ARIA at CityCenter to Host 10th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament in 2011

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The biggest names in the worlds of sports and entertainment will gather for four days of competitive golf and special events when ARIA Resort & Casino hosts the 10th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) March 30 – April 3, 2011.  Shadow Creek, one of the country's most exclusive golf courses, will be the home of this spectacular golf event for the first time.

"Michael has been a long-time friend of the MGM Resorts International family and we are privileged that he and his team will partner with ARIA and Shadow Creek for this sensational weekend," said Bill McBeath, ARIA's president and chief operating officer.  "The event is not only about celebrities and golf, but more importantly, the tremendous effort set forth by the participants in raising funds for select charities nationwide.  We share Michael's philanthropic commitment and look forward to creating an extraordinary event for all involved."

Founded in 2001, the MJCI is one of celebrity golf's most popular events and has raised more than $5 million for charity.  The four-day event and celebration, which boasts incredible parties, A-list entertainment and competitive golf, currently enjoys the reputation of being the best event of its kind.  Over the years, the tournament has attracted the biggest names in sports and entertainment including sports stars Wayne Gretzky, Charles Barkley, Mario Lemieux, Julius "Dr. J" Erving and entertainment personalities Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell and Don Cheadle.  This year's event beneficiaries include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the James R. Jordan Foundation, the Nevada Cancer Institute as well as the participating celebrities' charities of choice.

"When you think of fun and exciting destinations, Las Vegas is the first place that comes to mind," said Michael Jordan.  "I'm excited to be bringing the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational to ARIA and to Shadow Creek, a course I've always enjoyed playing.  I'm looking forward to some great golf, celebrating with new friends and old and most importantly, raising money for some very worthy charities."

This year's MJCI is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, March 30 with a welcome reception presented by Jordan Brand.  The first of two rounds of the Celebrity-Amateur tournament, which pairs one celebrity with four amateur participants, will begin on Thursday, March 31 at Shadow Creek.  The final round of the Celebrity-Amateur on Friday, April 1 will be followed by one of the event's signatures, the MJCI Celebration with great live entertainment.

The MJCI two-person, 36-hole scramble format tournament begins on Saturday, April 2 and includes only the competing celebrities.  The second and final round of the MJCI will be played on Sunday, April 3.  Additional festivities and special events surrounding the Saturday and Sunday competition will be announced in the near future.

Perennially ranked among Golf Week magazine's Top 10 courses, Shadow Creek's special environment makes guests feel as if they've been transported to another world.  Located in the midst of the barren Nevada desert on the outskirts of Las Vegas, Shadow Creek continues to achieve national recognition and the kind of startling mystique reserved for only a select number of golf courses.  Designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio, Shadow Creek is known for its natural beauty, rolling terrain, glistening brooks and ponds, lush gardens and mature trees.  The visual elements, spectacular waterfalls and course design lend to astonishing views.

An NBA legend, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2009.  As a player, Jordan virtually rewrote the record book.  His 30.1 points-per-game average is the highest in NBA history and, with 32,292 points, he ranks third on the all-time scoring list.  Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championship titles and was NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) during each of those series.  Jordan, a five-time regular season MVP, became the only player to win back-to-back regular season and Finals MVP awards in 1991 and 1992.   In March 2010, Jordan became the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, after four years as part of the team's ownership group and its Managing Member of Basketball Operations.  Jordan is the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA franchise.

For more information about the MJCI at ARIA at CityCenter, visit www.MJCIGolf.com, www.arialasvegas.com or call (866) 359-7757.

About ARIA Resort & Casino

The centerpiece of CityCenter, ARIA features an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service and spectacular amenities.  From Viva ELVIS™ by Cirque du Soleil, celebrating the life and legacy of Elvis Presley to unique culinary offerings from the world's most talented chefs, innovative nightlife and spa offerings, ARIA embodies the excitement and vitality of Las Vegas.  Guests of the resort also enjoy the most technologically advanced guestrooms and premium meeting and convention space.  Combined with CityCenter's unparalleled amenities including the luxurious shopping at Crystals and the first-of-its-kind public Fine Art Collection, ARIA introduces a new generation of resort experiences, unlike anything Las Vegas, and more remarkably the world, has ever seen.  For more information about ARIA, please visit www.arialasvegas.com.

SOURCE ARIA Resort & Casino