The casino billboard wars in Baltimore are heating up.
For some time, the Cordish Company’s Maryland LIVE! Casino in Anne Arundel County has taunted the Horseshoe Casino with billboards visible to motorists on Russell Street.
“IF YOU LOVE WINNING, KEEP DRIVING TO LIVE! CASINO At Arundel Mills,” one suggests.
Now a second casino is making its presence known across from the Horseshoe Casino, and it seems to be putting down both Horseshoe and LIVE!
“NOTHING CLOSE COMES CLOSE,” the message says. To the right of the text is an MGM lion logo and the name, MGM National Harbor.
The billboard is located across Russell Street from Horseshoe, right above where the new Hammerjacks nightclub is planned. The message is a not-so-subtle reference to the $1.4 billion MGM National Harbor resort and casino in Prince George’s County, which is set to open December 8. It will be Maryland’s sixth casino.
The billboard is part of MGM’s marketing campaign leading up to the grand opening, though ads are just one of the ways word is getting out. MGM announced this week that Cher will perform in the MGM Theater at National Harbor on March 17, 19, 20, 23, 25 and 26. Tickets go on sale Sunday.
Other performers scheduled to appear at the MGM Theater include singer Bruno Mars and comedians Jim Gaffigan and Sebastian Maniscalco.
Ed Gunts writes about new buildings and other changes to the Urban Landscape for Baltimore Fishbowl.
