Ahead of the planned inauguration of its MGM Springfield property on August 24 and American casino operator, MGM Resorts International, is reportedly in discussions with local officials about ways to help deal with an expected record number of opening day visitors.

According to a Friday report from The Republican newspaper, April saw MGM Resorts International announce that it is to debut the new central Massachusetts venue ahead of schedule. The Las Vegas-based operator has since been in talks with various city administrators including those representing the local police and public works departments concerning measures to alleviate anticipated parking and traffic concerns.

The newspaper reported that these actions could possibly include the temporary closure of certain streets around the coming $960 million property, which is to offer a 125,000 sq ft casino complete with some 3,000 slots and 100 gaming tables, as well as the establishment of special parking areas reserved solely for downtown workers.

Seth Stratton, Vice-President and General Counsel for MGM Springfield, reportedly told The Republican that he is expecting to chalk up visitor numbers that have ‘probably never been seen’ with the 14.5-acre property filled to near capacity over the course of its early days.

“We do anticipate a high volume [for] the opening day and the weeks following,” Stratton told the newspaper.

The casino operator detailed that it will be opening a 3,400-space parking garage for MGM Springfield visitors ahead of the venue’s August 24 inauguration but that this may not be enough to satisfy an expected deluge of new traffic.

The Republican reported that the Springfield City Council’s Casino Oversight Committee discussed additional anti-congestion measures at a Friday meeting including where to place traffic barriers and police officers alongside whether to institute an interim park-and-ride scheme for downtown workers. Local councilor, Jesse Lederman, purportedly told the body that he anticipates ‘an extraordinary number of people’ visiting downtown Springfield for the opening of the new 252-room venue.