Mar 2, 2015 | Breaking News, Employment
Bobby Soper will take over at President of MTGA effective March 30th
UNCASVILLE, CT – After a comprehensive process, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) announced today their succession plan for retiring casino veteran Mitchell Grossinger Etess. Effective March 30th, Robert J. Soper (“Bobby”) will assume the position of President of MTGA and will oversee all day-to-day operations of The Authority.
Additionally, Ray Pineault will transition to President & General Manager of the flagship property, Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and Thomas P. Burke, who has over 35 years of experience in gaming operations throughout the United States and is currently the acting President of Mohegan Gaming Advisors (MGA), will now serve as Chief Operating Officer of MTGA. In this newly created position, he will oversee operations of all MTGA owned and managed properties.
“The Tribal Council and the Mohegan people are extremely proud of the announcements we are making today for several reasons,” said Kevin “Red Eagle” Brown, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribe. “Not only are we proud to present the best executive management team in the business, one that will ensure that we remain best in class as we continue to grow our business, we are doubly proud to say that the new team positions Tribal members in two critical roles.”
“Having served as General Manager of both our Connecticut and Pennsylvania properties, Bobby has continuously proven his progressive leadership style, combined with his energetic spirit and dedication to our employees and guest service – ultimately making him the natural choice for this position,” said Mitchell Etess, Chief Executive Officer for MTGA. “I could not be prouder or feel better about having him in line to succeed me.”
Etess will retain the role of Chief Executive Officer of MTGA through the transition until fall 2015.
“I am beyond honored and deeply humbled to accept the position of President of MTGA,” said Bobby Soper, President & Chief Executive Officer for Mohegan Sun. “To follow in the footsteps of two empowering leaders such as Mitchell Etess and Bill Velardo who are the sole predecessors of this position will be no small feat. Their imprint will be everlasting on this organization and I can only hope to apply the wisdom and guidance I received from both men and to continue their legacies in leading this company forward.”
Collectively, Soper, Pineault and Burke bring more than 65 years of experience within the gaming and legal industries.
With regard to the new President & General Manager of Mohegan Sun, Etess said, “When you combine Ray’s previous professional experience, along with the nearly 10 years of performance in gaming operations here, he is more than prepared for this role.”
He added that, “Tom’s three decades of experience in the industry throughout the country provides a unique dimension for current and future properties.”
Chairman Brown went on to add that, “Consistent with the goal of the Indian Gaming Act, our mission when we opened in 1996 was to have Tribal members gain the education and experience to run the family business one day. Today is a perfect demonstration of those goals being achieved.”
Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who in addition to serving as U.S. Senator, was a three-term U.S. Representative, Olympic athlete and is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, praised the announcement stating, “I am gratified that the Mohegan Tribe is placing individual tribal members at the top of its gaming management structures. This is an important achievement for Indian self-determination and tribal self-governance, and fulfills one of the goals I, along with the late Dan Inouye and others shared when Congress enacted the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and the 1994 Mohegan land settlement act.”
For headshots for Soper, Pineault and Burke, visit http://newsroom.mtga.com/.
About the Authority: The Authority is an instrumentality of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or the Tribe, a federally-recognized Indian Tribe with an approximately 544-acre reservation situated in southeastern Connecticut. The Authority has been granted the exclusive authority to conduct and regulate gaming activities on the existing reservation of the Tribe, including the operation of Mohegan Sun, a gaming and entertainment complex located on a 185-acre site on the Tribe’s reservation. Through its subsidiary, Downs Racing, L.P., the Authority also owns and operates Mohegan Sun Pocono, a gaming and entertainment facility located on a 400-acre site in Plains Township, Pennsylvania. MTGA also manages Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. More information about the Authority and its properties can be obtained by visiting www.mohegansun.com, www.mohegansunpocono.com, www.resortsac.com or www.mtga.com.
Feb 10, 2015 | Breaking News, Entertainment, General News
Due to popular demand, the music legend will perform at Mohegan Sun Arena for a 2nd performance in late March
UNCASVILLE, CT (February 10, 2015) – Iconic Grammy Award-winning Rock and Pop singer/songwriter, Neil Diamond, will be playing a 2nd Mohegan Sun Arena show on Saturday, March 28th. This 2nd show has been added due to popular demand as Diamond’s performance set for March 13th has sold out. The concert is scheduled for 8:00pm.
Tickets are $95.00 and $75.00 and go on sale Monday, February 16th through Ticketmaster at 10:00am. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Tuesday, February 17th, subject to availability. Tickets for this performance will also be on sale at Live Nation and through the Live Nation mobile app, beginning February 16th.
Neil Diamond’s new album, Melody Road, is out now via Capitol Records. This album marks his first since signing with Capitol Records.
Throughout an illustrious and wide-ranging musical career, Neil Diamond has charted 37 Top 40 singles and 16 Top 10 albums in the U.S. His most recent original studio release, 2008’s Home Before Dark, debuted at #1 in the U.S. and the U.K. on the Billboard Top Albums chart.
A Grammy Award-winning artist, Diamond is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement
Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon songwriters. Diamond’s many other achievements include a Golden Globe Award, 13 Grammy nominations and 2009’s NARAS’s MusiCares “Person of the Year” award. In 2011, Diamond received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture.
Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Today. It has won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010 and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. Also in 2013, Mohegan Sun won “Casino of The Year” in 2 categories at the Academy of Country Music Awards. For more information on concerts and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
Jan 21, 2015 | Breaking News, Entertainment, General News
Uncasville, CT (January 21, 2015) – Mohegan Sun regrets to announce the cancellation of the Linkin Park concert scheduled for Friday, January 30th in Mohegan Sun Arena.
In a statement by the band:
“Linkin Park regret to inform their fans they must cancel the remaining dates of The Hunting Party tour through February 14th, due to a leg injury of lead vocalist Chester Bennington. The injury requires immediate medical attention making it physically impossible for Bennington to perform. Chester says, ‘I’m really disappointed this injury has made it impossible to continue with this tour. The first couple of shows were just magical. We will truly miss not being with our fans for the next few weeks. Hope to see you again soon.’”
Fans can seek refunds at point of purchase.
Jan 12, 2015 | Breaking News, Special Events
UNCASVILLE, CT (January 12, 2015) – Mohegan Sun regrets to announce that the upcoming Reality Check featuring Andi Dorfman and Josh Murray of ABC’s The Bachelorette has been cancelled. The event was to take place on Friday, January 16th at 8:30pm.
For more information on Mohegan Sun’s Reality Check and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on upcoming events, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
Jan 12, 2015 | Breaking News, General News, Travel & Leisure
Fastest way from New York to Mohegan Sun with door-to-door service offered with style and ease
Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun has partnered with BLADE, the first digitally driven brand in short distance aviation (acting as agent of FAA & DOT licensed air carriers), to offer guests round-trip flights to one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Launching on Friday, January 16th, round-trip helicopter flights will be offered from New York City directly to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT (landing on its own on-property FAA-approved helipad). The 112-mile one-way trip will take approximately 45 minutes from the BLADE Terminal at the East 34th Street heliport in mid-town Manhattan.
“Mohegan Sun is a spectacular property offering epic experiences that should include accessible and efficient transportation via BLADE,” says Bobby Soper, President and CEO of Mohegan Sun. “We are incredibly excited to offer our guests a door-to-door crowdsourcing option that meets today’s need for transportation on demand in the most sophisticated way possible.”
Mohegan Sun and BLADE will be arranging one-way trips every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as value packages of round-trip flights focused around arena concerts, signature events, food & dining occasions and gaming specials. The first specialty package of 2015 will include a flight to the Casino and tickets to Linkin Park in the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, January 30th. Upcoming packages may also include Fleetwood Mac, Ariana Grande, and Miranda Lambert.
“Never before has a traveler been able to leave New York City – fly to Mohegan, enjoy a world class show, have a terrific dining experience, play in the casino and be back home in NYC by midnight,” says Evan Licht, General Manager of BLADE. “Our partnership with Mohegan Sun, allows us to extend the traffic-free BLADE experience to one of the area’s most sought after destinations.”
The BLADE app offers users the ability to purchase a single seat or launch their own crowdsourced flight. The cost for a one-way seat is as low as $625. BLADE is a service open to all guests and visitors to Mohegan Sun. You do not need to be a player or part of the Mohegan Sun rewards program called, Momentum, to use this service. Momentum members, however, can use their Momentum points to pay for the service should they want to. All weekend flights will depart from West 30th Street. All weekday flights will launch from the BLADE Terminal at East 34th Street.
Mohegan Sun’s partnership with BLADE supports the property’s marketing focus on New Yorkers. The new FULL OF LIFE advertising campaign offers a vibrant time-lapse video showcasing an endless “To Do” list of sights, shops, restaurants, clubs, concerts, sporting events, hotel accommodations, spa and golf as the perfect weekend destination. Offering New Yorkers transportation to and from the property in the most efficient and stylish way possible seemed like the next step in catering to the NYC lifestyle.
About Mohegan Sun: Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Located in Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun is home to three unique casinos, a 34-story, 1,200 room luxury hotel, a world-class spa and golf course, over 75 shops, restaurants and bars as well as a 10,000-seat Arena. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on facebook.com/mohegansun, follow us on twitter.com/mohegansun, Instagram @mohegansun and view us on youtube.com/mohegansunvideos.
About BLADE: BLADE, the first digitally driven brand in short distance aviation, has revolutionized how travelers plan flights. The company arranges individual seats or the opportunity to crowdsource flights directly from an iOS or Android app.[1] BLADE’s app enables carriers to optimize efficiencies and provide dynamic scheduling while passing savings and enhanced convenience to customers. The company prides itself on providing irreverent style and its unique brand of customer service for all travelers. Follow us on instagram.com/flyblade, twitter.com/flybladenow and at www.flyblade.com
[1] BLADE arranges flights as agent of the customer or agent of FAA and DOT licensed air carriers.
Oct 13, 2014 | Breaking News, Entertainment, Special Events
One of Comedy’s best heads to Mohegan Sun on December 31st; Tickets on sale Friday
UNCASVILLE, CT (October 13, 2014) — The funniest, freshest face on television, Amy Schumer, will be bringing her blend of honesty and unapologetic humor to Mohegan Sun Arena for an 8:00pm show this New Year’s Eve.
Tickets are $45.00 and go on sale Friday, October 17th through Ticketmaster at 10:00am. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets will also be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, October 18th, subject to availability.
*This show is for mature audiences only.
Schumer is the creator, star, writer and executive producer of Inside Amy Schumer, the popular Comedy Central and Emmy nominated television series which premiered in April 2013 to the network’s highest season premiere ratings of the year. Schumer’s provocative and hilariously wicked mind is on full display as she explores topics revolving around sex, relationships and the general whirlwind life can be through a series of scripted vignettes, stand-up comedy and man-on-the-street interviews. The show will return for a 3rd season next year.
This summer she completed production on Universal’s Trainwreck that Schumer wrote and will star in alongside Bill Hader, Tilda Swinton and Brie Larson. Judd Apatow will produce and direct the feature film that is scheduled to be released in July 2015.
Schumer’s hit one-hour stand-up special, Mostly Sex Stuff, became Comedy Central’s second-highest rated special in 2012. She was also one of the featured comedians on Comedy Central’s Roast of Roseanne, which followed her memorable and quotable performance on the 2011 Roast of Charlie Sheen.
She was recently seen in such critically acclaimed series as FX’s Louie and HBO’s Girls. Previously, Schumer had a recurring role on the third season of Adult Swim’s Delocated, and guest starred in the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
On the big screen, Schumer filmed the feature Seeking a Friend for the End of the World starring Steve Carrell and Kiera Knightley, as well as Price Check, an independent feature opposite Parker Posey which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Her album Cutting placed in the top 5 of the Billboard Charts and has been included on multiple “Best Comedy Albums of the Year” awards’ lists.
Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Today. It has won “Casino of The Year” at the Country Music Awards in 2008 & 2010 and in 2013, was voted “Arena Of The Year” at the G2E Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. Also in 2013, Mohegan Sun won “Casino of The Year” in 2 categories at the Academy of Country Music Awards. For more information on concerts and other great events visit Mohegan Sun. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
