Mohegan Sun Hits Project Construction Milestone

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. October 14, 2008

JANUARY 14, 2008. Iron Workers Local 15 of Hartford set the final beam of steel in place last week atop Mohegan Sun's new 64,000 square-foot Casino of the Wind. Part of Mohegan Sun's multi-million dollar expansion Project Horizon, Casino of the Wind is scheduled to open in fall 2008.

The ceremony, which took place on January 2, was officiated by Mitchell Etess, President and Chief Executive Officer for Mohegan Sun and Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe.

"Today is a proud day for Mohegan Sun, as we have reached a major milestone in our Project Horizon expansion," said Etess. "I would like to thank all the men and women who have dedicated countless hours of hard work and commitment to this project and have made this all possible."

Iron Workers Local Union #15 and many distinguished guests of Mohegan Sun signed the ceremonial beam commemorating the event before it was hoisted and affixed atop Casino of the Wind. The beam carried with it an American Flag, a Mohegan Tribal Nation Flag as well as the traditional Evergreen. A tradition which began in Scandinavia over 1,000 years ago, the Evergreen has come to symbolize that a project has proceeded well and without injury, effectively acting as a good luck charm for the buildings future occupants. Bozsum also performed a smudge ceremony, a tradition in Mohegan culture to bless the area.

"2007 has certainly been a busy and exciting year for Mohegan Sun, and 2008 looks to be even better," added Etess, as groundbreaking for the second portion of Project Horizon is scheduled for the spring.

Casino of the Wind, one of the major components of Mohegan Sun's multimillion dollar Project Horizon expansion, features 45,000 square feet of new gaming space, a 16,000 square-foot Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant, as well as additional dining and retail options. The new casino is scheduled to open in this fall.

It's All in the Design

Drawing inspiration from the solar phenomena, artistic representations of some of the Mohegan Tribe's most timeless traditions will be highlighted including the spirits of the four winds: north, south, east and west, as Tribal traditions say the power of wind harkens back to the Creation story.

Rolling the Dice on More Games

Mohegan Sun is "all in" with the addition of 45,000 square feet of new gaming space including 826 slot machines, 28 table games and a 42-table themed Poker Room. Currently Mohegan Sun has nearly 300,000 square feet of gaming space and is one of the largest gaming facilities around.

Take Me Away to Margaritaville

The legendary entertainer himself, Jimmy Buffett, makes a permanent stop on his tour at Mohegan Sun, as he opens Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant and retails outlet.

Diners will be transformed from the woodlands of Connecticut to the warm beaches of the Florida Keys in the multi-level, 16,000 square-foot eatery decorated with Tiki Huts, palm trees, a 30-foot spinning waterspout and an eight-foot tall blender.

Guests can enjoy dinner, drinks and live entertainment on a sailboat in the indoor marina or under shiny skies on the outdoor terrace overlooking the Thames River. The 366-seat eatery will not only be one of the largest dining venues at Mohegan Sun, but the first indoor/outdoor restaurant as well.

A Chief's Triumphed Return

Chief's Deli, one of the original dining outlets offered in Casino of the Earth, makes its triumphant return to Mohegan Sun as a 56-seat quick service restaurant.

Who Knew?

Everyone knows Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will Mohegan Sun's Casino of the Wind. To date, over 50,000 man hours have already gone into the project. The construction team was hard at work erecting over 1,000 tons (two million pounds) of steel used to frame the new 64,000 square-foot casino, and once complete, over 4,500 yards (13,500 feet) of concrete will have been poured.