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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 2, 2007

GOING VEGAS
Harrah's arena to lure pro sports

By Anthony Curtis

Harrah's has unveiled plans for a 20,000-seat, privately financed sports and entertainment arena to be one block east of the Strip on 10 vacant acres behind Paris and Bally's. Projected to open in 2010, the venue will feature private boxes, luxury suites, club seats, gourmet food and plentiful entertainment. The big move is seen as killing efforts to bring a sports arena to the downtown area. However, it's also being heralded as a move that will secure the move of a professional sports franchise to Las Vegas — NHL first, possibly the NBA later.

SOUTH POINT EXPANSION: The South Point hotel-casino has begun a $95 million expansion to meet demand for more convention space and hotel rooms. The project will include a 25-story, 830-room hotel tower, almost 10,000 square feet of conference space, two new restaurants, and three bars. The latter are due to open by the end of the year. The hotel tower is scheduled for completion next summer.

"Jersey Boys": Tickets are already on sale for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Jersey Boys," which is due to open at the Palazzo Resort on April 4, 2008. Tickets can be purchased now from the Venetian box office (866-641-SHOW) and run from $65 to $135. The Palazzo opens at the end of this year.

NEW CLUBS: Labor Day weekend is a big one for the Las Vegas nightclub scene, with two new venues debuting head to head. The first is Blush at the Wynn, a 4,500-square-foot "boutique" that replaces the original club, Lure. The second is LAX at Luxor, a two-story 26,000-square-foot behemoth that's being positioned as the next Hollywood-scene club in Las Vegas.

For information about Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons and deals, see www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.