Mohegan Sun

The Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the world's second largest casino. It is located on 240 acres along the banks of Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state tourism is concentrated. It also features the state's only professional sports team, the WNBAs Connecticut Sun.

History

The Mohegan Sun was originally developed and managed by Trading Cove Associates a joint venture of Waterford Gaming, Sol Kerzner's Kerzner International (Formerly Sun International) and the Mohegan Tribe. In 2000 Trading Cove Associates gave complete control of the resort to the Mohegan tribe; TCA still receives a 5% dividend on the gross revenue generated by Mohegan Sun until 2014. The casino operates under a gaming compact which the Tribe entered into with the State of Connecticut on April 25, 1994.

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates designed Mohegan Sun’s exterior and luxury hotel tower. Rockwell Group created Mohegan-inspired designs for the gaming space, retail and restaurant promenade and hotel lobby. Hirsch Bedner Associates designed the 1,200-room, 34-story luxury hotel interiors and meeting spaces.

The multi-purpose Mohegan Sun Arena was opened in 2001 under the construction of Perini Building Company. On January 25, 2005, Mohegan Sun acquired its first gaming venture outside of Connecticut with its $280 million purchase of the Pocono Downs Racetrack in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania from Penn National Gaming. Mohegan Sun renamed the property "Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs" and began a major expansion.

Since 2003 ESPN has been stationed to broadcast live pre and post game WNBA shows inside the facility.

Management

Besides the Mohegan Sun management team, the casino is also managed by the Mohegan Council of Elders group and the Mohegan Tribal Council.

Gaming and Entertainment

The 300,000 sq ft of gaming space is divided into two parts. The first part, Casino of the Earth, was unveiled in 1996. The second part, Casino of the Sky, was unveiled in September 2001.
6,200 slot machines, 300 gaming table featuring countless games such as blackjack, craps, roulette, Caribbean stud poker, keno and baccarat.
Three entertainment venues including the Mohegan Sun Arena, a 350 seat Cabaret Theatre and the 300 seat Wolf Den.
More than 100,000 sq ft of meeting and function room space, including the Northeast’s largest ballroom.
The Race Book offers live horse or greyhound racing from around the U.S. as well as from Australia and England, They also offer wagering on Jai-alai from Florida. This is the only facility in New England featuring 300 television screens and 222 self-wagering carrels.
130,000 sq ft of retail shopping.
Shows are hosted in the 10,000 seat capacity Mohegan Sun Arena. It is also the home court for the WNBA team Connecticut Sun.

Dining and Resort

34 story hotel tower is one of the tallest buildings in Connecticut.
The luxury hotel tower was unveiled in April 2002 originally featuring 1,200 rooms. Now 1356.
20,000 sq ft of world class spa.
3,000 sq ft fitness cardiovascular center and aerobic studio.
22,000 sq ft of three individually themed night club and lounges.
The compilations of restaurants combine to more than 3000 seats.
10,000 sq ft indoor swimming pool.
17,500 sq ft outdoor sun terrace.
The Hotel is particularly noted for offering complimentary high speed T1 connections (15mb up and 15mb down) in all of it's rooms

Environment

The Casino of the Sky is a functional planetarium utilizing fibre optics to display the sun, moon and stars accompanying the lighting effects of the Wombi Rock, which is a three-story high crystal mountain crafted of alabaster and more than 12,000 individual plates of hand-selected of onyx from quarries in Iran, Pakistan and Mexico, which were transported to Carrera, Italy and fused into glass.
A 55 ft high indoor waterfall Taughannick Falls represent a treacherous crossing point during the tribe's migration.

References

External links

Casinos in Connecticut | Resorts | Hotels in Connecticut | 1996 establishments