The Mohegan Sun in Connecticut is ignoring the state’s rule against gatherings of more than 25 people.
Recently, the casino has begun holding large gatherings at its $80 million Earth Expo & Convention Center, a 275,000 square foot indoor event space.
The tribe, operating on sovereign land, is relying on its own health department and assurances that it has assured the safety of attendees of about 200 people. One was an event to train census workers. Another was a Miss America Pageant orientation. There are also rumors that the casino will host a college basketball tournament this winter, according to Hartford Business.
John Washko, Mohegan’s vice president of exhibitions and convention sales, commented, “We are able to accomplish events in an uncanny amount of space, and are able to flex up because we have such large meeting rooms. “He added, “There are ways that you can create a safe overall environment.”
Washko brags that the safety measures are taken under the “most robust” protocols in the industry. This includes technology such as thermal temperature scans at all entrances and AC that draws in fresh air rather than recycling old air—plus treating that air with UV light to kill microbes. The casino has also removed furniture to increase the distance between people and employed contact tracing.
Washko added, “We’ve created a resource center for the industry. It’s helpful for us in our sales process as we help planners imagine what a socially distanced event would look like.”
Even so, most of the events at the resort have been cancelled or rescheduled.
Washko said the tribe is relying on a Covid-19 vaccine next year to help it jumpstart its large scale events next spring.
