SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – March 29, 2017 – MGM Springfield today celebrated the topping off of the casino resort by placing the final curved steel beam atop what will be the hotel rotunda along Main Street. This significant construction milestone comes as the much-anticipated resort moves toward its opening in 2018. MGM Springfield is set to become a premier destination in New England for entertainment, dining, retail, gaming and much more.

Michael Mathis, President of MGM Springfield, said, "Our talented construction team has worked very hard to get to this point. This is a moment to celebrate how much we have accomplished together with our construction manager, AECOM Tishman; our subcontractors; and our friends in labor. It is also time to reaffirm we are ready to push forward with the hard work still ahead to bring this project to fruition."

Joining Mathis to mark the occasion was Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Enrique Zuniga, local officials, AECOM Tishman representatives, project sub-contractors, workers and labor representatives from more than 20 building trades.

Before the final steel construction beam was hoisted, it was signed by construction workers and dignitaries and adorned with an American flag and a symbolic tree. The tree is a longstanding construction ritual signaling that a building has reached its final height, bringing good luck and prosperity to the building’s future occupants.

Sarno said, "Every day this site becomes more of a reality for the city. The footprint and future of our downtown is transforming, and our citizens are feeling the excitement. Today is a great day and we will build on this momentum with a cooperative spirit so MGM Springfield can open its doors in September 2018 and let the world know Springfield is open for business."

Randy Pitts, Vice President, AECOM Tishman, said, "I want to thank the hard working and talented men and women who have made today possible. Every worker has come on site with a collaborative spirit and can-do attitude. I am honored to be part of this team, MGM's vision and a true revitalization project."

Covering three city blocks, MGM Springfield will combine new construction and revived historic buildings to introduce a vibrant entertainment and tourism district to downtown Springfield. Touting a street-facing design, the property will open up to the heart of Western Massachusetts, and feature a 250-room boutique hotel, a world-class spa, diverse retail offerings, an expansive gaming floor and approximately 44,000 square feet of banquet and meetings space. Other amenities will include a luxury cinema, high-energy bowling complex, seasonal skating rink and an outdoor marketplace featuring local artisans and lively events.

As the largest Western Massachusetts private investment in history, MGM Springfield will employ 3,000 permanent employees, 90 percent of whom are expected to come from the region. Workforce development will continue to be a priority as the company looks toward mass hiring in summer 2018. In addition, through the Host Community Agreement, MGM Springfield has estimated it will spend approximately $50 million annually with local and regional vendors and suppliers.

About MGM Springfield
MGM Springfield resort covers three city blocks in the heart of downtown Springfield, Mass.  Igniting a cultural and economic renaissance in a historic New England city, the approximately 2 million square-foot development, which combines new construction with revived historic buildings, will offer more than 125,000 square feet of gaming space, a 250-room boutique hotel on Main Street and superior spa services, inspired dining and diverse retail. MGM Springfield also will feature a luxury cinema, high-energy bowling complex, a seasonal skating rink and outdoor marketplace displaying local art, events and talent. MGM Springfield is scheduled to open in 2018. www.mgmspringfield.com

About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The Company opened MGM National Harbor in Maryland on December 8, 2016, and is in the process of developing MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. MGM Resorts controls and holds a 76 percent economic interest in the operating partnership of MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP), a premier triple-net lease real estate investment trust engaged in the acquisition, ownership and leasing of large-scale destination entertainment and leisure resorts. The Company also owns 56 percent of MGM China Holdings Limited (SEHK: 2282), which owns MGM MACAU and is developing MGM COTAI, and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA Resort & Casino. MGM Resorts is named among FORTUNE® Magazine's 2017 list of World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  MGM Springfield has based these statements on management’s current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include statements regarding the expected opening date of the casino resort, scope of the amenities to be offered and the amount it will spend locally with vendors and suppliers. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including effects of economic and market conditions, competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, and the design, timing and costs of the projects and risks relating to permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies and additional risks and uncertainties described in the MGM Resorts International Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, MGM Springfield is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE MGM Resorts International