The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe has officially broken ground on a casino in Massachusetts.

Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell led tribe, business and elected leaders in a boisterous Tuesday morning ceremony that included Native American prayers, songs and chants.

A now-vacant building was ceremonially torn down at the project site, a tribe-owned industrial park in Taunton south of Boston. It's part of the tribe's recently declared federal reservation of over 300 acres.

Democratic Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye called the project a "game changer" for the region.

The First Light Resort and Casino is expected to open in phases starting in 2017. It will cost roughly $1 billion and include a casino, hotel and entertainment offerings.

The tribe is competing with MGM and Wynn to open Massachusetts' first Las Vegas-style resort.