85 lives were lost, many due to smoke inhalation as the hotel towers acted as chimneys to fill all floors with poisonous smoke and fumes from the burning decorative plastics. It was damaged in a huge fire in November 1980 which led to higher safety standards for fire protection across Las Vegas. The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (now Bally’s Las Vegas) was opened in December 1973. Two Las Vegas hotels have been known as the MGM Grand.
