Thursday, April 4, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Amid a host of dignitaries which included Gov. Bob Miller, tennis star Andre Agassi hosted groundbreaking ceremonies Wednesday for the Las Vegas location of the Official All Star Cafe, a sports-themed restaurant and entertainment center.
The cafe, tentatively scheduled to open on Dec. 15, will be located on the Strip in front of the MGM Grand Hotel as part of The Showcase, an entertainment complex which will also feature Coca-Cola Oasis, Sega Enterprises and an eight-plex United Artists movie theater.
The Las Vegas Official All Star Cafe will be the third for the partnership of Agassi, a native Las Vegan, and sports celebrities Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey Jr., Joe Montana, Shaquille O'Neal and Monica Seles, along with restaurateur Robert Earl. Other locations are in New York City and Cancun, Mexico.
Agassi said he envisions the local Official All Star Cafe will successfully combine the glitzy nature of the Strip with the natural attraction of sports in general.
"Every time this city brings in something new, it seems the stakes get higher and higher," said Agassi. "What you offer needs to get bigger and better. This city keeps outdoing itself. One of the many reasons I feel such excitement for the start of this All Star Cafe is that it will have a lot to offer.
"In addition, I think sports is the one area of life that really transcends the entire world. It brings everyone together. You don't need to speak the same language or agree with each other, but when you get out there on the playing field there's a universal understanding."
The Las Vegas location is expected to cover 36,000 square feet over three levels and will feature cantilevered light supports, mezzanine skybox booths and a center court arena-sized scoreboard. Lower level booths will be shaped like baseball mitts. Patrons will be able to participate in interactive television games or watch events and videos on 60 video monitors, with sports memorabilia featured throughout. Special events and promotions are planned, including possible raffles of Agassi merchandise when he wins a tournament.
"The All Star Cafe is very interactive," Agassi said. "Just like sports itself, it changes every day. The crowd actually participates. It's an experience to be there and be a part of it. It's not just a meal. You'll go once and you'll want to go back again. I feel proud to be able to stand behind this and offer it to the public with a great deal of excitement and support."
As with any business venture, location is key. Agassi said he couldn't ask for a better place to launch this latest enterprise.
"With the MGM standing tall behind us, this corner (Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard) is quite an exceptional area," he said. "A lot of traffic comes through here, and our cafe will get a chance to add to the experience for both locals and tourists."
The involvement of Agassi is one of the reasons Miller voiced his enthusiasm for the restaurant.
"This is exciting for our community, particularly so because of the participation of Andre," said Miller. "He is, in fact, a hometown hero. I think all of us feel a sense of pride when he competes. It's exciting to have this enterprise here, but even more so because he's a part of it."
Future Official All Star Cafes are planned for Atlantic City, N.J., and Orlando, Fla.
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