John Legend To Headline Vegas Gala For Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational At ARIA Resort & Casino

LAS VEGAS, March 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- GRAMMY Award-winning artist John Legend will headline the 12th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) Celebration in Las Vegas with a private performance at ARIA Resort & Casino, Friday, April 5. Legend will take the stage at the annual invite-only party for the tournament's celebrities and VIP invited guests.

The soulful singer, songwriter and pianist will perform hits throughout the evening, including songs from his new album Love in the Future (co-produced by Legend, Kanye West and Dave Tozer), scheduled for release this June. The celebration also will feature a performance by Blue Man Group, which recently introduced an entirely new, mega-enhanced show at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. Famed comedian and television personality Wayne Brady will emcee the evening's festivities.

The annual gala will mark a night of celebration following the two-day Celebrity-Amateur tournament April 4 and 5, which pairs one celebrity with four amateur participants; and lead into the weekend's MJCI two-person, 36-hole scramble format tournament, including only competing celebrities, April 6 and 7.

Hosted by ARIA Resort & Casino and returning to Shadow Creek, MJCI marks only the third time in history that the exclusive golf course will open its doors to the public. Proceeds from the charitable tournament will benefit Make-A-Wish; James R. Jordan Foundation; Opportunity Village; and Cats Care, the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats' charity arm; as well as the participating celebrities' charities of choice. Since its inception in 2001, MJCI has raised more than $6 million for charity. 

MJCI celebrities scheduled to attend include host Michael Jordan, Marcus Allen, Anthony Anderson, Miles Austin, Brian Baumgartner, Jerome Bettis, Wayne Brady*, Chevy Chase, Brandi Chastain, Chris Chelios, Roger Clemens, Vince Coleman, Brian Cushing, Richard Dent, Julius Erving, Josh Freeman, Dwight Freeney, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey Jr., Penny Hardaway, Brett Hull, Dan Jansen, Dustin Johnson, Janet Jones-Gretzky, Toni Kukoc, Mario Lemieux, Greg Maddux, Win McMurry, Christina Milian, Von Miller, DeMarco Murray, Kevin Nealon, Jonathan Ogden, Paul O'Neill, Jake Owen, Michael Phelps, Ahmad Rashad, Jerry Rice, Salli Richardson, Rob Riggle, Stuart Scott, Ozzie Smith, Jason Taylor, Alan Thicke, Winky Wright, Adrian Young and more.
*Non-Golfer

Tickets are available at all 10 MGM Resorts' box offices and concierge desks in Las Vegas, and online at www.arialasvegas.com, www.MJCIgolf.com and www.shadowcreek.com. Fans who wish to experience this exclusive event can purchase daily or weekly general admission and VIP ticket packages. VIP ticket holders will enjoy added perks including complimentary parking at Shadow Creek (a $10 daily value), unparalleled views from the open-air MasterCard VIP Hospitality Deck, complimentary food and full-service bars. Prices are as follows:

Discounted tickets are available for military service members, senior citizens 65 years of age or older and college/university students with valid identification. Each group will receive 25 percent off daily or weekly general admission tickets. Additionally, the tournament offers a "Bring the Kids for Free" general admission ticket pass, providing access to Shadow Creek for youth 17 years of age and younger when accompanied by a general admission ticketed adult (up to two children per paid adult).

All ticketholders can enjoy complimentary shuttle service between ARIA and Shadow Creek. Shuttles will depart every 30 minutes from ARIA's North Valet entrance Thursday and Friday of the tournament from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Continuous return service from Shadow Creek to ARIA will be provided until 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information about MJCI, visit arialasvegas.com, MJCIgolf.com or call (877) 253-5847.

About ARIA Resort & Casino

ARIA Resort & Casino, a stunning AAA Five Diamond resort, features an unprecedented combination of spectacular amenities, high-end service, striking architecture, sustainable design and premium meeting and convention space. ARIA provides access to the ultimate Las Vegas experience highlighted by The Shops at Crystals and the acrobatic spectacle Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. For more information and reservations, visit arialasvegas.com or call toll free at (866) 359-7757; also find ARIA on Facebook and Twitter.

About Shadow Creek

Perennially ranked among Golf Week magazine's Top 10 courses, Shadow Creek's special environment is normally reserved solely for guests of MGM Resorts International.  Located in the midst of the barren Nevada desert, the Tom Fazio-designed Shadow Creek makes golfers feel they've been transported to another world with its natural beauty, rolling terrain, glistening brooks and ponds, spectacular waterfalls, lush gardens and mature trees.

SOURCE ARIA Resort & Casino