create high-quality world-class destination resorts that offer quality jobs and make the community and our company proud."

Bill Hornbuckle, MGM's chief marketing officer, who will oversee the Brimfield project, said the company opened an office at 1 Warren Rd., Brimfield, today and he invited people to stop by to share information and thoughts as the community process gets under way. The phone number of the new office is 413-245-3900.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed the State Legislature's Conference Committee report on expanded gaming in Massachusetts on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The passage of the bill, which automatically became law with the Governor's signature, kicked off the most highly anticipated public bidding process in the Commonwealth's history. Interested developers will compete for three licenses, one in the Greater Boston area, another in Southeastern Massachusetts and a third in Western Massachusetts. The Governor, Attorney General and Treasurer will appoint a 5-person Gaming Commission that will oversee the lengthy process and award the licenses.

SOURCE MGM Resorts International