WHERE DO I PARK?

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT, SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 2008

A PLAYER COMES FROM NEW YORK OR BOSTON, HE COMES OFF I-395 ONTO ROUTE 2-A ON TO MOHEGAN BOULEVARD. NOW THE FUN BEGINS, WHERE DOES THE DRIVER PARK?

THE DRIVER SEES A CAR ON A HILL AND A SIGN ON THE GARAGE. THE SIGN AND THE CAR SAY WIN THIS CAR PARK IN THAMES GARAGE. SO THE DRIVER TURNS RIGHT AND INTO THE THAMES GARAGE AS HE PASSES A SIGN THAT SAYS " GARAGE CLOSED. " THE GARAGE IS CLOSED.

HE GOES AROUND THE CASINO BACK ON TO MOHEGAN SUN BOULEVARD, DOES A U-TURN AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THIS TIME HE PULLS INTO THE NEXT GARAGE (RIVER VIEW.) WHAT DOES THE DRIVER FIND? CARS PARKED ON THE RAMP AND THE PARKING LOT FULL. OUT THE EXIT BACK UP THE MOHEGAN SUN BOULEVARD AND ANOTHER U-TURN AT THE LIGHT.

THIS TIME HE STOPS AT THE NEXT GARAGE, IT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY FILLED, BUT HE FINALLY FINDS A PLACE TO PARK, ON THE ROOF TOP.

THE WINTER GARAGE IS ALMOST TOTALLY EMPTY. THE BIG PARKING LOT NORTHWEST OF THE WINTER GARAGE IS ALSO ALMOST EMPTY. THE SHUTTLE BUS IS BRINGING 2 PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH TO THE CASINO. ALMOST NO RIDERSHIP.

WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT THIS, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REASON THE THAMES RIVER GARAGE WAS CLOSED, IS BECAUSE THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS TRYING TO TRAIN THE PATRONS. THEY WANT THE PATRONS TO EITHER USE THE VALET PARKING OR THE WINTER GARAGE.

IF THE CASINO IS IN FACT DOING THIS, THEN WE HAVE FAILED OUR PATRONS. THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO THEM. WE ARE MAKING THEIR COMING TO THE CASINO A MISERABLE EXPERIENCE. WE NEED TO MAKE IT A MORE ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE. THE CASINO SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME TO MAKE THE GAMING EXPERIENCE AN ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE. WE BLOW THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WITH OUR PARKING STRAGEDIES.