WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Casino expansion underway (Uncasville-WTNH) _ The Mohegan Sun casino is bursting at the seams. The tribe's $750 million expansion project, known as Sunburst, is underway, promising huge changes for the tribe and its guests. News Channel 8's Peter Standring has the story from our southeastern newsroom at The Day. These days it's easy to mistake Mohegan sun for a construction site. The tribe's mega-expansion project is in high gear. Linda May, East Haddam: "They seem like they're doing really good, I've been here when they've been packed, so I think they'll do good." Bill McAuley: "Well, I think it's good, I think it's good. To me bigger is better." Well it's certainly going to get bigger. More gaming space more restaurants more shops and more places to park. Right now with the garage and existing lots they've got 7,500 parking spaces. When the expansion project's complete they'll have nearly 14,000. Many of them will be located in a new five-level enclosed parking garage. Casino officials are sure that it'll be put to good use. Mitchell Etess, Mohegan Sun: "I don't think we're overbuilding if that's what you mean. "The vast majority of our clientele is driving customers, so we wanted to make sure we were enhancing their experience also." In the end that experience is expected to boost daily attendance here from 20,000 people to 50,000. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks that's such great news. Barbara Gustafson, East Hartford: "It's a little much. It's gonna get like Foxwoods where ya can't get a machine that you like!" But tribal officials are sure that if they build it people will come. They're betting $800-million on it. Roland Harris, Tribal Chairman: "No one's gonna invest that kind of money, the banks or Wall Street, into something that's gonna flop, and it's not gonna flop." In fact based on their research they say the expansion will make them the top player in Connecticut's gaming business. The biggest component of Sunburst is a planned 37-story luxury hotel. The tribe hopes to have designs ready for it soon. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Casino expansion underway
(Uncasville-WTNH) _ The Mohegan Sun casino is bursting at the seams. The tribe's $750 million expansion project, known as Sunburst, is underway, promising huge changes for the tribe and its guests.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring has the story from our southeastern newsroom at The Day.

These days it's easy to mistake Mohegan sun for a construction site. The tribe's mega-expansion project is in high gear.

Linda May, East Haddam: "They seem like they're doing really good, I've been here when they've been packed, so I think they'll do good."

Bill McAuley: "Well, I think it's good, I think it's good. To me bigger is better."

Well it's certainly going to get bigger. More gaming space more restaurants more shops and more places to park. Right now with the garage and existing lots they've got 7,500 parking spaces. When the expansion project's complete they'll have nearly 14,000. Many of them will be located in a new five-level enclosed parking garage. Casino officials are sure that it'll be put to good use.

Mitchell Etess, Mohegan Sun: "I don't think we're overbuilding if that's what you mean.
"The vast majority of our clientele is driving customers, so we wanted to make sure we were enhancing their experience also."

In the end that experience is expected to boost daily attendance here from 20,000 people to 50,000. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks that's such great news.

Barbara Gustafson, East Hartford: "It's a little much. It's gonna get like Foxwoods where ya can't get a machine that you like!"

But tribal officials are sure that if they build it people will come. They're betting $800-million on it.

Roland Harris, Tribal Chairman: "No one's gonna invest that kind of money, the banks or Wall Street, into something that's gonna flop, and it's not gonna flop."

In fact based on their research they say the expansion will make them the top player in Connecticut's gaming business.

The biggest component of Sunburst is a planned 37-story luxury hotel. The tribe hopes to have designs ready for it soon.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.