Mohegan Sun is continuing its expansion by officially opening the Earth Expo & Convention Center Wednesday.
Tribe officials touted the location between Boston and New York, one-stop environment and the ability to host large events that have never come to Connecticut before.
The $80 million, 250,000 square foot expansion has already created about 300 permanent and construction jobs and will bring in mid-week business, generating spillover to area hotels, according to Mohegan Tribe Chairman Kevin Brown.
Mohegan Sun Opens Earth Expo u0026 Convention Center
“Local Connecticut residents are going to get jobs here,” Brown said. “We are sustaining the economy every time we grow this facility.”
Plus, with Mohegan Sun and Electric Boat hiring, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is working to introduce and keep people in the area, Chamber President & CEO Tony Sheridan said.
“I think it’s going to be a plus, plus all the way around. It’s been a long recession,” according to Sheridan, who said he expects the southeastern casino to pull business from the Connecticut Convention Center in the capitol city. Especially since the casino is an integrated resort with dining, lodging, shopping and entertainment.
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“This expo center isn’t just going to shift expo business in the state of Connecticut, it’s going to generate international business,” Brown said. “We’re now going to get some of those larger conventions that never came here, that never went to the Convention Center, that want to be here now.”
Hartford Boat Show organizers confirmed a move from the Hartford venue to Uncasville. Kathleen Burns, executive of the CT Marine Trades Association that produces the annual event, cited part of the reason being that Earth Expo & Convention Center had availability that didn’t conflict with other boat shows in the region.
While the group is “deeply grateful” to the Convention Center that produced the show since the Center opened, Burns said they are enticed by Earth Expo & Convention Center’s easy move-in and move-out, complimentary parking and all of the Mohegan Sun amenities for guests.
The Earth Expo & Convention Center includes the 125,000 square foot, column-free Earth Expo, a ballroom that can be divided in two, free parking, an eight bay loading dock from an open parking field and additional drive-in access, 15 meeting rooms, an executive boardroom with a private outdoor terrace, outdoor space including a wrap-around terrace, a kitchen and “state-of-the art” technology and amenities.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the Connecticut Convention Center to talk about competing with Mohegan Sun. Communications Manager Brianna Barnes responded via email saying the Center has no comment right now regarding Mohegan Sun but “Once everything is up & running, our management will have a better idea and be able to comment directly.”
The first major event at the Earth Expo & Convention Center will be the Barrett-Jackson auction in June.
Mohegan Sun is also home to the Sky Convention Center & Meeting Spaces.
