Mohegan Sun gears up for annual car auction

Collector company Barrett-Jackson will help christen new convention center next month

Mohegan — After setting Mohegan Sun Arena attendance records the past two years, Barrett-Jackson, the collector car auction company, is set to help christen Mohegan Sun’s new convention center next month.

The company’s 3rd Annual Northeast Auction will take place June 2023, the first event at Mohegan Sun’s $80 million Earth Expo & Convention Center. On the first day, consignors, bidders and spectators will have the opportunity to view the vehicles and automobile-related collectibles that will be auctioned over the next three days.

Last year’s auction at Mohegan Sun generated $23.5 million in sales of collector cars as well as more than $800,000 worth of automobilia. Total attendance was estimated at about 72,000 people. In 2016, the first Northeast Auction drew more than 90,000 people over three days, setting Mohegan Sun Arena attendance records for single- and multiday events.

Mohegan Sun, which originally signed a five-year deal with Barrett-Jackson, began planning the convention center after the success of the first Northeast Auction. Mohegan Sun opened its Earth Tower hotel in November 2016.

“Mohegan Sun is a spectacular

venue and we are thrilled to be the first event at their brand new Expo Center,” said Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson’s chairman and chief executive officer. “They added a second tower with 400 rooms leading into last year’s auction and their continued growth sets a tremendous stage for our 3rd Annual Northeast Auction.”

Based in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson bills itself as the world’s leader in collector car and “automotive lifestyle events,” including auctions of high-profile estates and private collections. The company annually stages auctions in Scottsdale; Palm Beach, Fla., and Las Vegas in addition to Mohegan. Its events typically are broadcast live on the Velocity and Discovery Channel networks, reaching audiences in more than 150 countries.

Barrett-Jackson’s previous event, April’s 16th Annual Palm Beach Auction, generated $38.3 million in vehicle sales and $702,000 in automobilia sales while $430,000 was raised through the sale of charity vehicles. Total auction sales came to more than $39.4 million.

The Northeast Auction will feature the charity sale of the last 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and 2017 Dodge Viper, which will be auctioned together on Saturday, June 23, with 100 percent of the sale price to benefit the United Way on behalf of the Dodge brand. In addition, a 10 percent buyer’s premium will be added to support Barrett-Jackson’s yearlong campaign to benefit the American Heart Association.