Company Press Release: Mohegan Sun
February 17, 2000
NEW YORK, NY -- In a press conference held in Manhattan today, the management and developers of Mohegan Sun, the
legendary entertainment and gaming destination in Uncasville, Connecticut, formally announced plans for a monumental,
$800-million expansion. ``Project Sunburst'' will triple the area of the existing property, adding more than four
million square feet. It will include a 1,200-room luxury hotel tower; premier meeting and convention facilities,
including the Northeast's largest ballroom; a 10,000-seat arena; more gaming entertainment, retail and dining options;
and a world-class spa and full-service fitness center. The additional gaming entertainment will make Mohegan Sun
one of the largest casino complexes in the world. Called the Casino of the Sky, the 115,000-square-foot space will
feature a fully functioning planetarium.
``Mohegan Sun's expansion makes it the largest private development project on the East Coast,'' commented Roland
J. Harris, L.S., chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council, in announcing Project Sunburst. ``In 2002, we will introduce
to the world not only the premier entertainment, meeting and gaming destination on the East Coast, but an extraordinary,
24-hour venue that promises to redefine the casino destination experience.''
The design of this second phase of Mohegan Sun's development is a collaborative effort by several of the world's
most renowned firms. These include Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, architects of Mohegan Sun's dramatic yet understated
exterior; the Rockwell Group, which is creating a Mohegan-inspired design for the new gaming space, hotel lobby,
retail and dining areas; and Hirsch Bedner Associates, designers of the hotel guest room interiors, meeting space
and spa.
A three-dimensional video walk-through presentation gave today's press luncheon attendees a virtual tour of the
expansion, whose highlights include:
A 34-story, 1,200-room luxury hotel tower with spacious rooms and suites. At a minimum of 450 square feet, each
room is outfitted with a luxurious bathroom, fine bedding, a full-size working desk area with ergonomic chair,
three two-line telephones with dataports and more;
For the exterior of the expanded Mohegan Sun, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates has succeeded in creating a relatively
low profile for such a monumental complex. Drawing inspiration from traditional Mohegan tribal myths and the surrounding
landscape, it will feature a crystalline hotel tower rising above its own porte-cochere set within a glade of trees.
A second, tree-inspired, winged porte-cochere will mark the entry to the new gaming space. Mohegan Sun's two-phase
development represents the largest project ever undertaken by the Rockwell Group, the highly acclaimed design firm
behind both the original Casino of the Earth and the new Casino of the Sky. For the existing casino, Principal
David Rockwell and his team created a magnificent design focusing on the Mohegan Tribe's reverence for the changes
of the seasons, while the expansion will celebrate the four elements and more celestial themes.
``While it is extremely detailed, there is not one inch of space in the entire structure that does not add to the
authenticity, the romance and the excitement of the Mohegan Sun experience,'' said Mitchell Grossinger Etess, executive
vice president of marketing for Mohegan Sun. ``This is a testament both to the talents of our designers and to
the integral involvement of the Mohegan Tribal Council in every aspect of Mohegan Sun's development.'' Mohegan
Themes Abound in Authentic Design Elements
Providing a physical and thematic link between the Casino of the Earth and the Casino of the Sky will be a walkway
at whose entrance will be a towering Tree of Life. The tree represents the creation of the Mohegan Tribe -- its
roots, symbolizing the tribal elders, are embedded in the earth while its branches, representing the youth or future
of the Mohegan Nation, stretch to the sky, expanding outward to support exquisite, back-lit beaded canopies. Stretching
over the Rockwell-designed Casino of the Sky will be the largest planetarium dome in the world. The fully functioning
planetarium will feature awe-inspiring projections of stars, constellations, cloud effects, the aurora borealis
and an ever-changing light show. Round in shape, the Casino of the Sky will incorporate design elements representing
the sunrise to the east, the sunset to the west, and the moon centered under the dome.
Standing at the center of the casino will be Wombi Rock, a soaring structure of translucent alabaster and onyx
designed to resemble a massive rock outcropping, which will pulsate with lighting effects to complement the planetarium
show. Signifying the journey of the spirit, it will house three levels of entertainment venues, including a lounge
and a dance floor.
Tribal themes will also be apparent in the new premium shopping area, which will document the historic journey
of the Mohegans as they traveled east through the desert, over great waters and mountains before arriving at their
present location in Connecticut. These various environments will be represented through custom floor and ceiling
finishes. Several ``memory piles'' will serve as interactive customer information sites along the walkway, reflecting
the traditional rock piles that served as tribal memorials to an important event or person.
The elements will be represented in four individual new restaurants designed by Rockwell. A 100-seat gourmet restaurant
will feature water cascading down edge-lit walls into a stream; a 24-hour restaurant will offer an exquisitely
airy design scheme; a 345-seat buffet will celebrate the sun in handcrafted light fixtures and custom chandeliers;
and a dining court will represent the 13 lunar phases of a tribal calendar year through design elements that include
a 40-foot globe.
Rockwell's striking design for the hotel lobby will resemble a cedar forest. Ten trees, graced by sparkling beaded
canopies, represent the red cedars that are sacred to the Mohegans, and will surround a reflecting pool lined with
glass mosaic geode tiles. These will symbolize the layers of Mohegan culture past, present and future.
Among the other design highlights reflecting Mohegan tribal culture will be Taughannick Falls, a massive waterfall
flowing down to Chahnameed's Island, a bar/restaurant at the foot of the falls, named after a historic figure in
Mohegan folklore. Six custom floor lamps resembling giant cornhusk dolls will line the perimeter of the restaurant.
Owned by the Mohegan Tribal Nation, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most distinctive and spectacular destinations
in the United States. It is situated in scenic Southeastern Connecticut on 240 acres along the Thames River in
the town of Uncasville. Within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence, as well as a wealth of
popular activities and attractions, it is already renowned as a legendary entertainment and gaming center. Mohegan
Sun is now evolving into a multidimensional destination featuring 1,200 hotel rooms, premier meeting and convention
space, a 10,000- seat arena and a world-class spa. It is ideally suited for discerning business and leisure travelers.
For information call 888-226-7711.
SOURCE: Mohegan Sun