Sports and Entertainment Stars Unite in Las Vegas for 10th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, Hosted by ARIA Resort & Casino, March 31 - April 3

LAS VEGAS, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sports and entertainment stars Drew Brees, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey, Jr., Marcus Allen, Mario Lemieux, Mia Hamm, Boris Becker, John Smoltz, Spike Lee, Don Cheadle, Brian Baumgartner and Shannon Elizabeth are among the celebrities scheduled to attend the 10th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), hosted by Las Vegas' ARIA Resort & Casino, March 31-April 3.

Marking its Las Vegas debut, the tournament will be held at Shadow Creek, one of the country's most exclusive golf courses, which will open its doors to the public for the first time. Proceeds from the charitable tournament will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nevada Cancer Institute, James R. Jordan Foundation and Cats Care, the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats' charity arm. Since its inception in 2001, MJCI has raised more than $5 million for charity.

The Celebrity-Amateur tournament, which pairs one celebrity with four amateur participants, will take place Thursday, March 31 and Friday, April 1. The MJCI two-person, 36-hole scramble format tournament, including only competing celebrities, will take place Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3. More information on special events surrounding the tournament, and additional celebrity participants, will be announced in the near future.

Tickets may be purchased at ARIA's Viva ELVIS box office, online at www.arialasvegas.com or www.MJCIgolf.com.  Prices are as follows:

VIP spectators will enjoy an unparalleled view of the course from the M life VIP Hospitality complex, an open-air venue featuring a "VIP Party Deck" overlooking the par-5, 18th hole.  

Discounted tickets are available for military service members with valid identification, and Senior Citizens 65 years of age or older with valid ID; both groups will receive 25 percent off a daily or weekly general admission ticket.  Additionally, the tournament has created a special "Bring the Kids for Free" general admission ticket offer, which provides access to Shadow Creek for youth 16 years of age and younger when accompanied by a general admission ticketed adult (up to two children per paid adult).  

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 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. Visit www.shadowcreek.com for more information.

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 a 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