Sure, a $4 million deal doesn’t seem like much of a story for a Tribe that’s currently investing $740 million in a Mohegan Sun expansion project dubbed Project Horizon. But it was a crucial element in helping to support the 1,000 new hotel rooms that will debut in 2010.

According to Mitchell Etess, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mohegan Sun, the organization has been seeking out a suitable course to acquire for a long time. The MTGA looked into every option and even spoke to the owners of this very course several years ago. The deal went nowhere; until now.

“This is a great playable course, it’s what resort guests look for,” said Etess, who added it will also help Mohegan Sun increase its meetings business. “The more things we can do outside the footprint, the better.

The real coup here is that the MTGA will now have control of the tee times. That’s a necessary element needed when wooing whales and other loyal guests. Additionally, have the Mohegan Sun name on the country club’s door is something meeting planners look for when choosing where to book meeting which include a golf day.

Opened in 1960, the Pautipaug Country Club was designed by Architect Geoffrey Cornish, who has designed more golf courses in New England than any other architect. A renovation in 2002 by Architect Steven Kay resulted in several new teeing areas and the more playable bunkers.

 

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The MGTA is also working to have its own tournaments. The grand opening weekend was to feature a Saturday charity match in conjunction with The Legends Tour - the official Seniors Tour of the LPGA, including Jan Stephenson, Pat Bradley, JoAnne Carner, Lori West, Amy Alcott, Cindy Miller, Cindy Rarick, Alicia Dibos, Elaine Crosby and, Kathy Whitworth. However, it was rained out. Mohegan Sun is a founding member of the tour and is planning to do the event again next year.

Later this summer, the 2007 Ahmad Rashad Celebrity Classic will be at Pautipaug August 23rd-26th, 2007. It’s the third year that NFL All-Pro and Emmy award-winning sportscaster Ahmad Rashad is hosting the event, which includes a celebrity pro am day for sponsors, special charity event and Celebrity Team Competition open to the public. Event proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford.

This winter a new 20,000 square foot will be built on the site of Pautipaug Country Club and will include a restaurant, banquet facility, locker rooms, pro shop and more.

The Tribe has come a long way since it first opened Mohegan Sun in 1996. Most significant has been the expansion of its operations beyond Connecticut. Last fall, MTGA opened Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Located in Pennsylvania, it was the first casino to open in that state after it legalized casinos. Its already at work on an expansion there too that should cost about $180 million.

The Pocono Downs casino is ringing up more than $1 million in revenue per week on its 1,109 slot machines. Through June 10th its collected more than $789 million in bets, paid out more than $714 in cash and collected (after PA’s 55 percent cut) $34,022,123.83.

Additionally, Project Horizon is adding a 1,000 room hotel. Three hundred of those rooms will be specialty House of Blues rooms and there will be a House of Blues and member’s only House of BUES Foundation room. There will also be new retail space and a 64,000 square foot casino. Its expected this addition will open in 2010.
MTGA also enjoyed a record second quarter. They finalized a $1 billion revolving credit facility, saw adjusted EBITDA of $96.8 million in the quarter, which was a 10.4 percent increase.

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