SPRINGFIELD -- The Red Sox are officially coming to Springfield in January.

The Sox will host their annual Winter Weekend fan event at MGM Springfield and the MassMutual Center from Jan. 17 to 18, officials said at a press conference Wednesday morning. The two-day festival will include a Town Hall event, autograph sessions and photo opportunities with players, coaches and team alumni as well as panel discussions on a variety of topics.

“This is an event we hope creates lifetime memories for Red Sox fans here in Springfield and for people who will come from all over the region for this great event,” said Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy.

The Winter Weekend event, which debuted in 2015, has been held for the last five years at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut. Its move to Springfield was precipitated by the Red Sox’ new multi-year partnership with MGM as the “official and exclusive resort casino” of the team.

That partnership, which was announced in March, called for MGM signage throughout Fenway Park and advertisements on the team’s TV and radio stations. The new performing arts center being built at Fenway Park will be named the “MGM Music Hall,” according to a press release sent Wednesday.

One of the biggest draws of the alliance was the opportunity to bring the Winter Weekend event -- and thousands of visitors -- to western Massachusetts for one weekend.

“To have all these Red Sox stars right here in the city of Springfield; to have literally 8,000-10,000 individuals coming from all across New England, all across the United States and maybe even the world, to come here and be here is a huge event not only for MGM but also the city of Springfield,” said mayor Domenic Sarno.

In 2019, more than 20 players -- including reigning Mookie Betts, Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts -- attended the Winter Weekend event at Foxwoods. Manager Alex Cora and legends Wade Boggs, Dennis Eckersley, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Fred Lynn, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Jim Rice and Luis Tiant also appeared.

“It’s a chance to connect the 2020 team, not only with our great fan base but with each other,” Kennedy said. “It’ll be the first time that the Red Sox players and coaching staff has a chance to get together and see each other since the end of last year. It’s a great way for the players to bond with each other and a great way for our alumni to reconnect with each other and of course, get together with our great fan base.”

Kennedy thanked Red Sox fans in western Massachusetts and said he was looking forward to seeing them in January.

“I’d just tell everyone here in the 413 to get ready for Red Sox Nation to make its way here,” he said. “It’s going to be an event we’re really looking forward to and the start of something special for everyone.”

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Tickets are available online at redsox.com/winterweekend. General admission weekend passes are $80.