SugarHouse Onto A Winner With Dan Stevenson

BY MARIA MERLINO/ Big changes are happening at SugarHouse Casino. A new position, Regional Sales Executive, was filled by Daniel Stevenson, a Pennsport native, who has great relationships with city movers and shakers.

The hire was just made prior to the casino’s expansion. As soon as they get the go-ahead, construction will begin on expanding and escalating SugarHouse’s presence in the community.

1ST DIST. COUNCILMAN Mark Squilla joins Pennsport community leader Dan Stevenson and Wendy Hamilton at SugarHouse gala.

“It’s great to be in on the ground floor,” Stevenson said. “I see so many possibilities on what gaming does for Philadelphia.”

Wendy Hamilton, general manager of SugarHouse, threw a party for the new kid in town and the crème de la crème of Philadelphia made their way to the back of the casino to shake his hand. “Hiring Dan is like bringing South Philly on board. He’s a great addition to our team. We wanted to celebrate him with this welcome party.”

Hamilton is looking forward to the expansion of SugarHouse. “We are going to double it,” said Hamilton. “We are getting more parking with a new high-rise garage and banquet rooms. We are going to have river views and plenty of room. Philly has been so responsive. The people have spoken and we are going to give them more space.”

SugarHouse is a charitable organization that gives back to the community: $500,000 a year in the form of grants to the Penn Treaty Special Services District. After the expansion, the casino will give back $1,000,000 a year, doubling the money.

“We have a website (penntreatyssd.com) where you can download a grant form,” said Joe Rafter, the head of PTSSD. “We are very interested in maintaining the safety and security of the neighborhoods. “We support, through this grant program, veterans groups, seniors, sports organizations, children’s programs, etc. We also have a surveillance camera project in the works. This casino supports a thousand families. Simply put, we wouldn’t have the funds to do the things we do without SugarHouse.”

What SugarHouse always wanted was a room large enough to fill with crowds, such as shows like mixed martial arts. Phil Migliarese, of Matrix Fights, said he’s excited about the sponsorship with the casino. “Matrix Fights is a mixed martial-arts show,” said Migliarese. “We always had a harmonious relationship with the casinos and fight shows. We were voted Best Regional Show. We get great crowds.”

   Send article as PDF