Silver Lane Partners announces updated site plan for casino in East Hartford

The revised plans were released on the deadline of the second request for proposals by MMCT, a joint venture between the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes — the respective owners of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun — that has been chosen by the State of Connecticut to decide on the most viable proposal to compete with the planned $900 million MGM casino in Springfield.

While SLP submitted a plan in response to MMCT’s initial request for proposals last fall, the tribal group recently reopened its request and increased the casino’s projected number of gaming tables from 50 to 150.

Accordingly, SLP’s updated plan contrasts with last year’s in that it calls for a major expansion of the deserted theater; 150,000 square feet of the rear parking lot would be used as build out space to increase the building’s size to 300,000 square feet.

In addition to the 150 gaming tables, the $200 to $300 million facility will house 2,000 slot machines.

To accommodate parking, SLP also proposed two parking garages that would sit adjacent to the casino and house 2,700 vehicles. The initial plan called for a 2,100-space garage in the rear parking area that will now be used as building space.

Following a recent report by the state’s Office of Fiscal Analysis showing that Connecticut stands to lose about $68 million in revenue during fiscal year 2019 should the Springfield casino open its doors as expected in fall 2018 without a competitor in the greater Hartford area, SLP managing member Anthony Ravosa urged MMCT to choose a proposal as soon as possible.

SLP has proposed opening the casino in East Hartford before the planned expansion is completed, and the developer says its updated proposal will allow for “rapid development” of the structure that will be “programmatically phased in to minimize operational disruption and patron inconvenience.” The primary goal, according SLP, is for the East Hartford casino to “beat MGM to opening.”

MMCT spokesman Andrew Doba responded to the OFA report by noting the grave consequences of such a significant loss of revenue for the state, but also stressing the need for the group to be careful in its decision making.