One of the Northeast's most popular gaming destinations, the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., will soon have a new sibling in upstate New York, where its owner has agreed to turn the site of the former Concord Resort Hotel in Thompson, N.Y., into a $600 million gaming destination that will help revitalize the Catskills region, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA) announced this month.
"This project, under the powerful Mohegan Sun brand, will become a catalyst for the Catskills to regain its status as a world-class resort destination," said MTGA CEO Mitchell Grossinger Etess. "The project is particularly meaningful to me as a member of the Grossinger family. Grossingers and my family were proud parts of this community when it was a thriving regional tourism destination, and I am thrilled to be a part of its revitalization."
In partnership with site owner Concord Associates, MTGA will turn the Concord — which was closed in 2008 and has since been demolished — into a 116-acre development that will include a 75,000-square-foot casino, a 258-room hotel, a harness racing facility and grandstand, five restaurants, several retail and entertainment outlets, and 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
"Mohegan brings an unparalleled brand and expertise to the Concord team as well as its proven record of investment, development and operation of highly successful gaming and racing facilities in Connecticut and Pennsylvania," said Louis R. Cappelli, founder and CEO of Concord Associates. "We believe our successful track record of creating large-scale economic development projects throughout New York, along with Mohegan's property management skills, represent a natural partnership and view the redevelopment of the Concord Hotel as a way to generate enhanced tourism, tax revenue and job creation for the Catskills region and the State of New York."
Already underway, the new and improved Concord Resort is expected to open in spring 2013.