Excitement level high for MGM Grand opening

MIKE HOUSEHOLDER

Thursday, July 29, 1999 | 4:50 a.m.

DETROIT -- Veronica Drakos flies to Las Vegas two or three times a year, drives to Mount Pleasant and crosses the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario - all in the name of gambling.

So Mrs. Drakos was among the throng at the public opening Thursday of the MGM Grand Detroit Casino, one of three temporary casino slated to open in Detroit this year.

"There was really no reason to come here" to Detroit said Mrs. Drakos, a 48-year-old real estate agent from Wayne County's Brownstown Township. "Hopefully, this will bring people back."

By midday a line of people snaked around the corner to Michigan Avenue where Tiger Stadium was in view. MGM Grand security personnel handed out Styrofoam cups full of ice water after one woman nearly passed out in the 90-degree heat. Officials say there have been no heat-related injuries.

The first person in line was Tony Petschler, 54, of Dearborn, who had been in line since 9:25 a.m. Petschler, who is retired, said he's been to Casino Windsor several times, but "may never go again."

Joy Canton, 37, of Detroit, was third in line. But her reason for showing up Thursday had little to do with gambling.

"I've never set foot inside a casino before," she said. "I want to see the grandeur of it all."

Casino officials had no projections for the first day, and said they would limit crowds to shake out any problems. They have estimated the casino could hold 4,000 customers at a time.

The five-story, gold-and-cream building has two floors packed with 2,370 slot machines or video poker games and 83 table games. The slots play anything from a nickel to $500 a spin.

The interior is softly lit - like most casinos, there are few windows or clocks to let gamblers know what time it is - and decorated to evoke a 1930s theater lobby. Throughout the casino are framed photos of movie stars, and hundreds of real flowers and plants.

Also, casino visitors can enjoy two restaurants, and a buffet that can seat 500 guests at a time. The casino will remain open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Under the agreement with the city, MGM Grand can keep the temporary casino open exactly 48 months before it has to close. MGM Grand officials have said they're planning to break ground on their $800 million permanent casino-hotel complex in about two years.

Detroit's other two temporary casinos are also expected to open this year. The Motor City Casino, a $140 million venture between local developers and Mandalay Bay Resorts, is seeking to open in September in a renovated Wonder Bread building not far from MGM. The $147 million Greektown casino, part owned by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is expected to open in November in the Trappers Alley building.