Some 350,000 expected to welcome 1999 on the Las Vegas Strip

Robert Macy

Friday, Dec. 25, 1998 | 1:09 a.m.

LAS VEGAS - Some 350,000 revelers are expected to jam the Las Vegas Strip New Year's Eve in what authorities see as a dress rehearsal for an unprecedented crowd expected to welcome in the new millennium.

"We see this year as just a practice session for the crowd we expect to welcome in the year 2000," Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Scott Flabi said Thursday. "Next year's bash will likely double the figure, to 600,000 or 700,000."

Flabi said the six-lane Strip will be shut down most of the evening to accommodate the annual block party that drew an estimated 250,000 people last year.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is estimating 237,000 visitors over the holiday weekend, creating a $115 million economic impact, exclusive of gambling. Tens of thousands of the area's 1.4 million residents are expected to join in the giant party.

Many of the city's top resorts are already sold out, although rooms are still available around the city.

Parties at various resorts will feature Tony Bennett, Neil Diamond, Harry Connick Jr., The Beach Boys, Andrea Bocelli, Whitney Houston, Harry Belafonte, Olivia Newton-John, Billy Ray Cyrus, Siegfried and Roy, Marilyn Manson, Jim Nabors, David Cassidy, Rodney Dangerfield, Bobby Rydell, Daryl Hall and John Oates.

The partying won't come cheap, but will be a bargain compared to early rates posted for those planning to ring in 2000 in this gambling capital.

Bennett will be in the main showroom at Caesars Palace. Tickets are $125, and include champagne. Connick and The Beach Boys will be performing at private parties for Caesars casino customers.

Caesars is sold out, with most of the 2,456 rooms going to the coveted high-rollers.

"We didn't sell much to the public because historically, New Year's is an invitation-only holiday," said Phil Cooper, vice president of public relations and advertising for Caesars.

Cooper said Caesars will be offering a limited number of rooms for the millennium celebration, starting at $2,000 a night for a four-night minimum, with rates up to $3,500 per night.

The Flamingo Hilton is putting fliers in its rooms advertising a New Year's 1999 package of $2,200 for four nights.

Spokesman Terry Lindberg said the Flamingo was still negotiating with entertainers, as are most of the city's resorts.

"It's going to be big, no doubt about it," Lindberg said of next year's celebration. "This city will probably be the most popular resort city in the world for the millennium celebration."

This year the Flamingo is offering dinner shows featuring the Radio City Rockettes at $130 and Nabors at $150.

Diamond will be performing in the 14,000-seat MGM Grand Garden Arena New Year's Eve and Jan. 1, his only West Coast appearances this year. Tickets are $50 to $200.

Also at the MGM, Cassidy will be making his final appearance in the stage show EFX on New Year's Eve, with ticket prices $97 and $76.50. Dangerfield will be featured in the Hollywood Theatre, at $127.

Houston will entertain VIP guests in a private party at the Rio Suite Hotel and Casino. The private party will also debut a new disco swing theme at the Rio's Masquerade Show in the Sky, according to spokeswoman Tyri Squyres.

The new Bellagio Hotel is sold out. Bocelli will entertain at a private party for invited guests New Year's Eve, then perform at a public concert Saturday, which is sold out.

The Mirage is also sold out of rooms, and will feature Siegfried and Roy in their showroom.

Bally's-Las Vegas, also sold out of rooms, will feature Belafonte at $110 per person and Dayne at $93.

Newton-John will be performing at the Las Vegas Hilton, with tickets ranging from $75 to $125 for New Year's Eve. The hotel is sold out.

Hall and Oates will perform at The Desert Inn, with the $195 tab including dinner, champagne and party favors. Rooms are sold out.

Manson will perform at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Cyrus will be featured at The Orleans, Rydell and Sha Na Na at the Riviera, and Les Brown and his Band of Renown at the Stardust. The Stardust will also feature its production show, "Enter the Night."

Harrah's Las Vegas will be part of Dick Clark's annual New Year's Eve show, with D.L. Hughley and Elise Neal of TV's The Hughleys presiding over musical segments.