UNCASVILLE, Conn.
Leaders of the Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Sun gathered Thursday afternoon (March 23) at the flagship property in Connecticut, to announce the official plans for The Mohegan Sun Exposition Center.
Construction is already underway on the project, which has a target opening date of summer 2018. The expansion will span over 240,000 square feet and will be located by the Winter Parking garage and in close proximity to Mohegan Sun’s newest hotel, Earth Tower. The New York based architect firm KPF (Kohn Pedersen Fox) and the construction team out of North Stonington, A/Z Corp, are partners on the project.
The Exposition and Convention Center is expected to attract more corporate and association tradeshows, in addition to exhibitions such as Barrett-Jackson and the National Association of Postal Supervisors. It gives Mohegan Sun an opportunity to also expand current consumer geared shows like Terrificon and bring about tech industry shows, golf shows, musical extravaganzas, home-shows, motor sports and hunting & fishing shows.
One of the first partnerships announced by Mohegan Sun Assistant General Manager, Jeff Hamilton, is with United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI), to host a full-scale food show.
“This new conference center will help solidify Mohegan Sun as not just the premier conventions destination, but the premier resort in the Northeast region,” said Mohegan Tribal Chairman Kevin Brown. “It will enable us to host some of the largest tradeshows in the nation and take back some of the lost conventions that seek bigger venues in Boston and New York.”
The Mohegan Sun Expo Center will bring in an estimated 200 jobs, including construction and permanent roles, with an additional 100 supplier jobs anticipated. Other key details and figures include:
- 21,412-square-foot ballroom, divisible into two, with 3,000 square feet of pre-function space.
- The Exposition Center itself, will be 131,000 square feet.
- Free parking, 6 loading docks from an open parking field and additional drive-in access.
- 18 meeting rooms in total, ranging from 360 to 675 square feet
- A 1,263-square-foot boardroom with pre-function space and its own outdoor terrace.
- 3,600 square feet of outdoor space, which includes a large wrap-around terrace.
- A 5,361-square-foot kitchen
- Additional features include a mobile box office, up to the minute technology, digital displays inside and outside the center, free Wi-Fi, contiguous exhibit space.
On the design front, the new Expo Center will be a column-free structure with clerestory windows, offering flexible programming within a naturally-lit space. The main circulation spine that connects the exposition hall to the pre-function area also provides access to the overall facility, including the ballroom and adjustable meeting rooms. Along this path, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors lead visitors onto an outdoor patio with more space.
Greenery extends east to the recently completed Earth Tower, which shares the same grand entry as the Sky Tower. Interior finishes will recall the Tribe’s cultural history, with custom carpeting and light fixtures that reflect Native American motifs, the nearby Thames River and existing color palettes.
Once completed in the summer of 2018, Mohegan Sun will be home to the largest meetings and convention spaces between Boston and New York City. To learn more, visit mohegansun.com/EXPO.
