A Season of Change: Mohegan Sun Offers an Inside Look Into Its Impressive Reinvention

Oct 6, 2021 | Breaking News, Entertainment, General News

The East Coast’s Premier Resort to Air Season 5 of its Authentic, Award-Winning Behind the Scenes Digital Series, “Back of House,” Starting October 13

Following a pivotal year of change in the entertainment and hospitality industries, Mohegan Sun, one of the world’s top resorts, today announced the release of its new, illuminating season of the acclaimed, original digital TV series, “Back of House.” Following last year’s successful season that reached millions of new viewers, Season 5 will feature six all-new weekly episodes on backofhouse.tv beginning

Wednesday, October 13 at 7:30PM. This season will take an inside look into Mohegan Sun’s impressive transformations during unprecedented times, as the world-class resort brand reinvented itself through new best practices, restructured A-List events, and continued to emerge as the industry leading innovator in hospitality, entertainment, and casino gaming.

“Back of House Season 5 – Reinventing the Future!” is a digital series filmed behind the scenes following 10 industry professionals as they offer viewers a peek behind the curtain into the magic of Mohegan Sun. Viewers are able to experience first-hand the quick thinking, teamwork and business innovation that took place during a crucial time, as the industry adapted to a “new normal.”  Viewers of the series will follow key Mohegan Sun team members through milestones such as the unveiling of the highly-anticipated TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge and the grand opening of Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotel Las Vegas – which marked a momentous occasion not only for the Mohegan Tribe, but for Indian Country as a whole. Further, the series documents the challenges and successes of safely reopening such an expansive integrated entertainment resort while hosting live music and sporting events to a sold-out full house of guests, once again.

“Setting the standards for what it means to be the leading resort operator in this challenging era, motivates us all to continue to strategically evolve and grow. It is a privilege for us to share our work culture with the world in this entertaining way,” said George Galinsky, SVP of Marketing Communications at Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE). “As we continue to reflect on this past year and a half, we’re happy to offer a rare, up close look at many of the employees who elevate our brand and further our mission every day. We look forward to welcoming guests back to a new season of the show, and more importantly, to our safe and welcoming destination so they can create more memorable lifetime experiences.”

Primal-NY, an award-winning production studio, will also be returning for the fifth season to document the journey as Mohegan Sun reinvents the future of hospitality and casino gaming. “Great storytelling is at the heart of what we do,” said Robert Conticelli, President of Primal-NY. “Mohegan’s transformations this past year have been incredible to film, and it has made our job of portraying these amazing stories that much easier.”

Season 5 will bring six brand-new episodes, with both new and familiar faces, as Mohegan Sun continued to deliver one-of-a-kind gaming, entertainment and hospitality experiences to Connecticut and beyond:

  • Episode 1:  A Delicious Collaboration

As Mohegan Sun continues to grow, the property is tasked with finding a next-level partnership that will offer guests a unique and upscale dining experience. Following many conversations and meetings, the team finds a perfect match with the renowned TAO Group Hospitality brand. Follow cast members, Jeff, Chris, and the construction team as they set to transform one of the resorts most sought out real estate locations into one of the hottest new restaurants in the Northeast.

  • Episode 2:  Bubbleville Part 1

As the pandemic continued on and the award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena remained closed to fans, the Mohegan Sun marketing and entertainment teams developed a slam dunk partnership with the NCAA to host the NCAA college basketball tournament in a “bubble.” The team quickly kicks into high gear to set the standard for health and safety protocols during this national event. The cast works to navigate uncharted waters with last minute changes and continued pandemic challenges, getting ready for the arrival of over 30 basketball teams.

  • Episode 3: Bubbleville Part 2

With the colleges beginning to roll in, the event security team faces new hurdles as they persevere getting every team through state-of-the-art safety and health protocols. Then, it’s all hands-on deck as the banquets team works to feed all the teams, while the Arena and Expo Center have both been transformed into giant TV studios and practice facilities. Throughout this unique story, the cast reflects on the hard work, challenges and successes of welcoming college basketball back to the court.

  • Episode 4: Vegas Baby

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) team members head out to Las Vegas as they collaborate with Virgin Hotels to transform a tired, old casino into one of Sin’s-City’s most anticipated new resorts. Both the Vegas and Connecticut teams come together to produce Mohegan Sun magic as the doors to this one-of-a-kind, and first ever Tribal casino resort, open to the public in Las Vegas for the very first time.

  • Episode 5: Live Music Is Back

There is a buzz around property, and that means only one thing: a sold-out show in the award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena! With the return of live music, Mohegan Sun welcomes back renowned music group, Lady A, and thousands of fans to the first full capacity show in a very long time. The entire entertainment team has been counting down the days until this moment, as Lady A takes the stage at one of the world’s top arenas. Follow the cast as they work through a successful return to “normal.”

  • Episode 6: A Sure-Fire Bet

As transformations continue, Jeff works with Lauren to check-out the fully converted former valet entrance that now serves as a brand new outdoor special events and meetings venue. The team preps the space and this week’s tribute band, setting the stage for welcoming more guests back to Party on the Patio at Hot Summer Fun at Mohegan Sun. All this while renovations continue in the Race Book and Bow & Arrow Sports Bar, the future homes of Mohegan Sun’s new sports betting offerings.

Enter to Win and Experience “Back of House” IRL*

To celebrate the brand-new season, backofhouse.tv and Mohegan Sun will host an enter-to-win contest for fans to take part in during the season’s six-week span. As part of the giveaway, viewers can enter to win a grand prize two-day stay with a $250 food and beverage credit and a $250 gift card to experience the magic of Mohegan Sun for themselves as it celebrates its milestone 25th anniversary.

*Giveaway Disclaimer

Must be 21 years or older to be eligible to win. By entering the promotion, you are opting in to receive email offers from Mohegan Sun and agree to sign a media release waiver. Media release waiver allows Mohegan Sun to use your likeness as a prize winner. Subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply. No cash value. Offer is non-transferable. Offer valid at Mohegan Sun’s Connecticut location only. Participants cannot be an employee of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment or one of its properties or a direct family member of an employee.

ABOUT BACK OF HOUSE

“Back of House” swings the doors of hospitality and entertainment wide open.  It is a trailblazing all-access pass to the action behind the action at one of the world’s largest integrated casino resort destinations, Mohegan Sun. Enjoy following fun, dedicated resort employees as they navigate occasional mishaps in their quests to make each guest’s stay a perfect getaway experience. For more information, visit backofhouse.tv where you can also book a room, buy show tickets, gift cards and even apply for a position for a career with Mohegan Sun.

ABOUT PRIMAL NY

Primal NY is a full-service production studio specializing in brand discovery, digital strategy, content creation and distribution. Primal positions clients in ideal Digital, TV and Film scenarios. Based in New York City, the award-winning team of diverse filmmakers has experience across many industries including fashion, sports, music, hospitality, and motion pictures. Primal seeks relationships where opportunities exist to develop original content that enhances a client’s brand identity by finding unique ways to tell their stories. For more information, visit primal-ny.com.

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN:

Owned by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, 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, a golf course, over 80 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 Twitter and Instagram @mohegansun, view us on YouTube and find us on Snapchat at username MoheganSun.

###

 

Share

Mohegan Sun Arena Reimagined Relevance With Live Televised Events Throughout The Pandemic

Jan 5, 2021 | Boxing, Entertainment, General News, Sports

One of the premier casino and entertainment destinations in the United States made a vital pivot during the pandemic to safely host major sports, primarily inside the award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena

UNCASVILLE, CT (January 5, 2021) – 2020 was a historic year that resulted in every major entertainment venue across the globe shutting down due to the worst pandemic in a century, accounting for billions in lost live entertainment revenue.  Mohegan Sun Arena still found a way to stay open and generate a new revenue stream by reimagining itself as a residency broadcast center. Industry leading safety protocols joined the hard-working entertainment division at Mohegan Sun, led by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s (MGE) President of Sports & Entertainment, Tom Cantone – and soon major sporting events (Bellator MMA, SHOWTIME Sports and College Basketball), were planned and executed without fans in attendance. As a result, Mohegan Sun Arena became one of only few venues in the United States open and producing live events. In all, these residencies in 2020 brought in 650+ professional and college athletes competing to audiences stretching in the millions across network TV, pay-per-view, social media platforms and streaming services, the latter of which had huge impacts on increased viewership.

“We wanted to adapt in an impactful way to the unforeseen challenges that Mohegan Sun, especially our award-winning Mohegan Sun Arena, suddenly faced when the pandemic arrived,” said Dave Martinelli, Chief Marketing Officer of Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE). “These high-profile sporting events that we signed on and in which were successfully and collaboratively ran, did just that.”

The first deal was struck by Cantone this past summer when a historic residency with SHOWTIME Sports and Bellator MMA was made, creating the opportunity for a string of nationally televised and much anticipated sporting events to be featured in Mohegan Sun Arena. These live broadcast events with the ViacomCBS owned SHOWTIME Sports and Bellator MMA, which will continue in 2021, featured Premier Boxing events on SHOWTIME and SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View (PPV) as well as action packed Bellator MMA fights most frequently broadcast on the Paramount Network and CBS Sports Network. The success of the ViacomCBS residencies soon led to additional interest from other major sports – including the NCAA. Martinelli netted a deal to host 25+ Division 1 NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball teams over the course of 10 days in late November and early December 2020. The agreement came together through partnerships with The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Gazelle Group.

“We created positive momentum with the incredible bubble-site residencies Mohegan Sun Arena hosted for SHOWTIME Boxing and Bellator MMA,” said Cantone. “Our efforts to keep our Arena in action proved how important relationships can be and allowed for additional opportunities such as “Bubbleville” to come to fruition. Through all of these events, comprehensive health and safety standards were carried out with tremendous efficiency by everyone involved, including the healthcare professionals with the Mohegan Tribal Health Department and other healthcare teams assisting us. I’m extremely proud of what our Mohegan Sun management, team members and our partners executed in such a challenging year.”

“Bubbleville,” as it was billed and came to be known in national press coverage ahead of and during its run from November 25th – December 5th of 2020, saw multiple big-time teams from the likes of Villanova, Florida, Virginia, USC, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Uconn and Arizona State take the floor for the start of their seasons. Similar to the boxing and MMA events, in-person crowds were not present though various games were played to national audiences through ESPN networks and the online streaming platform, FLOHOOPS. After unfortunate setbacks to start, where some teams were not able to take part in “Bubbleville,” the tournaments moved forward, in large part due to the strict safety measures enacted and vital testing schedules conducted by Hartford Healthcare and Mirimus, who administered 2,800 tests among teams and staff.

“Bubbleville protocols included all teams, staff and other vital personnel like referees and broadcasters to take saliva based tests upon arrival and during their stay in the bubble,” said Dave Martinelli, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment’s CMO. “We hit some setbacks just as the games were set to begin, though focus wasn’t lost, and what followed was 10 days of great College Basketball under a tight system of the type rarely seen before at a casino resort destination.”

Villanova’s championship winning head coach, Jay Wright, also commented to APNews mid-way through “Bubbleville” at Mohegan Sun by saying, “You feel safe, you know you can get a game in here and you know the team you’re playing is going to be safe. I think that’s going to be important throughout this year to find environments like this.”

More than 17,000 hotel room nights were booked at Mohegan Sun’s Sky Tower and Earth Tower during these three major sporting deals. In total, Mohegan Sun gained vast exposure on a variety of media platforms including CBS Sports, ESPN, Paramount Network, Showtime Network, YouTube, the Bellator App, DAZN, TV Spots 5 UK and additional streaming services like FLOHOOPS.

“The exposure we were able to receive as part of these opportunities last year was highly significant,” said Jeff Hamilton, President & General Manager of Mohegan Sun. “Bubbleville hosted a game on Thanksgiving night, live on ESPN, where the Arizona StateSun Devils battled and fell to the #4 Villanova Wildcats. This game had a household Television audience of 591,000, equating to nearly 1 million overall potential viewers. This was just one of many big-time national audiences our venue and brand was a part of in 2020.”

Additional highly rated events, live from Mohegan Sun Arena last year, included Bellator 249 (Cyborg vs. Blencowe on October 15th), Bellator 250 (Mousasi vs. Lima on October 29th) and Bellator 254 (Macfarlane vs. Velasquez on December 10th), among others. And one of the most anticipated boxing events came on September 26, 2020, when in a WBC World Middleweight title fight, Jermall Charlo defeated Sergly Derevyanchenko in a 12 round unanimous decision. Boxing history was also made on this night as the fight card included four other World Championship Title fights live from Mohegan Sun Arena and broadcast to viewers worldwide on Showtime Pay-Per-View (PPV). The pandemic created an opportunity to capture a home audience of more than 12 million viewers during the ViacomCBS broadcasts, with ratings in the double digits.

“During an unprecedented year, we found a way to generate a new revenue stream, create impactful brand exposure, fill hotel rooms and bring back an entertainment workforce,” said Cantone. “No virus could kill the spirit of this incredible team who made the words, “Live from Mohegan Sun Arena,” a monumental achievement in 2020.”

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Now and is also consistently ranked top 15 in the world for “All Size Venues.” The award–winning venue was named “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” in 2016 and is a seven–time Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) national award–winner for “Arena of the Year,” with the most recent recognition coming in 2019.  In 2020, Mohegan Sun Arena remained one of the top venues in the world according to year-end reports by both Pollstar and Venues Now. For more information and updates on Mohegan Sun Arena, call 1.888.226.7711 or visit Mohegan Sun.

ABOUT MOHEGAN GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) is a master developer and operator of premier global integrated entertainment resorts, including Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, Inspire in Incheon, South Korea, and Niagara Casinos in Niagara, Canada. MGE is owner, developer, and/or manager of integrated entertainment resorts throughout the United States, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Northern Asia, Niagara Falls, Canada, and coming soon pending regulatory approval, Las Vegas, Nevada. MGE is owner and operator of Connecticut Sun, a professional basketball team in the WNBA and New England Black Wolves, a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. For more information on MGE and our properties, visit www.mohegangaming.com.

# # #

Share

Basketball Hall of Fame and Gazelle Group Reveal Complete Schedule for “Bubbleville” at Mohegan Sun

Nov 12, 2020 | Breaking News, Entertainment, General News, Sports

Collegiate Event to Feature 40 Teams in 45 Games Over 11 Days

Uncasville, CT – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Gazelle Group today announced the complete schedule of matchups for the season-opening event known as “Bubbleville.” Games will be played November 25 – December 5, 2020 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Bubbleville will house several events relocated and reimagined due to COVID-19 and provides a controlled environment with teams and event staff adhering to tribal, government, and NCAA health and safety protocols and testing requirements. At this time, all games are expected to be played without fans in attendance.

The event will feature 45 games in 11 days, showcasing 40 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s teams. The schedule will be headlined by several preseason ranked squads including #2 Baylor, #3 Villanova, #4 Virginia, #18 Arizona State and#20 Oregon for the men and #3 UConn, #5 Louisville and #6 Mississippi State for the women. Select games will be available on ESPN networks. All games airing on ESPN networks will also be available on the ESPN App, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider. All other games will be streamed via FloHoops. The schedule to date is available below, along with broadcast information.

In the coming days, additional games featuring Oregon and Missouri will be added to the schedule on December 2 and 3. Each school will play two games, including one game against each other.

Events taking place in Bubbleville include the Roman Legends Classic presented by Old Trapper, the 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire, the HomeLight Classic, the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge, the Jimmy V Women’s Classic and several pods and single game contests developed specifically for Bubbleville.

To learn more, visit https://www.hoophall.com/events/bubbleville or follow @hoophall #Bubbleville on Twitter and Instagram.

About Mohegan Sun Arena:

Mohegan Sun Arena is now ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar and Venues Now and is also consistently ranked top 15 in the “World for All Size Venues.” The award–winning venue was named “#1 Social Media Venue in the World” in 2016 and is a seven–time Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) national award–winner for “Arena of the Year,” with the most recent recognition coming in 2019.  For more information and updates on Mohegan Sun Arena, call 1.888.226.7711 or visit Mohegan Sun.

About the Gazelle Group:

The Gazelle Group is a sports marketing firm, specializing in event production and management, client representation, and sponsorship consulting. Gazelle produces numerous nationally-recognized events, such as the 2K Empire Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project presented by Continental Tire, the Roman Legends Classic Presented by Old Trapper, the Gotham Classic, the Sunshine Slam, the Bluegrass Showcase, the Holiday Face-Off, and the College Basketball Invitational. For more information on the Gazelle Group, please visit gazellegroup.com.

About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #Bubbleville or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

9:00 AM

Men

St. Bonaventure vs. Towson

FloHoops

11:30 AM

Men

Rhode Island vs. Stephen F. Austin

FloHoops

2:00 PM

Men

Virginia vs. Maine

FloHoops

4:30 PM

Men

Florida vs. UMass Lowell

FloHoops

7:00 PM

Men

2k Empire Classic: Villanova vs. Boston College

ESPN

9:30 PM

Men

2k Empire Classic: Baylor vs. Arizona State

ESPN

 

Thursday, November 26, 2020

11:00 AM

Men

Rhode Island vs. Towson

FloHoops

1:30 PM

Men

St. Bonaventure vs. Stephen F. Austin

FloHoops

4:00 PM

Men

Siena vs. Massachusetts

FloHoops

7:00 PM

Men

2k Empire Classic Consolation

ESPN

9:30 PM

Men

2k Empire Classic Championship

ESPN

 

Friday, November 27, 2020

11:30AM

Men

HomeLight Classic: Virginia vs. Florida

ESPN

2:00 PM

Men

Towson vs. Stephen F. Austin

FloHoops

4:30 PM

Men

Massachusetts vs. Delaware

FloHoops

7:00 PM

Men

Central Connecticut State vs. Maine

FloHoops

9:30 PM

Men

St. Bonaventure vs. Army

FloHoops

 

Saturday, November 28, 2020

10:00 AM

Women

AFR HOF Women’s Challenge: Mississippi State vs. Maine

FloHoops

12:30 PM

Women

AFR HOF Women’s Challenge: UConn vs. Quinnipiac

TBA

3:00 PM

Men

Delaware vs. Siena

FloHoops

5:30 PM

Men

AFR HOF Tip-Off: Rhode Island vs. South Florida

ESPN3

8:00 PM

Men

AFR HOF Tip-Off: Virginia Tech vs. Temple

ESPNEWS

 

Sunday, November 29, 2020

9:30 AM

Women

AFR HOF Women’s Challenge Consolation

FloHoops

12:00 PM

Men

Massachusetts vs. Iona

FloHoops

3:00 PM

Women

AFR HOF Women’s Challenge Championship

ESPN

5:30 PM

Men

AFR HOF Tip-Off: Rhode Island vs. Temple

ESPN2

8:00 PM

Men

AFR HOF Tip-Off: Virginia Tech vs. South Florida

ESPN2

 

Monday, November 30, 2020

11:30 AM

Men

Vermont vs. Buffalo

FloHoops

2:00 PM

Men

Siena vs. Liberty

FloHoops

9:00 PM

Men

Boston College vs. St. John’s

TBA

 

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

11:30 AM

Men

St. Bonaventure vs. Vermont

FloHoops

2:30 PM

Men

Roman Legends Classic: USC vs. BYU

ESPN2

5:00 PM

Men

Roman Legends Classic: UConn vs. Vanderbilt

ESPN2

7:30 PM

Men

Iona vs. Buffalo

FloHoops

9:30 PM

Men

Massachusetts vs. South Florida

FloHoops

 

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

5:30 PM

Men

Vermont vs. Iona

FloHoops

8:00 PM

Men

AFR HOF Tip-Off Springfield Bracket: Drexel vs. Quinnipiac

FloHoops

 

Thursday, December 3, 2020

1:30 PM

Men

AFR HOF Tip-Off Springfield Bracket: Albany vs. Drexel

FloHoops

7:00 PM

Men

Roman Legends Classic Championship

ESPN

9:30 PM

Men

Roman Legends Classic Consolation

ESPN2

 

Friday, December 4, 2020

4:00 PM

Men

AFR HOF Tip-Off Springfield Bracket: Albany vs. Quinnipiac

FloHoops

7:00 PM

Women

Jimmy V Women’s Classic: UConn vs. Louisville

ESPN

 

Saturday, December 5, 2020

2:00 PM

Men

UConn vs. North Carolina State

TBA

 

Share