The NBA All-Star weekend is coming up, but like the rest of us, you probably don’t have tickets for the big event. You can shell out four-figures for nose bleed seats on eBay, if you really want to go, but that’s more money than most fans, even diehards, would want to pay to see what is, for all intents and purposes, a meaningless game.

But just because you can’t get into the game doesn’t mean you can’t take part in the excitement of the All-Star weekend. The best bet to see some players up close is to head to Mandalay Bay for the NBA All-Star Jam Session.

The Jam Session is essentially a gigantic basketball theme park, with 10 basketball courts, a kids center where the little ones can shoot 3-pointers and slam the ball on lower hoops, an NBA store, and a slam dunk court. There are also events throughout the five days the Session is running, including an NBA All-Star practice and the McDonald’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. This is also the best chance to meet some players, take pictures and get autographs without enduring the harsh glare you may get should you approach them in the casino or at a club.

Should you be the more adventurous type, looking to meet a favorite player away from the hardwood, there are a few suggested places to check. First and foremost is the Palms, where all 24 All-Stars will be staying. Outside of that, nightclubs like Moon and Rain at the Palms, Light at Bellagio and Pure at Caesars Palace are preferred hangouts for the NBA’s elite.

Several players, including San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker—along with his fiancée Eva Longoria—will be hosting a party at Pure and Tracy McGrady and P Diddy are co-hosting a party at Jet at the Mirage. There is also a Coca-Cola party at Light featuring LeBron James, and James will appear again at Tao in the Venetian for a party co-hosted by rap mogul Jay-Z.

Like the game itself, some of these events will be expensive to get into. Brandon Powers, marketing director of OPM Nightclub in the Forum Shops at Caesars, said some people are paying as much as $1,000 for the VIP parties.

Still, he predicts a strong party atmosphere around town for the week leading up to the game.

“We expect this to be the biggest week in Vegas history, four nights of New Year’s Eve-type crowds,” he said.

By Greg Jones

Greg Jones is managing editor of Casino Connection Nevada, as well as associate editor of Global Gaming Business magazine.

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