MGM marks fifth anniversary in Springfield’s south end
Five years ago Thursday, MGM took a gamble on Springfield and opened a multimillion dollar casino and resort in the south end. On Friday, August 24, 2018, Western Mass News was there as thousands of people gathered in a once-blighted and tornado damaged area of Springfield’s south end for a chance to see what three-plus years of construction and $960 million could create.
The grand opening of MGM Springfield ushered in a new era for Massachusetts and another mark of pride for the ‘City of Firsts’ as it became Massachusetts’ first destination casino resort. For longtime MGM employee Tess Quaglieri, the new casino offered her a chance to jump into a field traditionally dominated by men: facilities management. So five years ago, she packed up and left Las Vegas for western Massachusetts.