April 30, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Stacy Allsbrook, Las Vegas Centennial, 702-229-4733 or sallsbrook@lasvegasnevada.gov
Nancy Katz, R&R Partners, 702-318-4213 or nkatz@rrpartners.com

Exclusive Las Vegas license plate auction benefits Centennial Celebration
-- LV001 to LV100 paired with special prize packages --

An exclusive series of Las Vegas Centennial license plates will be auctioned off to benefit the Las Vegas Centennial, the yearlong celebration planned in 2005 for Las Vegas' 100th birthday. Plate numbers LV001 through LV100, some paired with special prize packages, will be awarded to the highest bidder during live and silent auctions.

The Centennial License Plate Auction will be Wednesday, May 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Fremont Street Experience, 3rd Street Stage. The free event also will include food and entertainment by the Next Generation of the Rat Pack Group, who've become popular impersonating the group made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. License plates LV001 through LV010 and LV100 and their associated prize packages will be part of the live auction with the other plates available during the silent auction.

The Las Vegas Centennial license plate has become the most popular specialty plate in Nevada history, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. More than 19,000 of the plates have been sold, generating more than $400,000 to help pay for festivities planned throughout 2005.

The Centennial license plate design features the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign. The plate will no longer be manufactured after 2006.

"It is likely the Centennial license plate will become a collector's item, especially the first 100 plates which are only available through the auction," said Louise Helton, Centennial License Plate Auction chairwomen and Las Vegas Centennial board member. "There's already talk among some elected officials and longtime residents about outbidding each other for certain numbers."

Mayor Oscar Goodman, who will welcome event attendees and is chairman of the Centennial Celebration Executive Committee, indicated there is a certain license plate number he would like. "I'm going to be an aggressive bidder," he said with a smile. "It's wonderful to see so many of the Centennial license plates already on cars; and for those wanting one of first 100 plates, the May 12 auction is the place to be."

Some of the prizes include: two one-year automobile leases from Findlay Toyota; several dinner and show packages; a Blue Man Group package with two VIP show tickets, backstage meet-and-greet and photo with the group, merchandise and dinner for two at Fusia; and a Sam's Town 300 package with infield tickets, VIP parking, Speedway Charity Auction tickets and a Coca-Cola leather autographed jacket.

For more information or to pre-register your bid, call the Las Vegas Centennial office at 229-2005.

# # #