fred33
01-12-2007, 08:13 AM
Yao! Las Vegas nightclubs and restaurants are predicting a record windfall from NBA All-Star Weekend, with the possibility of $1,000 admission tickets and $1 million venue rentals.
Corporate bidding for prime venues is through the roof. As an example, a smaller club on the Strip is getting $250,000 on consecutive nights for private parties.
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Taking Vegas prices to new heights, "expect upwards of $500,000 to $1 million" for club rentals, said a club executive.
"We expect this to be the biggest week in Vegas history, four nights of New Year's Eve-type" crowds, said Branden Powers, marketing director of OPM Nightclub at the Forum Shops at Caesars.
With top tickets to the Feb. 18 game going for $4,000 to $6,000 on eBay, Powers said he's hearing tickets to some of the VIP events could fetch $1,000.
And you thought $300 was pricey to see a tipsy Britney Spears skip out early on New Year's Eve?
Pure Nightclub at Caesars, the scene of Spears' latest nightclub stumble, has Eva Longoria and her San Antonio Spurs star guard/fiance, Tony Parker, co-hosting a Feb. 17 party. The event is open to the public for regular prices ($30 men, $20 women). Admission is $50 to a Tracy McGrady-P Diddy party at Jet (Mirage).
Coca-Cola bought out Light nightclub at Bellagio for a VIP event featuring LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavs' superstar.
Nike and Budweiser have parties at Tao, the megaclub at The Venetian. Jay-Z and James are co-hosting a party at Tao the night before the game, and an official after-game party is scheduled.
Paris Hilton hosts her birthday party at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, and Alicia Keyes is shooting an "American Idol"-like audition at OPM during an afternoon.
The Palms will be the official players hotel, with all 24 All-Stars getting extra-length king-size beds.
MADHOUSE RETURNS
Beacher's Madhouse returns to the Hard Rock Hotel, with dethroned Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees as a co-host.
Jeff Beacher said his two-year deal with Morgans Hotel Group, the new owners of the Hard Rock, begins with a March 31 show.
Rees, who was fired last month by officials with Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant, "is a fun, wild girl, and we don't shy away from scandal," Beacher said. Rees came under fire after raunchy photographs of her surfaced on Internet sites associated with Las Vegas escort services.
The Madhouse contract calls for 12 shows a year, about half of the previous deal with former owner Peter Morton.
SIGHTINGS
Haley Joel Osment, meeting with magician Lance Burton (Monte Carlo) after Wednesday's show. He told Burton he's seen the show about 10 times, dating back to Burton's days at the Hacienda, now the site of Mandalay Bay. Osment was among the celebrity turnout for Tuesday's charity event for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. ... Gene Simmons, filming his reality show, "Family Jewels,'' at the Kingpin Suite in the Palms Fantasy Tower on Wednesday and later at Tao, where he was seen on the dance floor, in a frenzy. ... Jaime Pressley, back at Social House (Treasure Island) on Wednesday with her fiance, who later deejayed at Tangerine. ... At Tangerine: NFL stars Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams and Cleveland Browns running back Ruben Droughns plus Howie Mandel and Dennis Belding. ... Chris Cohen, owner of the Golden State Warriors, dining at Picasso (Bellagio).
MAY I RECOMMEND ...
Vintner Grill, 10100 W. Charleston Blvd., is a raves-worthy newcomer in Summerlin. It's billed as an American bistro with Mediterranean twists. Try the London broil, lamb osso bucco and a unique chocolate experience. Open for lunch and dinner. For reservations: 214-5590.
PUNCH LINE
"Can now advertise my garage sales as 'Hall of Fame garage sales' " -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Things About Being Elected To The National Baseball Hall Of Fame, which was delivered by Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244
Corporate bidding for prime venues is through the roof. As an example, a smaller club on the Strip is getting $250,000 on consecutive nights for private parties.
Advertisement
Taking Vegas prices to new heights, "expect upwards of $500,000 to $1 million" for club rentals, said a club executive.
"We expect this to be the biggest week in Vegas history, four nights of New Year's Eve-type" crowds, said Branden Powers, marketing director of OPM Nightclub at the Forum Shops at Caesars.
With top tickets to the Feb. 18 game going for $4,000 to $6,000 on eBay, Powers said he's hearing tickets to some of the VIP events could fetch $1,000.
And you thought $300 was pricey to see a tipsy Britney Spears skip out early on New Year's Eve?
Pure Nightclub at Caesars, the scene of Spears' latest nightclub stumble, has Eva Longoria and her San Antonio Spurs star guard/fiance, Tony Parker, co-hosting a Feb. 17 party. The event is open to the public for regular prices ($30 men, $20 women). Admission is $50 to a Tracy McGrady-P Diddy party at Jet (Mirage).
Coca-Cola bought out Light nightclub at Bellagio for a VIP event featuring LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavs' superstar.
Nike and Budweiser have parties at Tao, the megaclub at The Venetian. Jay-Z and James are co-hosting a party at Tao the night before the game, and an official after-game party is scheduled.
Paris Hilton hosts her birthday party at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, and Alicia Keyes is shooting an "American Idol"-like audition at OPM during an afternoon.
The Palms will be the official players hotel, with all 24 All-Stars getting extra-length king-size beds.
MADHOUSE RETURNS
Beacher's Madhouse returns to the Hard Rock Hotel, with dethroned Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees as a co-host.
Jeff Beacher said his two-year deal with Morgans Hotel Group, the new owners of the Hard Rock, begins with a March 31 show.
Rees, who was fired last month by officials with Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant, "is a fun, wild girl, and we don't shy away from scandal," Beacher said. Rees came under fire after raunchy photographs of her surfaced on Internet sites associated with Las Vegas escort services.
The Madhouse contract calls for 12 shows a year, about half of the previous deal with former owner Peter Morton.
SIGHTINGS
Haley Joel Osment, meeting with magician Lance Burton (Monte Carlo) after Wednesday's show. He told Burton he's seen the show about 10 times, dating back to Burton's days at the Hacienda, now the site of Mandalay Bay. Osment was among the celebrity turnout for Tuesday's charity event for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. ... Gene Simmons, filming his reality show, "Family Jewels,'' at the Kingpin Suite in the Palms Fantasy Tower on Wednesday and later at Tao, where he was seen on the dance floor, in a frenzy. ... Jaime Pressley, back at Social House (Treasure Island) on Wednesday with her fiance, who later deejayed at Tangerine. ... At Tangerine: NFL stars Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams and Cleveland Browns running back Ruben Droughns plus Howie Mandel and Dennis Belding. ... Chris Cohen, owner of the Golden State Warriors, dining at Picasso (Bellagio).
MAY I RECOMMEND ...
Vintner Grill, 10100 W. Charleston Blvd., is a raves-worthy newcomer in Summerlin. It's billed as an American bistro with Mediterranean twists. Try the London broil, lamb osso bucco and a unique chocolate experience. Open for lunch and dinner. For reservations: 214-5590.
PUNCH LINE
"Can now advertise my garage sales as 'Hall of Fame garage sales' " -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Things About Being Elected To The National Baseball Hall Of Fame, which was delivered by Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244