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New sports betting and entertainment venue

A retrofit project converting an existing food market into a new casino floorspace and sports betting venue with an added bar.

Location

Oxon Hill, Maryland

Client

MGM Resorts

Project Type

Hospitality

Renovations

Key Partners

  • Hamilton Anderson Associates
  • W Squared Consulting
  • KNA Design
  • GSA
  • Illuminating Concepts

AWARDS

WBC Craftsmanship Awards, Electrical Lighting Systems, 2022

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By the Numbers By the Numbers By the Numbers By the Numbers By the Numbers

$6,266,000

VALUE

24 weeks

SCHEDULE

7,000

SQUARE FEET

2021

YEAR COMPLETED

597

INDIVIDUALLY HUNG CZECHOSLOVAKIAN
CHANDELIER PENDANTS

Vision Vision Vision Vision Vision

With the legalization of sports betting in Maryland, the BETMGM Sportsbook & Lounge at MGM National Harbor was built to be the first venue of its kind.

Client Goals

MGM Resorts and BetMGM decided to retrofit part of the National Market into more casino floorspace and a sportsbook and lounge. The sportsbook and lounge are equipped with a sports betting counter, a 110-foot wraparound screen, and a 360-degree, two-sided jumbotron to ensure every guest has a great view of sports entertainment from all seats.

Design Vision

The design concept was mainly inspired by the local landscape, with a heavy nautical influence. The curves are inspired by the Potomac River to the west and are evident in the oculus ceiling, elliptical bar, and curved furniture.

Construction Focus

During construction, MGM had an unknown go-live date, given that the Maryland Gaming Commission was still in the process of legalizing sports betting in the state. Due to this uncertainty, the HITT team including owners, designers, and subcontractors, worked together through constant communication and collaboration to keep the project on schedule while concurrently resolving any issues that arose during the preconstruction and construction phases.

Elements Elements Elements Elements Elements
All Eyes on the Screens

The highlight of the sportsbook is its digital screens. With a 360-degree, two-sided jumbotron positioned above the bar and a 110-foot wraparound screen positioned along the back wall, fans are easily able to have their eyes on the game of their choice. An electric privacy screen can divide the space into two allowing for the back wraparound screen to be viewed privately by fans positioned in theatre-style seats.

Immersive Bar

The elliptical bar with a jumbotron allows patrons to follow multiple games at once. Leather swivel chairs are mounted into the floor and numerous seats are positioned in front of individual built-in video gaming machines.

Intricate Lighting

The sportsbook is defined with distinct decorative lighting. Above, an array of chandeliers from Czechoslovakia are dangling along a subtle curve to separate the bar from the viewing area. The viewing area is cautiously lit by recessed lighting and the oculus ceiling features LED lights that can be programmed to change colors. Finally, decorative metal sconces are positioned on the back wall transitioning from the bar to the viewing area.

Trust, built. Trust, built. Trust, built. Trust, built. Trust, built.

The HITT team provided MGM Resorts and BetMGM with an exceptional experience by going above and beyond with coordination and communication. Due to the ever-changing go-live date, the schedule was a big risk and the team mobilized while drawings were still in the conceptual phase. The design was constantly evolving as construction was taking place, and therefore, the HITT team held daily meetings with subcontractors to ensure that everyone was on the same page and was executing to the owner and design teams’ vision accurately. With an emphasis on this collaborative, one-team approach, HITT was able to deliver the BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge on time.

THE HITT EXPERIENCE

BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge is our newest addition to MGM National Harbor, and we couldn’t have been granted the first sports wagers in the state of Maryland without the HITT team's proactive management of the schedule and clear communication. We had a unique schedule challenge given Maryland’s go-live date was ever-changing due to the legalization of sports betting in the state. This state-of-the-art space is a true testament to HITT’s dedication to quality and leadership, and we couldn't be happier with the end product.

“

ERNEST LEWIS

MGM National Harbor | Vice President of Facilities

Unique Challenges, Smart Solutions

Ambitious projects require carefully constructed solutions

Challenge

Due to an expedited schedule to complete the project in time for Maryland’s go-live date, the HITT team collaborated on innovate ways to deliver the project quickly and efficiently.

Solution

Instead of completing the bar rough-in and jumbotron separately, we used scaffolding to complete this work concurrently. By introducing the scaffolding, our team was able to work in two places at the same time and simultaneously completed the MEP rough-ins and structural framing.

Challenge

With natural forms and nautical themes influencing the design, there were many curved design elements that needed design-assist to ensure its constructability.

Solution

While constructing the design in the field, the HITT team found that many of the ellipses and curves intended to align with the raised platform beneath the bar were not accurately manufactured. By collaborating with the designers, we could coordinate shop drawings and CAD drawings to make changes in real-time. Some materials were prefabricated to meet the schedule while other items, such as furniture, required coordination with the FF&E vendor to ensure these pieces would fit in the space properly.

Challenge

The Maryland go-live date for sports betting was constantly in flux which in turn influenced the schedule. To ensure the sportsbook was ready for a tentative a go-live date of September 2021, the design was still being evolved when HITT mobilized on-site.

Solution

HITT and the design team were in constant communication to ensure the design team and owner’s visions were coming to life. The team relied on shop and CAD drawings to implement the plans in real time. The HITT team then relayed this information to all subcontractor partners to ensure that everyone was confident with their scope of work. Due to this team effort, the teams were able to come together and bring BetMGM’s conceptualizations to fruition.

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