MGM National Harbor


The MGM National Harbor is a resort in the Oxon Hill census-designated place in unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland. The resort opened on December 8, 2016, and is owned by MGM Growth Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International.

History

MGM Resorts International received a license in December 2013 to develop a resort in National Harbor. The company received the license after competing with bids from Penn National Gaming to develop a facility at its Rosecroft Raceway and Greenwood Racing to develop a facility near Maryland Route 210.
Construction on MGM National Harbor began in April 2014, and opened on December 8, 2016.

MBE participation

In April 2015, the MGM casino was sued by a group of Prince George’s County businesses who claimed the casino didn't comply with minority business enterprise contracting standards.

Child electric shock

On June 26, 2018 a seven-year-old girl suffered traumatic brain injury while visiting the casino. Due to a faulty installation of a device meant to control the electrical flow to the rail lighting, Zynae Green suffered an electric shock and was left wheelchair bound. Despite the family's pleas for help, MGM security did not initiate resuscitation, MGM stating "the guards followed protocol responding to the incident and determined that Zynae was breathing and did not need CPR". Prince George's County Police Officers started resuscitation upon arrival. The incident prompted an FBI investigation and the family has not been compensated more than a year after the incident.

Cheating

In 2019, a baccarat dealer who worked at the casino was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a cheating scheme. Ming Zhang showed his co-conspirators cards before they were dealt, who split the winnings with him.

Boxing death

Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died on July 23, 2019, from injuries suffered during a July 19 boxing match at the Theater at MGM National Harbor.

Robbery of winners

In 2020, two winners were robbed of more than $40,000 in winnings after leaving the casino and shot during the crime. The victims were followed by the assailants from the casino and robbed in Woodbridge, Virginia, where one of them lived and the other was shot.

Design

The white exterior of the building is in keeping with the marble used in many of the buildings in Washington DC. The organization of the casino is along a central axis, similar to the arrangement for the National Mall. The design was provided by HKS, Inc. while the architect of record for the project is SmithGroupJJR.

Features

MGM National Harbor includes a 23-story hotel with 308 rooms, in gaming space, retail space, a spa, seven restaurants, a 3,000-seat theater with seven VIP suites, of meeting and event space, and a parking garage for 4,800 cars.
The resort's public spaces feature a permanent collection of art inspired by the Washington metropolitan area and developed in collaboration with Prince George's County Arts and Humanities Council, Atlantic Arts, and RareCulture. Artists, sculptors, and photographers featured in the collection include Alice Aycock, Charles Hinman, Chul Hyun Ahn, John Safer, Liao Yibai, Margaret Boozer, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Sam Gilliam, and Terry O'Neill. The west entrance to the facility features a iron archway composed of "found objects" such as farming tools, children's toys, wheels and axes designed by Bob Dylan.

Events

On December 18, 2016, the 66th edition of the Miss World pageant was held at the resort theatre.
Since 2017, American singer and actress, Cher, has been performing her Classic Cher concert residency at The Theater at MGM National Harbor.
On July 12 and 13, 2018, Britney Spears performed two concerts as part of her.
On September 30, 2018, Christina Aguilera performed a concert as part of her Liberation Tour.
On March 31, 2019, Mariah Carey performed a concert as a part of her Caution World Tour.