Maryland Live! Casino "Tops Off" $500 Million Gaming and Entertainment Destination at Arundel Mills in Hanover, MD

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md., Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the ceremonial raising of a steel beam, executives from the Cordish Company and Commercial Interiors/TN Ward Joint Venture "topped off" the new $500 million Maryland Live! Casino, marking a significant milestone in the development of one of the largest gaming and entertainment destinations in the country.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120215/PH54306 )

Officials including Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, County Executive John Leopold, and Maryland State Lottery Agency Director Stephen Martino joined Cordish Company executives David Cordish and Joe Weinberg, Maryland Live! Casino President and GM Robert J. Norton, and CI/TN Ward Joint Venture principals Kevin Johnson and David Panichi in signing the final beam, which was adorned with hundreds of signatures from construction workers who have participated in the project.

Maryland Live! Casino is one of the largest construction projects in the state of Maryland, employing approximately 2,500 workers, with the majority of contractors and subcontractors from the immediate Baltimore/Washington area. The property is currently recruiting to fill an additional 1,500 new jobs, and recently opened an Employment Center near the site.

"The 'topping off' marks the finale of another chapter in our development of one of the largest gaming and entertainment projects in the country," said Joe Weinberg, Managing Partner, The Cordish Companies. "We are currently installing interior finishes, actively hiring new employees, and look forward to our scheduled opening this June."

The economic and community impact of the Maryland Live! Casino project further extends into the region with a contribution of more than $400 million in tax revenue per year to support local schools, making it the single largest annual and ongoing source of revenue for Maryland's children. It includes $300 million in construction spending, $60 million in annual spending on goods and services, and provides approximately $30 million annually in revenue to the County for safer streets, improved roads, senior care and other important services. In addition, the entire Arundel Mills Commercial District will benefit from the creation of improved traffic patterns, and an upgrade to existing infrastructure, parking and highway access.

"This state-of-the-art entertainment center will bring more jobs to our communities and spur meaningful growth in Maryland's economy," said Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown.

"I congratulate the Cordish Company and all of the partners who have worked to make this project a reality."

Maryland Live! Casino is the only gaming facility in the State built by a Maryland Minority-Owned Business Enterprise – Commercial Interiors/TN Ward Joint Venture. The Cordish Company and Commercial Interiors have been awarded the 2011 Bridging the Gap Award for "Key Partnership/Strategic Alliance" by the Greater Baltimore Committee. The Cordish Company was also recognized as the "2011 Most Inclusive Corporation of the Year for Minority Business" by the Maryland DC Minority Contractors' Association.

About Maryland Live! Casino

Located at the Arundel Mills Mall in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, the new $500 million Maryland Live! Casino will be one of the largest gaming, retail and entertainment destinations in the country with 4,750 slot machines and electronic table games; nationally-acclaimed restaurants; designer name brand shopping; and a state-of-the-art, live entertainment venue. Maryland Live! Casino is scheduled to open Summer 2012 (pending approval from the Maryland State Lottery Agency). Visit www.marylandlivecasino.com or follow Maryland Live! Casino on Facebook and Twitter. For employment opportunities, visit www.jobsatmarylandlivecasino.com. Maryland Live! Casino is being developed by The Cordish Company.

About Cordish

The Cordish Companies, now in its fourth generation of family ownership, is an international conglomerate of businesses, including one of the leading gaming, entertainment and real estate development companies in the United States. The company has diverse development expertise with divisions focused on Gaming & Lodging, Entertainment & Mixed-Use, Sports Anchored Districts, Shopping & Lifestyle Retail, Office and Residential. The Cordish Companies also owns and manages a diverse group of operating businesses, ranging from gaming, restaurants/clubs to live music promotion and film/media distribution. The company values itself on the quality of its operations, its long-term relationships, and high level of integrity in all of its endeavors.

The Cordish Companies is the largest and most successful developer of entertainment districts and concepts in the United States. In particular, the company has unparalleled experience in creating and revitalizing high-profile destinations in urban core locations. Many of The Cordish Companies' projects involve public/private partnerships and are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. Prime examples are the company's prominent role in the redevelopment of Baltimore's world-famous Inner Harbor; Atlantic City, NJ; Hollywood, FL; Charleston, SC; Houston, TX; Louisville, KY; Tampa FL; Kansas City, MO; and Towson, MD.

The Cordish Companies has received the highest possible national awards in its various area of expertise. In real estate, The Cordish Companies has received an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards of Excellence. www.cordish.com

About Commercial Interiors, Inc.

Commercial Interiors was founded in 1990 and employs over 130 full-time construction professionals that consistently provide the highest quality real estate development, general contracting and interior finishes contracting services. Our specialized services are tailored to meet the unique needs of every client. Our past performance is the best indication of our capability. We consistently deliver our projects on time and to the satisfaction of our customers, which is why 85% of our revenue is based on repeat business.

About T. N. Ward Company

T. N. Ward Company is a well-respected general contractor and construction manager working primarily in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Based in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, T. N. Ward also maintains a fully-staffed office in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Founded in 1918 as the Frank H. Wilson Company, TN Ward has evolved into an exceptional builder while maintaining long-standing relationships with owners, designers, and subcontractors. On a daily basis, T. N. Ward Company continues to meet and exceed the challenges of various building projects including casinos, hotels, entertainment facilities, medical centers, colleges and universities, and industrial facilities.

SOURCE Maryland Live! Casino