MGM National Harbor has announced that it is bringing Chris Gumiela on as its new president and chief operating officer of one of the group’s most profitable properties. Gumiela is no chance hire, as he has spent his entire professional life working his way up in the company.
Trusted MGM Veteran to Lead MGM National Harbor
Gumiela started his corporate ladder scaling in 2006 when he joined the company’s Management Associate Program as a fresh college graduate. He will now lead the property, which clocked in more than $823.2 million in revenue in 2025 alone, and is the second most profitable casino property off the Las Vegas Strip.
Gumiela has more than 20 years of experience serving in various positions for the company, including across its land-based and online operations, hailing MGM National Harbor as an entertainment capital for the region encompassing the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
His appointment comes at a transformative time, with the property hosting a $1.4-billion Las Vegas Sphere-inspired lookalike, part of a deal with Sphere Entertainment.
Gumiela’s Appointment Coincides with Incoming Sphere Project
The Sphere National Harbor will be built on 14 acres located north of MGM National Harbor and will feature a 6,000-seat immersive entertainment venue, which connects to the casino offering thousands of games to players.
The Sphere National Harbor is also expected to boost demand for the property’s 308 hotel rooms.
Gumiela will seek to help the company boost its entertainment revenue and continue to draw crowds for various events, with the new entertainment project seeking to strongly contribute to this end.
While building a Sphere is an ambitious undertaking, monetizing it is a significant challenge, with the Las Vegas project operating at a significant loss at first. However, Sphere Entertainment may have turned a corner, with the company reporting $151.8 million in net income ending on June 30, 2026.