The Uncasville, Connecticut-headquartered Mohegan Tribe will reportedly debut its $80 million Mohegan Sun Exposition Center by Memorial Day. Located between the Earth Tower and Winter Garage at the tribe’s flagship casino and hotel property, the under-construction Expo Center is billed as “the largest expo space along the I-95 New York-Boston corridor,” and features 250,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

The latest addition brings Mohegan Sun’s offerings to more than 275,000 square feet of meeting and event space and according to the website features:

  • 125,000 square-foot Expo Center
  •  8,000 square feet of pre-function space
  • 38,000 and 20,000 square-foot ballrooms
  • 15 meeting rooms, including a 1,200 square-foot boardroom
  • World-class service and amenities
  • Up-to-the-minute technology
  • Free WiFi
  • Free on-site parking

Designed to attract conventions, the facility will debut on June 20 as it plays host to the annual Barrett-Jackson Northeast 2018 classic automobile auction, which for the past two years has been held in the Winter parking lot.

“It’s going to give us an opportunity to attract people, not only from this region but from the United States who have never experienced Mohegan Sun,” Ray Pineault, President and General Manager, said. “They’re going to come here and experience this area and this region and really help to grow our customer base,” according to The Norwich Bulletin.

John Washko, who is the vice president of exhibition and convention sales, reportedly said that there are 15 confirmed programs for the Mohegan Sun Expo Center, which in addition to the Barrett-Jackson event and the Connecticut Marine Trades Association’s annual boat show include food, shows, training for an automotive company and a dental conference, according to The New London Day.

The southeastern Connecticut casino is reportedly trying to attract exhibitors who have previously held conferences in Washington D.C., Atlantic City, Hartford, Boston and Providence by touting its lower room rates and free parking. Washko added that they are also relying on people wanting to visit places they’ve never been to before.

“We’re really positing that we’re located in Mystic Country,” he said, “because Mystic is that magical place that people have heard of but have never been to.”

New York City-based architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates reportedly designed the interior of the Expo Center, while the construction was handled by A/Z Corporation, of North Stonington.