The Resident Good News Special Commemorative Issue Foxwoods 25th Anniversary February 8, 2017
Foxwoods Resort Casino Celebrates 30th Anniversary of BINGO
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ith a dream spearheaded by Richard There were people camped out in tents “Skip” Hayward and 25 blocked along Route 2. When the doors finally spaces on a card, Foxwoods broke opened, the line to get in wrapped around gaming ground in 1986 with the opening of the building and some 1500 people showed its state-of-the-art Bingo Hall. On July 2, up to play. We were sold out by 10:30 a.m. Foxwoods celebrated 30 years of Bingo with that July 4th 1986, and from that incredible Firecracker Bingo in the 3500-seat Bingo Hall day, bingo continues to thrive.” at Foxwoods, the largest in the country, with The Tribe’s success with the game of a top prize of $1 million! bingo gave way to the building of Foxwoods In a recent discussion about the history Resort Casino, which opened in 1992 of “what started it all,” John Holder, Tribal and is celebrating its 25th anniversary member and Project Manager Foxwoods throughout 2017. Two years later, in July Engineering & Master Planning stated, “On 1994, Foxwoods cut the ribbon on its new April 30, 1984, the Pequot corporate body 3500-seat Bingo Hall—the largest hall in voted 12-1 with two abstentions North America. to approve the conBelinda worked alongside Foxwoods’ (top) In July 1994, Foxwoods cut the ribbon struction of a highfirst Tribal Bingo Team: Manager Bruce on its new 3500-seat bingo hall — the largest stakes bingo operaKirchner, Assistant Manager Mike Holder, hall in the country. (l-r) Bruce Kirchner, tion.” John explained Food & Beverage Manager Joey Carter, Senior VP of Administration, Foxwoods that the road at the Human Resources Manager Gary Carter, Resort Casino, Michael Holder, VP of Bingo start was “rocky” and Security Manager Bobby Hayward. and G. Michael “Mickey” Brown, CEO & after Connecticut’s There were fewer than 50 employees to President, Foxwoods Resort Casino. chief state criminal manage the crowd including all floor work(left) Beth Vining, a 27-year Foxwoods’ attorney wrote the ers, admission clerks, booth attendants, bingo veteran held up winner’s card at Tribe a letter threatcallers and kitchen staff—a bare minimum Foxwoods’ Million Dollar Firecracker ening to shut down compared to the 150 or more that it takes Bingo, July 2, 2016. the bingo operation if to run the bingo complex today. opened as planned. The The 30-year anniversary milestone Mashantucket Pequots presented a unique opportunity to refiled for a federal prelimiflect on how far the Tribe came and what nary injunction and Judge Peter Dorsey they learned along this incredible jourgranted a permanent injunction on January ney, stated Rodney Butler, Chairman of 9, 1986, holding that Connecticut’s bingo laws the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. did not apply to the reservation. “Gaming was the only option that pro“Building the bingo hall was a $4M provided a stable, consistent profit for us, ject and we only had one million,” said John. despite many other business attempts in “During the construction, Hurricane Gloria the early eighties—and it all began arrived with all her glory. She blew down a with our High special cedar tree, and that huge tree that Stakes Bingo we were saving crushed the steel on the west Hall. Had it not side of the structure. So now, we were out been for the piof money and $2M in the hole!” The Tribe oneering spirits needed an angel and they found one in Charlie and leadership Klewin Construction, Norwich. “Charlie nevof past and pres(l to r) Richard Chenail, Assistant Director of er stopped building,” said John. ent Tribal Elders, ““I trust them,”” said Charlie Klewin. Bingo; Belinda Hayward McKeon, Gaming we would not have That’s why the next phases of construction Commissioner, Foxwoods; and John Holder, provided thousands for Foxwoods Resort Casino were given to Project Manager, Engineering & Master of local jobs, doPlanning, Foxwoods; celebrated the 30th Klewin Construction on a handshake! nated hundreds of Next, Skip traveled to New York City for a anniversary of the first Bingo Hall on July millions in cash and D ua ne H e bank loan of $4M. Belinda Hayward McKeon, 2, 2016. sponsorships to redberg , Ass is tant Dir Operatio Vice Chair, Foxwoods Gaming Commission, gional charities, and e ctor of B in ns at Fox go woods, w one ” e m p recalled her brother, Skip, holding up the distributed nearly $4 a s one of m a loyees wh ny “day o stayed fo years ! check and saying, “Count the zeros!” billion dollars in slot r more th a n 20 The Bingo Hall opened on July 5, 1986. revenue to the State of It was an opening day most businesses only Connecticut, to date,” dream about! he pointed out. In a 1996 Resident interview, Tribal memAs Felix Rappaport, President & CEO, ber Michael Holder, John’s brother, who reFoxwoods Resort Casino, stated, “Bingo cently retired after 28 years as VP of Bingo, put the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal remembered that “Opening day at the Bingo Nation on the map! We have the largest Hall was an absolute madhouse!” Bingo Hall in the U.S. We estimate that Richard Chenail, Assistant Director of over the years, at least 55 million people Bingo, said, “I had a birds-eye view from the have passed through those doors to play admission booth and I still can’t believe the the most varied, fun, and exciting bingo ofnumber of people we had to turn away that ferings anywhere. Many of our Bingo Team day! The money was coming in and we were Members go back to day one, and without literally just throwing it into a bag!” their efforts, there never would have been Belinda recalled, “I worked as an EMT Foxwoods broke ground in the gaming world with the introduction of a Foxwoods Resort Casino!” on opening day. Bobby Hayward worked in Bingo in 1986. Security. The crowds were overwhelming.
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