Mohegan Sun Arena


The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, located inside the Mohegan Sun casino resort. The arena facility features of configurable exhibition space and a clear span. It was built by the Perini Building Company, and opened in October 2001.

History

The multi-purpose facility has hosted a wide variety of events; including the American Kennel Club, WWE, concerts from major classical, country, jazz, metal, rap, rock, and pop acts, as well as sporting events such as PBR events, Bellator, NCAA games, PBA tournaments, early UFC bouts, and the World's Strongest Man Super Series Competition. The largest event on record to have been held at the arena was the inaugural Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in the Northeast in 2016, for which 90,000 tickets were sold to the multi-day event.
Major network and cable television broadcasting companies, including CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, ESPN and CNN have all produced events through this arena.

Arena football

The arena originally served as home of the Mohegan Wolves arena football team until it was sold and moved to Manchester, New Hampshire in 2004. On July 19, 2001, Uncasville was awarded an AF2 expansion team. On December 12, 2001, Mohegan Sun and Dr. Eric Margenau, President/Chief Executive Officer of United Sports Ventures, announced that the new expansion AF2 franchise would be named the Mohegan Wolves. Margenau introduced Gary Porter, as the head coach for the team that would first take the field April 5, 2002 at the Mohegan Sun Arena against the Albany Conquest. Gary Porter, previously led the expansion Peoria Pirates to a 7-9 record in 2001.
The team name was selected through a "Name the Team" contest sponsored by WCTY, Mohegan Sun and X-Tra Mart. A Jewett City resident, came up with the winning name. The winner won four season tickets for the 2002 Mohegan Wolves season, dinner for four on the night of the team's first home game, and a team merchandise package.

Basketball

On January 28, 2003, the arena was announced as the official home court for the Connecticut Sun. Prior to the fall of 2002, the NBA operating model precluded any WNBA team without an NBA "brother" counterpart. By the time the Connecticut Sun moved in, Val Ackerman was the WNBA president and Mark L. Brown was the chairman of the Mohegan Tribe. While the arena is attached to the Mohegan Sun casino, the facility does not accept any form of sports wagering or sports booking because sports betting is illegal in Connecticut.
On September 8, 2005, as a companion to the arena, the Mohegan Sun casino opened a Connecticut Sun merchandise store called "Winter Essentials." It was the first store in the United States that sold professional basketball goods on casino ground. However, the store was closed when the casino underwent renovations in 2008. Connecticut Sun merchandise can now be purchased in the Arena during games.

Lacrosse

On April 21, 2002, the Mohegan Sun Arena hosted the 2002 National Lacrosse League All-Star Game. The North Division defeated the South by a score of 14-10. Steve Toll, of the Toronto Rock, was named the MVP of the event.
On August 5, 2014, the National Lacrosse League announced that the Philadelphia Wings would move to the Mohegan Sun Arena and be re-branded as the New England Black Wolves for the 2015 season. In their home opener, the Black Wolves defeated the Buffalo Bandits 12-8 in front of 5,768.
SeasonAttendance
20155,768
20165,589
20177,074
20186,158
20196,445

Mixed martial arts

On January 11, 2002, Mohegan Sun Arena hosted its first MMA event, UFC 35, headlined by Jens Pulver vs B.J. Penn.
Bellator MMA has consistently put on events at Mohegan Sun Arena, since 2009 that are shown below.
2009: Bellator 2, Bellator 11
2010: Bellator 15
2011: Bellator 39, Bellator 48
2012: Bellator 63
2013: Bellator 98
2014: Bellator 110, Bellator 123
2015: Bellator 134, Bellator 140, Bellator 144
2016: Bellator 153, Bellator 163
2017: Bellator 178, Bellator 185
2018: Bellator 194, Bellator 207
2019: Bellator 215, Bellator 216

Seating

As of 2006, the seating can be configured into 5 common sports configurations. Basketball, boxing, bowling, rodeo, table tennis, lacrosse. It also can be reconfigured to fit many types of concerts: regular, fullhouse, centerstage, and halfhouse. The arena has won awards for being one of America's most modern concert venues. The arena was awarded the 2008 and 2010 Country Music Award for "Casino of the Year". It was also ranked the 4th best venue by Billboard Magazine.

Notable events

Strength Athletics Grand Prix

Since 2005, the arena has hosted one of the premier international strongman Grand Prix events.
YearChampionRunner-Up3rd PlaceEvent Name
2005 Mariusz Pudzianowski Jessen Paulin Don PopeMohegan Sun Grand Prix
Final of WSM Super Series 2005
2006 Mariusz Pudzianowski Jesse Marunde Josh ThigpenMohegan Sun Grand Prix
Final of WSM Super Series 2006
2007 Mariusz Pudzianowski Kevin Nee Mark FelixMohegan Sun Grand Prix
Start of WSM Super Series 2007
2008 Derek Poundstone Mariusz Pudzianowski Terry HollandsMohegan Sun Grand Prix
Start of WSM Super Series 2008
2009 Derek Poundstone Travis Ortmayer Brian ShawMohegan Sun Grand Prix 2009
May 17, 2009
Start of Giants Live 2009
2010 Derek Poundstone Brian Shaw Stojan TodorchevMohegan Sun Grand Prix 2010
April 25, 2010
Start of WSM Super Series 2010