The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has secured the naming rights for a new $130 million entertainment venue slated to open later this year at the Fallsview Casino Resort.
OLG and MGE Niagara Entertainment, a division of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment which operates the casino on behalf of OLG, made the joint announcement on August 31. The OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, the largest casino in Canada, will be a 5,000-seat theatre.
Both parties say they expect the OLG Stage to drive even more visitors to the casino and the Niagara Falls region. It’s expected to attract top musical acts, comedians, and other entertainers.
“The OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino will increase visitation to Niagara, extend hotel stays and enhance our customer experience,” said Richard Taylor, president of Niagara Casinos. “We have a fabulous lineup of acts in store for Niagara Falls and look forward to announcing the official grand opening performance in the coming weeks.”
The OLG Stage will become Fallsview’s main theatre and will be directly connected to the casino through a glassed-in corridor. It will also offer food and beverage options for patrons. The resort also hosts the 1,500-capacity Avalon Theatre, which will remain as a more intimate on-site theatre.
The opening of the theatre, planned for the fall, is a long time in the making. Construction on the entertainment venue was completed more than two years ago, but the first shows planned for the venue were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Ontario government restrictions kept the casino closed until July 2021.
“The gaming and entertainment sector has a proud history in the Niagara region and plays an essential role in Ontario’s economy,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario’s Minister of Finance. “I want to congratulate OLG and Mohegan on this exciting new partnership, and I look forward to continuing to work with the sector to bring a world-class entertainment experience to Niagara Falls that will benefit the city, help create jobs and generate growth for businesses across the region.”