Benji Madden of the rock band “Good Charlotte” was spotted yesterday hanging out at a VIP table with a friend in the Wasted Space nightclub inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Photo credit: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
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Dream Team Gaming kicked off the revolutionary team poker tournament Dream Team Poker at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Poker Lounge on November 8, 2008.
Celebrity world poker champions participating in the tournament include: Jamie Gold, philanthropist and 2006 World Series of Poker Main event champion; Erica Schoenberg, who participated on the show, Poker After Dark and nicknamed “Poker Babe”; David Daneshgar, 2008 World Series of Poker bracelet winner; Kenny Tran, 2008 World Series of Poker bracelet winner; Jean Robert Bellande, who participated on the CBS reality TV series Survivor: China and is a promoter and poker player better known as “Action Bob” for his fast play and vigorous personality; professional poker player Chris Bigler; Actor Mekhi Phifer of NBC’s medical drama ER; Actor Roger Cross from the Fox TV series 24; Holly Montag of MTV’s The Hills; former NBA star Chris Mills; Actor Yancey Arias from NBC’s Knight Rider; and Writer and Producer Sam Simon of The Simpsons.
Dream Team Gaming team members include Edward Fishman, considered one of the top game executives in the Industry; Larry Cohen, former CEO of Merv Griffin’s Investment and Management Company; Honorable Jimmy Delshad, former Mayor of City of Beverly Hills; Daniel Delshad, chief executive officer and co-founder; Mario Ayala is chief game architect and co-founder; Homan Sefaradi is the president and co-founder.
In addition, Dream Team Gaming hosted a private welcome party in The Penthouse at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino last night. Celebrity attendees included: Jamie Gold, David Daneshgar, Kenny Tran, Roger Cross, Holly Montag and Sam Simon.
Earlier in the afternoon on Friday, rap artist Nelly was also spotted playing poker in the Poker Lounge.
Photo Credit: Dream Team Gaming
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E! TV personality Ben Lyons celebrated his birthday at Body English for Smashtime, which he hosts weekly along with the co-stars of the Daily 10.
Lyons was joined by celebrity friends including Sopranos star Jamie Lynn Sigler, Aaron Yoo from the movie 21, Korean singer and the Britney Spears of Korea, BoA Kwon and Smashtime hosts Clinton Sparks and Sal Masekela.
Lyons was presented with a birthday cake, in where Body English staff surrounded him with sparklers.
Photo credit: Erik Kabik
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Wednesday night at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, wrestling legends Bill Goldberg and Hulk Hogan were seen eating dinner at Nobu. Following dinner, Goldberg headed over to Carey Hart’s Wasted Space to party it up with Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees, who is also a co-owner of the rock n’ roll bar. Brian Knobbs, professional wrestler and one half of the tag team known as The Nasty Boys, also joined them. Goldberg was drinking Budweiser all night.
Photo credit Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
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The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino hosted its topping-off ceremony for the new North Tower Friday, Oct. 24. A crane lifted the traditional evergreen tree and American flag to the top of the structure as hundreds of team members, executives and construction workers looked on.
“This is a monumental occasion for the Hard Rock, and we are very pleased to celebrate this expansion milestone,” said Yale Rowe, senior vice president and general manager of operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “We have great faith in the resiliency of Las Vegas and while much of our attention is focused on current market conditions, we continue to position the Hard Rock for the future. We are fortunate to be well-funded with partners who have not wavered in their commitment to the redevelopment of the Hard Rock.”
Part of Hard Rock’s widely publicized $750 million expansion project, the new hotel tower is slated for completion in September 2009. The 17-story building will feature 479 guest rooms, state-of-the-art meeting space, and ten luxurious “pool suites” on the main level offering direct access to Hard Rock’s world famous Beach Club swimming pool. Crowning the tower will be a decadent 3400 square-foot Penthouse.
The event also marked the property’s progress and uninterrupted construction since announcing plans to expand last year. More than 700 construction workers and executives from MJ Dean Construction and its subcontractors attended the three-hour event, celebrating their accomplishment with a catered barbeque, raffles and entertainment.
About Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, newly owned and operated under Morgans Hotel Group and equity partner, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, is a premier destination entertainment resort located on 16.7 acres situated strategically on Harmon Avenue, one of Las Vegas’ fastest growing entertainment corridors. Built in 1995 and expanded in 1999, the property is currently undergoing another expansion set for completion in early 2010 more than tripling its current size. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an energetic entertainment and gaming experience with the services and amenities associated with a boutique luxury resort hotel. The property is known for its innovative nightlife and music scene where such acts as the Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, David Bowie, Snoop Dogg, Nine Inch Nails and The Killers have all performed. Features of the property include an 11-story Hard Rock Hotel tower with 647 guest rooms; a 30,000 square foot casino; The Beach Club with a swimming pool that was selected by the Travel Channel as one of “The Top 10 Pools” in the world; Rehab, the trendsetting Sunday afternoon pool party; Body English nightclub which was selected by Cosmopolitan Magazine as one of the “Top 25 Sexiest Places in the World”; The Joint concert hall; newly opened rock lounge Wasted Space, owned by motocross star Carey Hart; restaurants including the newly opened AGO, world-renowned Nobu, Pink Taco, AJ’s Steakhouse; three cocktail lounges; several retail stores; and Rock Spa, an 8,000 square foot spa, salon and fitness center.
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At the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 7-9 New Dream Team Poker Structure Ups the Ante for Tournament Play.
Dream Team Gaming raises the stakes with the introduction of the revolutionary team poker tournament Dream Team Poker. Dream Team Gaming will debut the new poker tournament concept at the Dream Team Poker private invitational tournament at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Poker Lounge Nov. 7-9.
“We are very excited to introduce the Dream Team Poker tournament at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,” said Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Dream Team Gaming, Daniel Delshad. “We have created a new poker tournament model that will not only entice new players to join the game, but also offer a structured and innovative system for host properties to reach a new market segment. We look forward to the success of this introductory tournament and future partnerships as we expand the Dream Team Poker concept to additional markets.”
Dream Team Poker offers a team variation of the game of poker featuring a patent pending scoring system that increases the odds of winning for the players, generates increased revenue for the hotel casino hosts more than current tournaments and stimulates growth of the overall poker industry. The team-oriented game uses social networking to develop each team’s fan base. In addition, the added challenge of team player strategy appeals to sophisticated players seeking a more engaging experience.
“Dream Team Poker serves as a valuable and effective way for inexperienced players to gain the fundamental skills necessary to play on their own,” said Edward Fishman, renowned gaming expert and Dream Team Gaming co-founder. “The concept of playing poker as a team not only captures the poker player segment but also generates new revenue for host properties through expanded player development.”
The Dream Team Poker patent pending scoring system creates the simplest and easiest way to score the team tournament without changing the basic nature of the everyday game. Dream Team Poker pays a cash prize to team and individual winners. By paying both an individual and team prize, Dream Team Poker increases the chances of winning money for the players compared to today’s tournaments. When an individual member of a team is eliminated from the tournament, that player still has a personal interest and potential gain from the performance and scores of his teammates.
The team-oriented game provides a unique socialization experience for all poker players. The social networking aspect helps to develop each team’s fan base, new team player strategies and appeals to increasingly sophisticated players seeking a more engaging experience. Dream Team Poker benefits greatly by capitalizing on the desires of people who want to play games as teams, compete as teams, share experiences as teams and increase their chances of winning as teams.
The company is described in the marketplace as being “Hip and Classic.” “Hip” reflects the company’s goal of introducing the latest technological advances in tournament operations and online social networking while designing an updated look and feel for its tournament events. “Classic” reflects management’s commient to continuing the game’s traditional attributes.
“The Hard Rock is excited to host the kick-off tournament for Dream Team Poker,” said Mark Gore, casino general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “Dream Team Gaming has developed a unique system that not only caters to a new market segment through team tournament play, but also allows us to expand player development and revenue as the host property for this event. We are proud to serve as a sponsor and host for this new method of play.”
Dream Team Gaming is comprised of three superstar co-founders. Edward Fishman, considered one of the top game executives in the Industry, whose credits include inventing the first gaming tournament and founder of Players International, a publicly traded company that was eventually sold to Harrah’s. Larry Cohen, former CEO of Merv Griffin’s Invesent and Management Company from 1997 to 2007 and its CFO from 1988 to 1997. During that time, The Griffin Group purchased, managed and eventually sold business in industries that included casinos, hotels, broadcasting, real estate, equipment financing and entertainment. The third co-founder is Honorable Jimmy Delshad, former Mayor of City of Beverly Hills. Delshad has been credited with making City of Beverly Hills one of the smartest and safest cities in the world. The three additional founders of Dream Team Gaming include Daniel Delshad who serves as chief executive officer and co-founder; Mario Ayala is chief game architect and co-founder; Homan Sefaradi is the president and co-founder.
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