Construction and Expansion Update

Now that the Event Center has successfully hosted two major gatherings-- the Maines Paper and Food Service show and the annual fall meeting of the United South and Eastern Tribes-- crews are preparing the facility for several large entertainment events, including Tim McGraw's Dec. 2 concert and the "Night of Knights" jousting show on New Year's Eve. Workers are finishing the two VIP booths that overlook the main floor; each two-room suite will feature a staffed reception area with a bar and a viewing room. Loge boxes around the perimeter also offer private staff for serving refreshments. Last week, crews began assembling staging for upcoming events. The stage area can be configured in a variety of ways and at heights ranging from about three-and-a-half feet to five feet. Most of the pre-function area of the Event Center is close to being finished as well. Carpet and wall coverings have been installed, and some furniture is in place to form lounge areas in the spacious hallways. The Cypress room, the new multi-purpose room overlooking The Lodge, adds about 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space. About the size of the Mohawk Room, it also can be split into five smaller rooms. A second set of escalators leading from the mezzanine level of the Event Center to the Seneca Room of the Conference Center was operational last week, offering easy access to the gaming floor, Showroom and other areas of the resort. The seven board-style meeting rooms on the second floor of the Tower were opened at the end of October for USET's fall meeting. Each of the rooms has windows facing either the Winter Garden or the grounds of the resort. A dedicated pantry area on the second floor allows for aesy food and beverage service to the rooms. With the exception of the seven VIP luxury suites, all guest rooms in the Tower are now open. Work conitnues on Two-One, the paid membership restaurant on the Twoer's top floor, and on the VIP suite floor. Outside, crews have been paving or repaving the roads and parking lots at the resort and working to finish landscaping before winter sets in. The access road from the main boulevard to the Bingo Hall entrance, the Event Center and the parking garage is now open, and crews are reconfiguring the parking lots near the Team Member entrance." Talk to you later Joe