MotorCity Casino didn’t have to look too far to fill its Senior Vice President of Casino Operations position. The facility announced today that it promoted Stacey Young to the role.
Young has been with the casino since 2003 and has climbed the ranks. He inherits a role in which the retail casino market, unlike Michigan online casinos, has been volatile in Detroit as of late.
Long-tenured employee takes over prime role for MotorCity Casino
Young (right) has been with the company for 21 years and has worked in the slot vertical the majority of his tenure. He started as a Slot Technical Manager in 2003 and held various roles such as Director of Slot Operations and Vice President of Slot Operations.
Now, Young has the responsibility of overseeing all gambling verticals at the casino, which includes slots, table games, poker, and the retail sportsbook.
Casino general manager John Policicchio said he holds Young in high regard. He said in a press release:
“Stacey’s dedication and expertise have been instrumental in delivering MotorCity Casino’s world-class experience. We’re eager to see Stacey continue to excel in his new role.”
Young also expressed his excitement with the promotion.
“I’m thrilled to be part of such an outstanding team, and I’m excited to continue elevating the guest experience at MotorCity Casino Hotel,” he said.
Young has 25 years of total experience in the casino space to hit the ground running.
Detroit casinos experiencing volatility over last several months
MotorCity Casino, along with MGM Grand Detroit and Hollywood Casino at Greektown has seen revenue fluctuate over a period of time. All three casinos dealt with a six-week workers’ strike in the latter part of 2023.
Young certainly has his work cut out to level out the peaks and valleys.
The casino ranked second in total gambling revenue last year, producing $373.6 million. Here’s how it fared with the other Detroit locations in terms of revenue:
- MGM Grand Detroit: $564 million
- MotorCity Casino: $373.6 million
- Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $285.2 million
Revenue for the three facilities had been level for most of 2023. For MotorCity Casino, earnings reached as high as $35.8 million (Feb. 2023) but as low as $31 million (Sept. 2023).
However, over the last five months, revenue at all three casinos had dropped below their expected threshold. For MotorCity Casino, it fell below $30 million in earnings in three of the previous five months. The strike was a major factor.
Luckily, Detroit casinos bounced back in February. MotorCity Casino generated $31.6 million in monthly revenue.
March will be a telling month to see if these facilities continue to get back on track. And Young will play an important role in MotorCity Casino’s bottomline as the head of casino operations.
