Mohegan Sun Massachusetts proposal grows to nearly $1 billion

PALMER, Mass., June 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohegan Sun Massachusetts today announced new features of its proposed resort casino in Palmer, Mass. that will grow the project to nearly $1 billion in total investment – including a premier family-oriented water entertainment park and a second resort-style hotel.

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The adventure-themed park and resort hotel will be developed by Boston-based Finard Properties, which has also partnered with Mohegan Sun to develop the project's retail complex. It will consist of an indoor and outdoor water park that is connected to a 250-room hotel separate from the property's main casino hotel. The outdoor portion of the adventure park will wind through the hills and valleys of the natural wooded terrain off Route 32 and provide a variety of activities for the entire family including kayaking and zip lining.

"We've always said Mohegan Sun Massachusetts will be designed to attract visitors from all over New England and the Northeast, and deliver economic benefit to Western and Central Massachusetts and the entire Commonwealth. These exciting new features will allow us to do just that," said Mitchell Etess, Chief Executive of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. "Mohegan Sun Massachusetts will offer our guests a full array of entertainment and amenities and integrate exciting, family oriented attractions into the overall experience."

The 70,000 square foot water park resort will complement Mohegan Sun's planned world-class resort casino project, which includes gaming facilities, a casino hotel, a 300,000 square-foot dynamic retail development and other lifestyle amenities. Altogether the total planned investment in the project is now approaching $1 billion.

Mohegan Sun Massachusetts' project features include:

• A full-service resort casino with 3,000 slot machines and 80 table games.
• A casual dining restaurant with up to 200 seats and a fine dining restaurant with up to 150 seats.
• A quick-service multi-outlet food court.
• A center bar and lounge with entertainment stage.
• A resort casino hotel with 300 rooms and suites, a gifts/sundries shop, fitness center, business center, a hotel ballroom and meeting rooms.
• Valet parking service and adequate structured and surface parking.
• A 300,000 square foot Finard Properties retail development featuring additional dining options, a first-rate cinema and other entertainment, fashion retail outlets and other premier retail stores.
• The 70,000 square foot water park resort and hotel – a family-oriented water entertainment park with an adjoining 250-room hotel.

"These exciting new additions to Mohegan Sun Massachusetts further illustrate why this project will be a true a regional destination - attracting thousands from across Massachusetts and the Northeast and having a significant impact on travel and tourism in the state," said Todd Finard, Chief Executive of Finard Properties. "Mohegan Sun's premier gaming and resort amenities, together with our first-rate entertainment, dining and fashion retail options and now the adventure-themed water park, will provide a memorable experience to visitors from all over."

Mohegan Sun Massachusetts has the strongest financial platform of any Western Massachusetts operator following its announcement of a strategic partnership with the $13 billion New York investment advisor Brigade Capital Management earlier this year. The project will deliver thousands of jobs as well as vendor and other business opportunities to Western and Central Massachusetts.

"Mohegan Sun is known as New England's premier casino gaming brand, and we have a strong track record of developing dynamic and entertaining destinations for our guests," added Etess.  "The combination of resort casino gaming and exciting nightlife, dining options and family-oriented entertainment is designed to draw new visitors, deliver jobs and vendor opportunities and generate maximum revenue for the Commonwealth."

To learn more about Mohegan Sun Massachusetts, and to join our growing database, please visit: www.MoheganSunMA.com. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @MoheganSunMA.

About Mohegan Sun Massachusetts

Mohegan Sun's world class destination casino resort in Palmer will bring new jobs and economic growth to Western Massachusetts. The nearly $1 billion project will feature two hotels, a water park resort, casino gaming and internationally-known and branded retail stores and restaurants.  Mohegan Sun Massachusetts will create thousands of jobs – with the majority of the required workforce expected to come from Western Massachusetts. Mohegan Sun has a long-standing commitment to working with local businesses, community leaders and cultural and tourist organizations. Currently, Mohegan Sun spends nearly $500 million dollars annually in goods and services from local vendors near its Connecticut and Pennsylvania facilities. For more information, please visit www.MoheganSunMA.com   

About Finard Properties

Finard Properties is a Boston-based commercial real estate investment and development company with a sixty year history of success and an eye on the future.  Entrepreneurial in spirit and approach, the company prides itself in spearheading transformative real estate development projects that create significant value for stakeholders.  Finard Properties is active in the areas of asset acquisition and management, ground-up development, redevelopment, and property repositioning.  To date, the company has focused primarily on the retail, office, and hospitality sectors throughout New England with market presence in the mid-south and western United States. For more information, please visit finardproperties.com.

SOURCE Mohegan Sun Massachusetts