LAS VEGAS, Dec. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts
International today announced that its WNBA franchise will be
called the Las Vegas Aces. Las
Vegas' first major professional basketball team – formerly
the San Antonio Stars – will begin play in its new home in the 2018
season.
Logo is available at the below link. High-Res
Images & Video will be available
for download at 5 p.m. PST at the
same location
http://bit.ly/WNBAMandalayBay
Las Vegas Aces President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach
Bill Laimbeer was joined by MGM
Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle
and WNBA President Lisa Borders to
reveal the team's name and logo at a news conference at Mandalay
Bay.
"Selecting a new name is an important and symbolic step," said
Laimbeer, a two-time WNBA Coach of the Year and four-time NBA
All-Star. "Las Vegas has
enthusiastically embraced us, and we're incredibly excited for this
opportunity. We have a strong roster driven to succeed, which makes
this name an ideal choice. 'Las Vegas Aces' is a nod to the
excellence, confidence and competitive spirit of our new
hometown."
Borders said, "We are ecstatic to officially welcome the Las
Vegas Aces to the WNBA family. The Aces are already embracing the
opportunity to develop a deep connection with the local community,
and we can't wait to watch them bring the WNBA's brand of
world-class basketball to their new home in 2018."
Hornbuckle added, "This is a great time to bring women's
professional basketball to the Las
Vegas community. The WNBA represents some of the world's
best athletes and will showcase its incredible talent for our
hometown fans. Young girls and boys in our city will undoubtedly
gain dynamic role models for professionalism, teamwork, dedication
and discipline."
Las Vegas-based entertainment
and hospitality leader MGM Resorts received unanimous approval from
the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors in October in connection with
its purchase and relocation of the team from San Antonio to Las
Vegas. In its inaugural season in Las Vegas, the Aces are expected to play 17
home games at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, adding to MGM
Resorts' outstanding lineup of live entertainment experiences. The
company is home to more than 20 world-class arenas, theaters and
outdoor venues, selling 8 million tickets annually for live events
ranging from performances by renowned artists such as The Rolling
Stones, Cher and Bruno Mars to some
of the biggest fights in the history of combat sports.
The Aces will become the second major professional sports team
in Las Vegas, following the NHL's
Vegas Golden Knights, who play at T-Mobile Arena. The NFL's Oakland
Raiders are expected to relocate to Las
Vegas by the 2020 season.
Las Vegas' new WNBA franchise
was originally established for the league's inaugural season in
Salt Lake City before moving to
San Antonio prior to the 2003
season.
Fans can make a deposit for Las Vegas Aces tickets through
AXS.com. Deposits can be applied toward season tickets, multi-game
packs, or single game tickets. The opportunity to buy season
tickets will be offered to deposit holders in the order in which
they signed up and seat availability is not guaranteed. Season
tickets will go on sale to the public in early 2018.
Follow @LVACES, #LVACES and visit wnba.com/lasvegas for
additional information.
About the WNBA
The WNBA – which features 12 teams and
is the most successful women's professional team sports league in
the world – is a unique global sports property combining
competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status
as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. Through
WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that
promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, support youth
and family development, and inspire and empower women. For more
information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global
entertainment company with national and international locations
featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art
meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical
entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant,
nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive,
iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired
brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 27 unique hotel
offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in
the industry. The company is expanding throughout the U.S. and
around the world, developing MGM Springfield
in Massachusetts and MGM COTAI in Macau, and
debuting the first international Bellagio branded hotel
in Shanghai. The 77,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are
proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE®
Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information
visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International