Dec 10, 2025 | Awards, Entertainment, General News, Travel & Leisure
Mohegan, the Parent Company of Mohegan Sun, was also Named to America’s Best-in-State Companies for 2026 by Forbes!
Mohegan Sun is thrilled to announce that the 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena has been ranked “#1 Best Casino Concert Venue” in Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. This recognition highlights Mohegan Sun Arena’s reputation as one of the premier entertainment destinations both regionally and throughout the country, delivering world-class performances and unforgettable experiences for fans at the tune of more than 125 concerts and sporting events per year.
The Readers’ Choice Awards celebrate excellence across industries, spotlighting organizations that consistently exceed expectations. Over a four-week voting period, Newsweek readers and industry experts cast their votes, honoring venues that exemplify exceptional guest experiences.
“Earning the #1 spot for “Best Casino Concert Venue” and ranking near the top in two other categories is an incredible honor for Mohegan Sun,” said Jeff Hamilton, President & GM. “These recognitions, along with being named to Forbes Best-in-State Companies for 2026, reflect the dedication of our team and inspire us to keep delivering world-class experiences for our guests.”
In addition to this achievement, Mohegan Sun also earned recognition in two other Newsweek Readers’ Choice categories:
The award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena sets the standard for entertainment, continually hosting top touring acts like Justin Timberlake, Megan Moroney, Matt Rife, Sting, RUSH, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and countless more. In late September of this year, Adam Sandler also played back-to-back sell-out shows inside Mohegan Sun Arena, while also being inducted into Mohegan Sun Arena’s Walk of Fame, joining the likes of Bon Jovi, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift. The hit Netflix show My Next Guest with David Letterman, also filmed at Mohegan Sun Arena during these performances as part of a special episode on Adam Sandler.
The Forbes Best‑in‑State Companies for 2026 is also powerful endorsement of Mohegan’s excellence as a major casino & entertainment destination in southeastern Connecticut. Forbes analyzed over 50,000 companies nationwide—evaluating financial strength, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and growth—to highlight 750 standout businesses by state.
For more on upcoming shows and ticket information for Mohegan Sun Arena, including recently announced concerts like Meghan Trainor on July 4th, 2026, 5 Seconds of Summer on May 29th, 2026 or Chris Stapleton for back-to-back shows starting on Friday, February 27th, visit mohegansun.com/entertainment. For information on Mohegan Sun’s Momentum program, visit mohegansun.com/momentum. And for the latest enterprise-wide news for Mohegan, visit mohegangaming.com
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, two distinct convention centers, an expo center, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
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Dec 3, 2025 | Entertainment, Food & Beverage, General News, Meetings and Conventions, Special Events, Uncategorized
Actors Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) & Oompa Loompa Rusty Goffe to Headline this Sweet Event!
The Chocolate Expo, one of America’s largest chocolate festivals, makes its debut at Mohegan Sun’s Earth Expo Center for a two-day celebration of all things chocolate and all things “Wonka” with the stars of that classic 1971 movie on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 10:00am – 6:00pm, with VIP Early Entry beginning at 9:00am.
A Chocolate Lover’s Dream
The Chocolate Expo will feature tastings & sales from more than 100 vendors offering an extraordinary array of artisan chocolates, baked goods, specialty foods, cheeses, chocolate-themed craft beverages and a variety of other delicious treats.
Celebrity guests from the iconic Willy Wonka movie include:
• Peter Ostrum – “Charlie Bucket”
• Julie Dawn Cole – “Veruca Salt”
• Rusty Goffe – The Most Recognizable of the Oompa Loompas
A special Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory Anniversary Panel Discussion with the stars, followed by audience Q&A, will take place each day at 2:00pm and is included with admission. Additionally, the famous actors will be available throughout the day to
sign autographs and take selfies with fans for an additional fee set by the actors (see website for details). VIP ticket holders will have first access for autographs & selfies beginning at 9 AM and will receive a VIP souvenir lanyard upon entry.
Contributing to the Wonka magic of the weekend will be a mind-blowing display of balloon sculptures depicting characters and scenes from the movie by internationally-renown balloon artist Robbie Furman. Fans of the movie are especially welcome to come dressed in Wonka-themed costumes, T-shirts and sweaters to add to the festivities.
Educational showcases and delicious demonstrations will be scheduled throughout the event, adding fun, flavor and interaction. Children of all ages can also take advantage of face painting and balloon twisting activities in The Chocolate Expo’s poplar “Kidz Zone.”
Additional event announcements are expected in Spring 2026. General Admission, VIP and Late-Day Special tickets are available online at TheChocolateExpo.com with prices starting at just $10/person for the Late-Day Special tickets.
Guests are encouraged to buy tickets online in advance due to the expected high demand, as only ticket holders can be guaranteed admission to this event.
More details are also available at mohegansun.com
Associated press imagery is also available HERE.
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ABOUT THE CHOCOLATE EXPO: The Chocolate Expo is a Baum Image Group event. Prior creations include The Official Woodstock35th Anniversary Celebration in 2004 under license from Woodstock Ventures, creators of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
A limited number of advance interviews with the Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory stars– Peter Ostrum, Julie Dawn Cole and Rusty Goffe – are available upon request.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN: Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, two distinct convention centers, an expo center, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
Media Contact: Marvin Baum / (845) 358-8213
Alt Contact: Barbara Cohen / (845) 709-0975
Email: [email protected]
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Nov 14, 2025 | Food & Beverage, General News, Travel & Leisure
This Thanksgiving, Mohegan Sun invites guests to skip cooking and indulge in an array of festive dining experiences across its award-winning restaurants. On Thursday, November 27th, guests can savor holiday favorites at Beauty & Essex, The Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House, Michael Jordan’s Steak House, MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill, TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge, and more. Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook is also celebrating Thanksgiving with their 1st and 10 beer and wings special. Guests can also take advantage of upcoming Black Friday + Cyber Monday Mohegan deals.
Featured Thanksgiving Specials at Mohegan Sun:
The Farm Italy
Guests can start their meal with Shrimp Cocktail ($17) served with cocktail sauce and lemon, a Gem Salad ($13) featuring romaine, focaccia crisp, herbs, and Grana dressing, or Meatball ($16) baked with mozzarella, pomodoro, and basil.
For entrées, enjoy an 8oz. Filet Mignon ($57) accompanied by spinach, garlic oil, and house steak sauce, or Salmon ($34) prepared with Espelette chili, roasted peppers, artichoke, and spinach.
Finish with a slice of Apple or Pumpkin Pie ($15), topped with whipped cream and caramel.
Dessert options also include Tiramisu, or Gelato/Sorbet for $15.
Michael Jordan’s Steak House
Begin with Squash Soup ($15), garnished with fried squash, sour cream, and Thai basil.
The main course features a Classic Turkey Dinner ($42) with slow-roasted turkey, haricot verts, stuffing, gravy, red bliss mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
Add a side of Lobster Mac & Cheese ($22), topped with a bacon Cheez-It crust and smoked gouda.
For dessert, indulge in Pumpkin Custard Pie ($15) with vanilla bean ganache and marshmallow fluff.
Beauty & Essex
Celebrate Thanksgiving with The Tuscan Table, available from 11:00am to 2:30pm. Guest can enjoy Classic Roasted Free-Range Turkey with cranberry sauce and turkey gravy for $42.
For a sweet start or finish, try Apple Cider Donuts ($16) served with spiced salted caramel and vanilla ice cream.
The Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House
Warm up with Sweet Potato Casserole ($10), a creamy blend topped with toasted marshmallows. Savor Turkey Sliders ($15) with house-roasted turkey breast, cheddar cheese, and horseradish cranberry sauce on a brioche bun.
The Roast Turkey Dinner ($32) includes mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, sautéed peas, green beans, cauliflower, and apple stuffing.
Finish with a Specialty Dessert: Pecan Pie served with ice cream for $12.
MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill
Start with Bacon-Wrapped Apples ($15), paired with Cherrywood smoked bacon, cranberry chili glaze and Boursin dip.
Enjoy a Classic Turkey Dinner ($42) with slow-roasted turkey, haricot verts, stuffing, gravy, red bliss mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
Dessert features a Pecan Pie Brownie topped with salted caramel ice cream for $15.
TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge
Enjoy Roasted Duck Dumplings ($25) served with Szechuan garlic gravy, spiced fig, and plum chutney.
Tom’s Watch Bar
From November 27th through December 1st, guests can enjoy $2 off 22oz draft beers.
Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook 1st and 10 Special.
Mohegan Sun FanDuel Sportsbook, home to the largest video wall on the East Coast, celebrates Thanksgiving with their 1st and 10 Special, offering guests a 16oz draft beer and 10 wings for just $10. The wings feature Mohegan Sun FanDuel’s exclusive Thanksgiving Cranberry Apple Butter wing sauce! Current draft beers on rotation at the Sportsbook include Samuel Adams, Blue Moon, Two Roads Brewing, Kona, Down East Cider and more. More information is available HERE.
Black Friday & Cyber Monday
With a booking window between November 18th and December 3rd, Mohegan Sun’s Black Friday Hotel Flash Sale will be available for guests, offering 30% off stays. This promotion allows for travel dates between November 18th and December 31st!
For more information on Mohegan Sun’s award-winning hotel experience, visit mohegansun.com/hotel-spa-and-golf.html
12 Days of Hoops & Holly-Deals will also soon arrive on the Connecticut Sun Official Team App. Each day will have something new with deals varying from merch offerings, ticket packages, and enter to win opportunities for the 2026 season! For more information and to download the app, click HERE.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Owned by Mohegan, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic Southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to two unique casinos, 1,600 deluxe hotel rooms, two world-class spas, two distinct convention centers, an expo center, a golf course, over 70 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on X and Instagram @mohegansun and view us on YouTube.
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Nov 13, 2025 | Entertainment, General News
Tickets go on sale Friday, November 14th
UNCASVILLE, CT (November 13, 2025) – Black Label Society will embark on a massive North American crusade starting February 27th, the first tour for the band since 2021. The tour includes a trip to Mohegan Sun Arena for a 7:30pm show on Thursday, April 2nd. On the heels of releasing three singles, “The Gallows”, “Lord Humungus”, and most recently, “Broken and Blind”, all from an upcoming album to be announced soon. Fans can expect a powerful return to the stage from Zakk Wylde and company, delivering the band’s high-octane energy.
Tickets for the unforgettable night of pure Heavy Metal go on sale Friday, November 14th via Ticketmaster, with tickets also available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, November 15th.
Zakk Sabbath, Zakk’s tribute to the fathers of Heavy Metal, will be the direct support and featuring Dark Chapel as the tour opener. Zakk Sabbath, Zakk’s tribute to the fathers of Heavy Metal, serves as direct support and Dark Chapel opening. All of BLS will be pulling double duty on stage each night: Zakk Wylde, Dario Lorina, Jeff Fabb, and John DeServio.
Everything about Black Label Society begins with the riff. A dedicated disciple of Zeppelin, Sabbath, and Deep Purple, Zakk Wylde looks to the massive guitar hooks in classics like “Whole Lotta Love,” “Into the Void,” and “Smoke On the Water” as guiding lights. “The main ingredient in any Black Label soup is the riff,” says the larger-than-life frontman.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
Mohegan Sun Arena, one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world, was awarded the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice award for “Best Casino with Live Entertainment in America.” Mohegan Sun Arena was also named “Best Casino/Resort Venue of the Year” at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards. In 2021, the 10,000-seat Arena also received its first worldwide “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its size from both Pollstar and VenuesNow. In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been named the “World’s Best Casino Venue,” by Hartford Magazine, and is an eight-time national award winner for “Arena of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music Awards and one from G2E Las Vegas. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit the Mohegan Sun website. For this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711. Complimentary self-parking is available in three convenient garages.
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Nov 11, 2025 | Entertainment, General News
Tickets go on sale Friday, November 14th
UNCASVILLE, CT (November 10, 2025) – 2025 has been a big year for Rock giants Three Days Grace with the release of their latest album Alienation, with #1 songs “Mayday” and “Apologies” along with sold out shows in Canada (co-headline with Volbeat) and the US (co-headline with Breaking Benjamin) and an upcoming sold-out European tour (Badflower). Now, the band is announcing their 2026 Alienation tour, kicking off in Fort Wayne, Indiana in February, before hitting Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, March 14th for a 7:00pm show. I Prevail and The Funeral Portrait will provide support during the March show.
Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale beginning Tuesday, November 11th. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning at 10:00am on Friday, November 14th via Ticketmaster. Citi is the official card of the Alienation Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Tuesday, November 11th at 10:00am local until Thursday, November 13th at 10:00pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visitwww.citientertainment.com. Tickets will be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office on Saturday, November 15th.
With billions of streams, millions of album sales, and sold-out arena tours across multiple continents, this multi-platinum Ontario, Canada band continues to achieve new levels of success. Along with earning a staggering 20 total #1 entries on the Mediabase Active Rock Chart and 19 total #1 entries on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock charts, Three Days Grace recently entered the esteemed Spotify “Billions Club” when their Rock anthem “I Hate Everything About You” crossed 1 Billion streams. Released in 2003, the single has since become embedded in Rock history.
To date, their veritable arsenal of number one includes “Home”, “Just Like You”, “Pain”, “Animal I Have Become”, “Never Too Late”, “Break”, “Good Life”, “World So Cold”, “Misery Loves My Company”, “The High Road”, “Chalk Outline”, “I am Machine”, “Painkiller”, “The Mountain”, “Infra-Red”, “Right Left Wrong”, “So Called Life”, “Lifetime” and “Mayday” and “Apologies”.
Three Days Grace is Adam Gontier (vocals), Matt Walst (vocals), Barry Stock (guitar), Brad Walst (bass, backing vocals), and Neil Sanderson (drums, keyboards, backing vocals).
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
Mohegan Sun Arena, one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world, was awarded the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice award for “Best Casino with Live Entertainment in America.” Mohegan Sun Arena was also named “Best Casino/Resort Venue of the Year” at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards. In 2021, the 10,000-seat Arena also received its first worldwide “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its size from both Pollstar and VenuesNow. In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been named the “World’s Best Casino Venue,” by Hartford Magazine, and is an eight-time national award winner for “Arena of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music Awards and one from G2E Las Vegas. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit the Mohegan Sun website. For this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711. Complimentary self-parking is available in three convenient garages.
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Nov 10, 2025 | Comedy, Entertainment, General News
Comedy sensation returns with back-to-back shows next September
UNCASVILLE, CT (November 10, 2025) – Today, record-breaking comedianMatt Rife announced an extension of his highly successful Stay Golden World Tour, with a run of 40+ new dates playing off next year across North America, Europe and the UK including a return to Mohegan Sun Arena for back to back shows on Friday, September 4th and Saturday September 5th. Both shows are set to start at 8:00pm.
Tickets to see the Mohegan Sun Arena Walk of Fame member go on sale via Ticketmaster at 10:00am on Friday, November 14th. Tickets will be available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office starting Saturday, November 15th. For Friday tickets, click HERE and for Saturday, click HERE.
In select markets, Rife will introduce a new 360° in-the-round stage design, giving fans a completely immersive experience. With the addition of these shows, Matt will be heading to 10+ countries next year with a total of 60+ shows.
The 2026 leg follows this year’s Stay Golden Tour, which saw Rife play shows across San Diego, Austin, Philadelphia, and more — including two sold-out nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden, making him the youngest comedian to sell out the venue. Rife has shattered multiple venue records across the country on this tour, including the most single-event tickets ever sold at both Columbus’ Nationwide Arena and Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, as well as the all-time ticket sales record at Manchester’s SNHU Arena and the paid seat record for the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI. He also set a new benchmark at Anaheim’s Honda Center, breaking the record for most tickets sold by a comedian in the venue’s history.
His Stay Golden era builds on the success of his ProbleMATTic World Tour, where Rife sold over 600,000 tickets across 250+ shows in under 48 hours following its 2023 announcement. That global run included stops across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia, solidifying his status as one of comedy’s biggest breakout stars.
Rife’s next special for Netflix premieres globally on December 2nd, 2025. Matt Rife: Unwrapped — A Christmas Crowd Work Special, “explores gifts, traditions and who’s made it on the naughty or nice list this year.” Directed by Erik Griffin, the special was taped in Phoenix, Arizona. Rife also executive produced along with Christina Shams. His company, Carpe Noctem, produced the special along with Avesta Entertainment and Above Average.
ABOUT MATT RIFE
Comedian/Actor/Producer/Writer/and NY Times Best Selling Author Matt Rife has cemented himself as one of the biggest stand ups in the world through his chart-topping Netflix specials and his remarkable engagement on social media where he has amassed over 44.6 million followers, and more than 3 billion views globally.
Last December, Rife released his first book, Your Mom’s Gonna Love Me, a memoir from Simon & Schuster which instantly became a New York Times bestseller. In his book, Rife reveals (without apology, of course) what led him to becoming comedy’s biggest lightning rod before he reached thirty, in a story full of bold and hysterical takes on everything from Rap battles with ex-cons to Matt’s struggles with depression and his many brushes with failure before finally hitting it big.
On his ProbleMATTic World Tour, Rife sold out four shows at The Dolby Theater in Hollywood, where the Academy Awards are held. In December 2023, Rife set a record at the Mohegan Sun Arena with five nights of consecutive sold out performances and he became the youngest stand-up comedian to sell out the Hollywood Bowl with over 17,000 tickets sold. This tour sold over 600,000 tickets in under 48 hours, becoming one of the largest comedy tours in over 20 years. After the success of his tour, Rife signed on for a second world tour with Live Nation & a feature film, Rolling Loud, an R-rated comedy co-starring Owen Wilson and co-produced by Live Nation Productions and American High.
As a result of his success, Rife earned placement on the Forbes list for Forbes 30 under 30 in 2023 and top creators lists in 2024 and 2025.
Originally from a small town near Columbus, Ohio, Matt started performing at the age of 15 then moved out to Los Angeles two years later where he began his career in Hollywood.
In 2021, Rife self-produced and distributed through YouTube his first one-hour comedy special, Only Fans. In April 2023, the comedian bet on himself again and self-released his second stand-up special, Matthew Steven Rife on YouTube. The special was taped in Austin, TX and is dedicated to his biggest role model, his grandfather Steven who had recently passed. Only a couple months later, Rife decided to release a crowd work special, Walking Red Flag on YouTube, which has amassed over 17 million views.
On November 15th, 2023, the comedian released his highly anticipated third stand-up special, Matt Rife: Natural Selection on Netflix, which garnered outstanding numbers including over 10.3 million views in its first two weeks and earned a Top 10 ranking in 42 countries including #1 in US, Canada, and South Africa. Natural Selection was the most viewed special on Netflix for the second half of 2023. From the overwhelming success of his first Netflix special, Rife inked a two-special deal along with a development deal for a series that he will write and star in. The deal with Rife included Netflix’s first ever crowd work special, Lucid, which debuted on August 13th, 2024 and again cemented him in the top 10 most watched shows in 37 countries on the streamer for two weeks.
In addition to stand-up, he made his television debut on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out as the youngest cast member in history for four seasons before moving on to other MTV properties, such as hosting the reboot of TRL and appearing on The Challenge. Other credits include Fresh Off The Boat, NBC’s comedy competition show Bring The Funny, Netflix’s That 90’s Show, and can be seen in the final season of Netflix’s comedy series Mo, opposite Mo Amer.
Most recently, it was announced that Rife is set to co-star Julia Garner in Netflix’s new series, The Altruists, based on the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX.
He will also star in The Escort, a comedy film from Wedding Crashers’ Director David Dobkin. It was also recently announced that Rife will be starring, co-writing and producing The Chasm, a feature mockumentary comedy with Skydance Sports which follows an overconfident climber who chooses to proceed solo on a historic and potentially fatal rock climb.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
Mohegan Sun Arena, one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world, was awarded the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice award for “Best Casino with Live Entertainment in America.” Mohegan Sun Arena was also named “Best Casino/Resort Venue of the Year” at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards. In 2021, the 10,000-seat Arena also received its first worldwide “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its size from both Pollstar and VenuesNow. In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been named the “World’s Best Casino Venue,” by Hartford Magazine, and is an eight-time national award winner for “Arena of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music Awards and one from G2E Las Vegas. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit the Mohegan Sun website. For this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711. Complimentary self-parking is available in three convenient garages.
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