Latest news with #Mohegan
Black America Web
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
The CT Barber Expo Lived Up To 'Mecca Of Men's Grooming' Hype
Source: aqua / CassiusLife The CT Barber Expo touts itself as the 'mecca of men's grooming showcases' and they certainly made a solid case for that level of confidence. Running from Saturday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, 2025 at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, the event included a Barber Grammys the first night, followed by a couple of days of educational seminars in the mornings and the expo proper during the rest of the day. Source: aqua / CassiusLife The showfloor in the Mohegan Sun's Earth Ballroom was filled with brands familiar to those in the barber and grooming industry (or those who keep themselves looking sharp); like Wahl, Andis, Cocco and BaBylissPRO. As attendees walked the showfloor, they were met with vendors hawking their wares (from 'units' to clippers to barber capes to streetwear) as well as plenty of demonstrations from barbers sharing techniques and insights to their success. The latest tools of the trade (clippers, sheers, chairs, etc.) were available for sale while the latest essential for grooming (weak beards were few and far between) also caught plenty of floor space. As both professionals, amateurs and the curious took in the atmosphere, the vibes were all positive and celebratory. After about an hour, it also meant people loaded down with bags full of the aforementioned tools snapped up from vendors offering them up at sale prices. To the rear was the stage, where the spirited Barber Battle competition went down and we caught a glimpse of expo regular Fat Joe holding court on Sunday. Even Noreaga was in town and got cleaned up. Founded by Jay Raposo aka 'Majors,' the CT Barber Expo reportedly kicked off in 2011 in a nightclub and has only been growing since, developing into a can't miss trade show for the barber industry. It's worth a visit to learn, politic and take in the good vibes—just like a cherished barbershop, but on a much bigger scale. The CT Barber Expo Lived Up To 'Mecca Of Men's Grooming' Hype was originally published on 1. Source:CassiusLife CT Barber Expo Source:CassiusLife CT Barber Expo ct barber expo Source:CassiusLife CT Barber Expo ct barber expo Source:CassiusLife CT Barber Expo ct barber expo Source:CassiusLife CT Barber Expo ct barber expo Source:CassiusLife CT Barber Expo ct barber expo Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WNBA's Connecticut Sun Hire Allen & Company to Explore Sale
The owners of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun hired investment bank Allen & Company to explore the sale of the franchise, according to multiple people familiar with the details. Mohegan Sun, a subsidiary of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, has owned the club since 2003. The Sun could raise capital through an LP stake sale, but the expectation is a control sale and likely franchise relocation. There are multiple potential built-in buyers via the 10-plus groups who submitted bids during the current WNBA expansion process, which is also being run by Allen. Advertisement More from Allen & Company declined to comment, while the Sun did not immediately respond to request for comment. The move arrives as WNBA franchise values have exploded. The Golden State Warriors and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum were each awarded an expansion franchise for $50 million in 2023 and 2024. The latest round of W expansion is expected to fetch more than $200 million per franchise. The last WNBA control sale was in 2021 when the Atlanta Dream were purchased for between $7 million and $10 million by a group led by real estate investor Larry Gottesdiener. Advertisement As team values soared, the cost of running a WNBA franchise has also jumped. The Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces opened state-of-the-art training facilities. The Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever announced plans to build their own facilities. The recent expansion teams will all have their own practice facilities, and the expectation is that every WNBA team will need a dedicated practice facility within the next three years. Speculation has swirled around whether Mohegan Sun wanted to keep up with the current WNBA arms race, with gaming, concerts and hospitality the primary businesses at the casino resort. The Sun play in the WNBA's smallest media market and host home games in 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena. An LP stake sale could help fund the construction of a new practice facility, a tactic the Storm used for their $64 million buildign. Connecticut's current practice set-up has drawn criticism from Sun players. The Mohegan tribe has priority at the venue, and community events have left Sun with half a court to practice in cases. In 2003, the Native American tribe became the first non-NBA owner in WNBA history when the former Orlando Miracle relocated to the then-new $40 million Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The tribe paid $10 million as an expansion fee. Last year, the Sun were valued at $80 million, per Sportico's WNBA valuations, which was tied for ninth in the WNBA. Franchise values have jumped considerably since then. Advertisement Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority recently faced a potential debt crunch, but last month, it completed a comprehensive refinancing of nearly all its restricted debt. It pushed back $1.5 billion in debt due in 2026 and 2027 to 2030 and 2031. The Sun reached the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs last season, which marked the sixth straight season they made it at least that far, but their entire starting lineup exited via trade or free agency ahead of the 2025 season. Last year, the WNBA had explosive growth for revenue, attendance, sponsorships and viewership. But it now faces a challenge after the players union decided to opt out of the current CBA back in October. The WNBA regular season tips off Friday. Advertisement With assistance from Scott Soshnick Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 bold predictions for the 2025 WNBA season: Seismic shifts, 3-point firepower and more dunks
The 2025 WNBA season officially tips off on Friday, and every team will be in action this weekend to start what should be an important season in the league's history. The pressure is on for the league to follow up on what was a historic 2024. We'll have plenty of predictions this week on who will win it all, and who will take home individual trophies, but we have a few other predictions — some wild, some not — of what will happen this WNBA season. At least one team will change ownership While owning a WNBA team is about supporting the growth of women's sports, it's also an investment. Most people want to make money off of their investments, and most WNBA owners got into the game for a fairly low fee. Considering the popularity of the game, growing attendance numbers and television ratings, this would be a smart time for an owner who doesn't want to deal with the demands of running a professional sports team to get out. Advertisement For example, Michael Alter, the owner of the Chicago Sky, bought the team for a reported $10 million. A valuation of the Sky in 2023 put them at $85 million. The Connecticut Sun were purchased in 2007 for a similar amount by the Mohegan tribe. Now the team, which has arguably the worst facilities in the league, is reportedly looking for bidders . The growth of the WNBA means that players expect better facilities and resources, and the smart move for some owners is to turn over the keys. The all-time WNBA attendance record will be broken In 2024, the Washington Mystics and Indiana Fever broke the WNBA regular season attendance record in a September game at Capital One Arena. However, the all-time record is still held by the Detroit Shock/Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings for a 2003 Finals game between the Shock and the Los Angeles Sparks at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The Deanna Nolan/Swin Cash-led team won the title in three games, and 22,076 fans were there to see the Shock win. Advertisement Currently, there are no WNBA arenas with a capacity higher than 20,000, which is the capacity of the Target Center in Minnesota. But teams have moved games to bigger arenas when the demand is there, and that trend will continue this season. There aren't any NBA arenas that have the capacity to break the record, but perhaps we'll see the Fever move a game or two to Lucas Oil Field, which has hosted the NCAA tournament and can hold 70,000 for basketball. Sonia Citron will break Sabrina Ionescu's 3-point contest record Sabrina Ionescu's performance at the 2023 All-Star Game 3-point contest was jaw-droppingly good, as she hit 35 of 37 shots. But every record that is made can be broken, and Washington Mystics rookie Sonia Citron, who hit 37.2% of her 3-pointers in her final college season, has the kind of shot that could make huge waves in the 3-point contest at the All-Star Game in Indiana this summer. She'll likely be going up against Caitlin Clark, who said she would participate this year, but Citron showed time and time again at Notre Dame that she can handle pressure, and she will likely have plenty of fans in the stands from her time in South Bend. Get after it, Sonia. Dunks will become a more common occurrence Though slam dunks are seen as a flashy way to score two points, they are also a way for an offensive player to ensure the defensive player can't block their shot. As the men's game evolved — and rules banning dunks were rescinded — dunks became a more common tool for offensive players. Advertisement WNBA defenses have evolved, and players like A'ja Wilson, Ezi Magbegor and Brittney Griner find ways to swat the ball left and right. Throw in that there are more players who can dunk, like Griner and Magbegor's new teammate Dominique Malonga? It's a recipe for more dunks, and an easy answer to silly people who think the WNBA needs to lower the rims. The WNBA and WNBPA will avoid a work stoppage OK, maybe this is more of a hope than a prediction. The players opted out of the collective bargaining agreement the day after the Liberty won the WNBA title in 2024, and they have several issues that need to be settled. With the league signing new television rights deals, the players want their fair share of the new revenue. They are also concerned about retired players' pensions, facilities and better deals for foreign players. The word the players' union keeps using is 'transformational.' They expect a CBA that will reward them for the time and effort they have put into building the league into its current state. While the current CBA expires at the end of the 2025 season, the true deadline is the start of the 2026 season. Deadlines always inspire action, so it's possible they could avoid a stoppage. But the players have indicated they're preparing themselves for the possibility.
Bloomberg
13-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
NYC's 9 West Landlord Pitches Equity Bet for a Manhattan Casino
Soloviev Group, the real estate developer that owns a major office tower at 9 West 57th St. in Manhattan, is proposing a way for New York City residents to benefit from its potential casino project. Soloviev and Mohegan aim to invite New York City residents to contribute as much as 12% of any initial public equity they plan to raise for their proposed gaming facility along the East River, giving everyday people an opportunity to become stakeholders in their casino project, according to a statement Tuesday. The firms also intend to provide allocations to eligible New York pension funds.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Soloviev Group to Offer Shareholder Opportunity to New York City Residents for the Innovative Freedom Plaza Project
NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Soloviev Group, in partnership with Mohegan, today announced an exciting forward-looking initiative that will offer eligible local residents a unique opportunity to become stakeholders in the proposed gaming facility at Freedom Plaza, a transformative civic and cultural destination that includes two world-class hotels, destination spa, a diverse mix of food and beverage venues, and meeting and entertainment facilities. As part of the competitive bidding process set to begin in June 2025 for one of up to three Downstate gaming licenses, this dynamic, mixed-use hub in Midtown Manhattan, aims to deliver a thriving center for affordable housing, job creation, open space, and community reinvestment along First Avenue between East 38th and East 41st streets. Sharing both its financial returns and positive future impact, up to 12% of any initial public equity raised for the proposed gaming facility will be designated for residents of New York City. Soloviev and Mohegan also intend to provide investment allocations to eligible New York state and city employee-related pension funds on a preferential basis relative to other institutional investors, ensuring broad community participation and benefit. If Soloviev and Mohegan are awarded a gaming license, the capital raise would begin no earlier than 2027. "Soloviev, in partnership with Mohegan, is committed to fostering prosperous long-term relationships with residents, community organizations, and businesses both locally and throughout New York," said Michael Hershman, Chief Executive Officer of the Soloviev Group. "Our visionary Freedom Plaza project exemplifies these goals, and we would be thrilled to offer a financial interest to these stakeholders." Empowering the local community through direct financial participation is a vital aspect of the Soloviev and Mohegan vision. If awarded a gaming license, Soloviev and Mohegan plan to develop a culturally robust experience with a substantial affordable housing complex, an inviting nearly five-acre waterfront park, world-class hospitality and dining, and integrated entertainment. The Freedom Plaza project will add thousands of union jobs, support local businesses, provide attractive residential opportunities, strengthen the community, and boost tourism. It will also play a key role in advancing the New York City workforce, driving meaningful economic development along the East River, and helping to transform the area for the betterment of all New Yorkers. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Soloviev GroupUnwavering in its commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, the Soloviev Group brings four generations of successful development across community-focused verticals, including hospitality, residential and commercial development, agriculture, energy, logistics and philanthropy. The firm's most recent project, Freedom Plaza, will encompass more than six acres on Manhattan's East Side from 38th to 41st Street east of First Avenue and is committed to helping New York City thrive. The mixed-use development will feature 4.7 acres of publicly accessible green space; two world-class hotels by global resort leaders Mohegan and Banyan Tree Group, featuring the option of modern gaming for those 21-and-over; locally oriented retail and an array of shopping and dining options; a museum dedicated to democracy and community center; and two residential towers with housing that working people can afford. For more information, visit About MoheganMohegan is the owner, developer, and manager of premier entertainment resorts in the United States and Canada. Mohegan's U.S. operations include resorts in Connecticut and Pennsylvania and Canadian operations are based in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The brand's iGaming division, Mohegan Digital, provides cutting-edge online gaming solutions to Mohegan's loyal fan base and meets the digital needs of North American customers. Mohegan is owner and operator of Connecticut Sun, a professional basketball team in the WNBA. For more information on Mohegan and its properties, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Soloviev Group Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
