ESPN's ESPY Awards to Make Las Vegas Debut At MGM Grand on
February 14, 2000
LAS VEGAS, June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual review of the best performers, performances and highlights in
sports, ESPN's ESPY Awards, will take the stage at the MGM Grand, ''The City of Entertainment,'' on Monday,
February 14, 2000 at 4:30 p.m. PST. This event marks the first time that the annual ceremony bringing together stars
of the sports and entertainment world will be held in Las Vegas.
''We are ecstatic about becoming the new home of ESPN's ESPY Awards,'' said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Grand's
president/chief operating officer. ''The ESPY Awards is the greatest night in sports/entertainment and provides us
the opportunity to continue to play an integral role in hosting such world-class events. The MGM Grand and ESPN
look forward to introducing this event to Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world.''
ESPY Awards are given to the Performer of the Year in a variety of professional and college sports; nine
Cross-Cutter categories have nominees from all sports. Nominees are chosen by the ESPY Select Nominating
Committee, a blue-ribbon panel of sports executives, journalists and retired athletes. Winners are decided by the
ESPY Finalist Committee made up of current athletes and ESPN/ABC commentators and personnel. In addition, the
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage is presented to an individual whose contributions transcend all of sports.
''After seven great years in New York, we have an excellent opportunity to present the show in an exciting new
venue,'' said ESPN President George Bodenheimer. ''Like the ESPYs, Las Vegas has been evolving. It's now more
than an entertainment capital, becoming more popular with vacationers and families every year and the MGM Grand
provides a world-class entertainment setting.''
The many celebrities who have taken part in the ESPYs include David Letterman, Bill Cosby, Denzel Washington,
Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crystal, Hootie and the Blowfish, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Rosie O'Donnell, Dennis Franz,
Keri Russell, Dylan McDermott, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Robert Goulet, Matthew Broderick,
Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Rock, Vivaca A. Fox, Lyle Lovett, Ray Charles, and others.
Samuel L. Jackson hosted the 1999 telecast. Previously, Dennis Miller, John Goodman, Norm Macdonald, Jeff
Foxworthy, and Tony Danza have hosted the event.
A portion of the proceeds from the ESPYs are given to The V Foundation, established at the inaugural ESPYs in
1993 by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano to raise funds for cancer research. Ticket prices and an on-sale date for the
event will be announced at a later date.
The 2000 ESPY Awards is being presented by ESPN in association with the MGM Grand, ''The City of
Entertainment.'' The MGM Grand boasts 5,005 rooms and suites, the Studio 54 nightclub, ''EFX'' starring nine-time
Tony Award winner Tommy Tune, signature restaurants and chefs, and the new must-see Lion Habitat. The
17,157-seat MGM Grand Garden Arena features mega concerts as well as special events including the Barbra
Streisand Millennium Concert, Andre Agassi's annual Grand Slam for Children Benefit, the Fox Billboard Music
Awards, along with championship boxing.
SOURCE: MGM Grand
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