Maryland Live! Casino - Project of the Year

WINNER
Maryland Live! Casino
Location: Hanover
Cost: $500 million
Square Footage: 2 million

Specs
The goal was to create “a world-class, dominant entertainment facility,” said Joe Weinberg, managing partner of the Cordish Cos., the casino’s owner.

The $500 million project at Arundel Mills Mall, which has about 4,000 slot machines, did not encounter any design or construction problems.

The developers got the look they wanted – modern and upscale, but not “overly thematic,” Weinberg said.  The meant no pirate-ship themes, like Las Vegas’ Treasure Island hotel and casino, for example.

Cordish used cash on hand to pay for most of the project, with some financing from M&T Bank and Deutsche Bank.  Weinberg declined to say how much was contributed.

But, while Maryland Live! turned out as Cordish Co. envisioned, the company did have to win a high-profile 2010 referendum in Anne Arundel County after opponents challenged the zoning for the project.  That delayed the project for more than a year.

“Our major hurdles were political, not design-construction,” Weinberg said. 

Since opening in June 2012, Maryland Live! has become the highest-grossing casino in Maryland.  It brought in $38.3 million in February along, for example.  Hollywood Casino Perryville, its next largest Maryland competitor, brought in $5.9 million in February.

Up next for Maryland Live! is the addition of 122 table games, expected to launch in April, and a two-story 15,000 square foot poker room that is expected to open late this summer.

Cordish also plans to build a high-rise hotel connected to the casino.  It was part of the original casino plan, Weinberg said.  No date has been set for construction.


Key Players
Developer: The Cordish Cos.
Architects: Klai Juba Architects
Builders: Joint venture between Commercial Interiors Inc. and TN Ward Co.
Interior Designers: Cleo Design Corp. and Westar Architectural Group