Las Vegas Weekly

April 9, 2009 · 9:03 AM

NHL commissioner reveals secrets as Stanley Cup receives star treatment

By Robin Leach

The Stanley Cup, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and George Maloof atop the Palms.

Photo: Denise Truscello

Las Vegas might not have a professional sports team or a state-of-the-art arena to attract one -- for now -- but that’s not stopping the National Hockey League from coming to town! And NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also is bringing the prestigious Stanley Cup with him.

Dozens of the sport’s fastest and toughest men on ice will be joined by Hollywood superstars and celebrities when the first-ever televised NHL Awards are broadcast from the Palms on June 18 -- at the same time the NHL Players Association holds its annual meetings here, too.

It’s all part of a three-year-deal between our Convention and Visitors Authority, the NHL and George Maloof, head honcho at the Palms.

George said: “We look forward to bringing together NHL players and fans to celebrate their outstanding achievements from one of North America’s greatest sports. Having the Stanley Cup and all the other trophies here at the Palms brings a whole new level of excitement as we look ahead at one of NHL’s biggest nights at our Pearl Concert Theater -- and to the next three years of partnership with the Las Vegas community.”

Commissioner Gary commented: “We’re extremely pleased to be here. Las Vegas is a perfect showcase for outstanding talent in the entertainment world, and I think there is plenty of space on the grand stage that Vegas provides for the best athletes in sports to be here, as well. We’re excited about our new relationship with the city of Las Vegas, and we look forward to being here at the Palms for this great event. We think our awards finalists and the other players who will be here will have a terrific time.”

The NHL Players Association and the NHL also are teaming with PokerStars.Net on June 17 for a celebrity pro-athlete poker tournament to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House here, with the NHL’s Goals & Dreams charity making donations to their own favorite charities.

Gary said previous awards events have been held from New York to Toronto and Vancouver, B.C. He decided on Las Vegas to “raise the profile of the event across North America, in terms of it involving the Las Vegas and Los Angeles entertainment community and in terms of making this the destination event. We thought in bringing it to Vegas, we would accomplish all of those objectives.”

He continued: “We think we will have record attendance with players, award winners and other celebrities who will participate in our largest ever event. We are looking at a number of possibilities to more closely relate the Hollywood entertainment folks, and as we get closer to the event, we’ll make further announcements of the things we’re going to be doing and who will be attending. I know many stars and producers in Hollywood are passionately interested in hockey, and we can make that connection even stronger now that we’re closer geographically.

“You have some indoor rinks here, so hopefully we will be able to organize an exhibition game between the Hollywood stars and our ice stars. I don’t think with the beautiful Las Vegas weather, we’d be able to do something outdoors!”

Gary worked at the NBA for 12 years before his run as NHL commissioner for the past 16 years. His younger brother, Jeffrey Pollard, is the commissioner of the World Series of Poker and works for Harrah’s.

“It’s probably more than a coincidence that we are now here. He’s a huge proponent of Vegas,” Gary said. “We’ll announce details of his involvement with our poker tournament later, but it was really the Maloofs who, in their terminology, put the full court press on us.

“At some point, it might be the first year, we might have a celebrity ice hockey event, and it might make a lot of sense. But I know everybody is focused on the poker tournament, and maybe we’ll do a golf tournament; we’re going to start weaving in the elements.

“Fares for flights from Canada and U.S. cities and room rates are very reasonable in Vegas, and I think that part of the reason that everybody from the mayor and visitor’s association is so excited is because this is an opportunity to bring a lot of people to Las Vegas at a time when a little boost wouldn’t hurt.”

The Stanley Cup, the Vezina Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Calder Memorial Trophy were proudly displayed at Ghostbar atop the Palms for the official announcement, but afterward the Stanley Cup was feted all around town. Two white-gloved security guard watch the trophies at all times!

First stop was breakfast with Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon at his Palms Place restaurant. Then relaxation poolside at MGM’s Wet Republic lounging in the VIP bungalows while fans snapped shots of the trophies. The 35-pound, 3-foot-tall Stanley Cup even got glad-handed by more than 30 Canadian cast and crewmembers at Cirque du Soleil’s Beatles Love at The Mirage. No need to point out that to Canadians, the pro sports trophy is their Holy Grail. Heh! After the daylong tour throughout town, the Stanley Cup was retired to its own one-bedroom suite at the Palms Place!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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