August 26, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Lori Nelson, R&R Partners (lnelson@rrpartners.com)
(702) 318-4209 or (702) 349-0625 (cellular)
Michael Mack, R&R Partners (mmack@rrpartners.com)
(702) 228-0222 or (702) 349-0023 (cellular)

Las Vegas Centennial Launches "Community Pride" Business Initiative
Program designed to heighten business involvement in the celebration

LAS VEGAS -- At a press conference today at the Fremont Street Experience, the Las Vegas Centennial Committee outlined plans for a "Community Pride" business initiative aimed at rallying and engaging the local business community to support the year-long Centennial celebration.

Attendees at the press conference included speakers Mayor Oscar Goodman, chair of the Centennial Committee; Don Snyder, president of Boyd Gaming; Kara Kelley, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce; and Jacob Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

The Las Vegas Centennial Committee urged all local businesses to get involved in the celebration and provided several options for those interested in lending a hand to this tribute to Las Vegas' history and development. The committee outlined four ways for businesses to be involved: building a Centennial theme or logo into everyday business in 2005; sponsoring a signature Centennial event (there are currently more than 30 signature events in this category including Helldorado Days, Once Upon 100 Weddings, Walk of Fame and the World's Largest Birthday Cake); supporting Las Vegas' legacy by funding or donating to restoration or improvement projects or Centennial legacy projects (Centennial Time Capsule or restoration of historic post office or railroad cottages); and providing volunteers for Centennial events and initiatives.

"Today, we want to invite all businesses, large and small, old and new to get involved in the Centennial," said Mayor Goodman. "Like everything we do in Las Vegas, this is going to be a grand celebration. We have received tremendous support from the business community so far, and we're hoping that additional businesses take the initiative and embrace the Centennial."

Some of the businesses and organizations that have already pledged support to the Las Vegas Centennial include: Regional Transportation Commission -- The RTC has pledged a 70% community betterment discount for ad space and provided 100 buses for Centennial messages and Centennial sponsor messages.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority -- The LVCVA has dedicated $1 million of its marketing budget to the Las Vegas Centennial to drive visitors to Las Vegas during the celebration.

Boyd Gaming -- Boyd Gaming has designated the Sam's Town 300 as an official Centennial event, providing additional marketing resources for the event. In addition, Boyd Gaming will create special Centennial room packages, market Centennial events that offer natural tie-ins at any one of its 11 properties, and tag advertising programs with Centennial messages.

Las Vegas Review-Journal -- The Review- Journal is supporting the Centennial through its development and maintenance of the official web site of the Centennial www.lasvegas2005.org.

Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce -- The Chamber will market the initiative to its 7,000 members by creating posters and window decals for members to show support of the Centennial. In addition, the Chamber will host workshops and provide ongoing updates on its web site so that businesses can learn how to get involved in the celebration.

Las Vegas Monorail -- The Las Vegas Monorail has pledged to wrap one of its trains to serve as a moving billboard for the Centennial.

Laborer's Union Local 872 -- The union has donated $50,000 for sponsorship of local events.

Following the announcement, the Centennial Committee unveiled the sponsorship kit that is available for the business community. Businesses interested in getting involved in the Centennial, can download the kit at www.lasvegas2005.org/images/community_pride.pdf (PDF).

The Las Vegas Centennial will run throughout 2005, with an official observance on the city's 100th birthday, May 15, 2005. Organizations that host their own event or programs will join hundreds of other signature events scheduled throughout the Centennial year, including the rebirth of Las Vegas' historical Helldorado Days rodeo, the creation of a Las Vegas Walk of Fame and the Centennial Time Capsule. All of the events will take place within the Centennial year.

The Las Vegas Centennial will celebrate Las Vegas' 100th birthday throughout 2005. Its mission is to educate, celebrate and commemorate by sharing stories of the city's rise from a small town to a big city and create large and small celebrations to acknowledge Las Vegas' rich history. For more information on the Centennial celebration, visit www.lasvegas2005.org or call (702) 229-2005.

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