Jordan to open fitness center, restaurants in LV

Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005 | 10:55 a.m.

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Basketball star Michael Jordan is opening a fitness center and two restaurants in a new Las Vegas resort.

Jordan, 41, will be a partner with closely held Diversified Real Estate Concepts Inc. in the $600 million Aqua Blue Hotel and Resort, which will be located east of the Strip near the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane. The resort, including a small casino, would be located at the site of the Ellis Island casino, according to plans approved last year by Clark County commissioners.

Construction is scheduled to begin this autumn, according to the company.

Diversified Real Estate also has announced plans for a 17-story condominium-hotel called The Platinum at the southeast corner of Koval Lane and Flamingo Road. On the company's Web site, the projects appear to be next door to each other.

Financial terms weren't disclosed in a statement from Jordan and Diversified.

The Jeffrey Beers-designed property will include the 65,000- square-foot Michael Jordan Athletic Center and two Jordan restaurants. The athletic center will feature two basketball courts, a tennis court, a running track and aerobics rooms.

This is the first fitness center to be opened by Jordan, who retired from the NBA in 2003 after helping the Chicago Bulls win six championships. He has restaurants in New York, Chicago and Connecticut.

Sales at the 825-unit Aqua Blue have begun, the statement said, with prices starting at $399,000. Owners also can make their units available through a rental pool, the statement said.

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.