The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s million expansion at its Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake, Minnesota is on track for a January 1 opening. In fact, the new 9-story, 180-room hotel and event center as well as the existing 586-room hotel are completely booked for Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on February 4. Tom Polusny, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel’s executive VP of operations, said, “The only thing that would prevent it being done on time is an act of God.” He said advance reservations also are being booked for games as far in the future as 2023. The first corporate event is booked for January 4.
The addition also will include two ballrooms and a 70,000 square foot event center with several breakout meeting rooms and executive spaces to attract more convention business. Officials are hoping to also offer concerts, weddings and theatrical productions. A large industrial kitchen will be able to cater events for up to 3,000 people. Previously, Mystic Lake was limited to crowds of 500 maximum. The expansion will create 120 new permanent jobs.
Mystic Lake Group Sales Manager Holland Tudor said design elements will reflect Minnesota’s natural landscape. For example, a flowing ceiling pattern represents a riverbed, curved wood paneling evokes grasslands and blue glass chandeliers symbolize water droplets. “We want it to feel as a resort rather than a convention center. It’s something you can’t get downtown and at some of the other properties right now,” he said.
Also during Super Bowl weekend, Mystic Lake also will host Club Nomadic, a 64,000 pop-up concert venue that will be open February 1-4, during Super Bowl weekend. The venue is being programmed by Nomadic Entertainment Group, which presented a similar venue during the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston, Texas. Nomadic President Jack Murphy said, “It was the most talked about venue in the city the weeks leading up to the big game and we intend to exceed that level of vigor in cooperation with the team at Mystic Lake to deliver great entertainment and an unmatched nightlife experience to the region.”
Treasure Island Resort & Casino near Red Wing also will complete an expansion before the end of the year, with 21 more rooms than Mystic Lake. The largest hotel in the state is the 821-room Hilton Minneapolis.
