Las Vegas NBA All Star Weekend
Las Vegas Review Journal
By Norm Clark
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.
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.
By Norm Clark
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.
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.