Excitement level high for MGM Grand opening

MIKE HOUSEHOLDER

Friday, July 30, 1999 | 3:14 a.m.

DETROIT - Tony Petschler was so excited about the prospect of gambling in Detroit that he showed up seven hours early.

Petschler, 54, a retiree from Dearborn, was one of thousands of people who swarmed to Thursday's opening of the Motor City's first temporary casino, the MGM Grand Detroit.

By the time the casino opened at 4:30 p.m., a line of people snaked around the corner to Michigan Avenue where Tiger Stadium was in view and doubled back. MGM Grand security personnel handed out cups of ice water after one woman nearly passed out in the 90-degree heat.

Petschler was first in line. He showed up at 9:25 a.m.

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."

MGM Grand Detroit President Lyn Baxter said the casino would let in about 2,000 people in the first wave. MGM officials said the casino could hold up to 5,700 patrons.

At 9 p.m., about 200 people were still waiting to get inside. Despite the thousands of people pouring in and out of the converted IRS building all day, there had been no arrests and only a few complaints about the casino's delayed opening, police Sgt. Joe Solomon said.

"This is high energy. This is positive energy," said Sgt. Dan Pauley, another member of the 35-officer unit assigned to monitor crowds and traffic outside the casino. "And I think it shows in the crowd."

People waiting Thursday night to be let inside had varying expectations about their luck.

"I want to go in here and win some money, all of it," gushed Betty Dupree of Flint. "I plan to do it all, as often as I can get money - every two weeks."

Farther back in line, Paul Kosturko of Farmington Hills was waiting to play the slots with his girlfriend, Angela Nowecky. He said his plan was to "spend money, hope to win, start out with 10 cents and see where that goes."

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 carries a 1930s art deco theme. Throughout the casino are framed photos of movie stars, and hundreds of real flowers and plants.

Patrons 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.

Detroit's other two temporary casinos are expected to open this fall. The Motor City Casino, a $140-million venture between local developers and Mandalay Bay Resorts, will set up shop in a renovated Wonder Bread bakery 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 the Trappers Alley building.

Shortly after the MGM Grand opened Thursday, John Eritano of Mount Pleasant stood between two $1 slot machines and played both at the same time.

"Usually, grand openings are the best payout times," said Eritano. "How true it is, I'll find out."

Eritano said he had been to most of the casinos in Michigan and thought he'd be visiting the MGM Grand fairly often. "Compared to what I've seen in the state of Michigan, this is nice," he said.

A few spins later, the machine on Eritano's left paid out $300.

"I can live with that for the time being," he said.