LAS VEGAS, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets for the 10th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), hosted by  ARIA Resort & Casino at Shadow Creek, are now on sale.  The premier celebrity golf event will make its Las Vegas debut March 31 – April 3, giving fans the opportunity to watch four days of competition with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment.  This also marks the first time that Shadow Creek – one of the country's most celebrated golf courses – will open its doors to the public.

Founded in 2001, the MJCI is one of celebrity golf's most popular events and has raised more than

$5 million for charity.  The four-day tournament and celebration, which boasts incredible parties, A-list entertainment and competitive golf, is recognized as one of the best events of its kind, having attracted sports legends including Wayne Gretzky, Charles Barkley, Mario Lemieux and Julius "Dr. J" Erving and entertainment personalities such as Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell and Don Cheadle in years past.  This year's event beneficiaries include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the James R. Jordan Foundation, Cats Care, Nevada Cancer Institute and the participating celebrities' charities of choice.

"ARIA Resort & Casino and Shadow Creek are incredibly proud to bring the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational to Las Vegas for the first time," said Bill McBeath, ARIA's president and chief operating officer.  "It's only fitting that we open Shadow Creek to the public for the first time to welcome fans of Michael Jordan and his celebrity guests for such a spectacular tournament.  More importantly, we are honored to be a part of an event that will help raise money for a variety of important charitable organizations."

Fans who wish to experience this exclusive event can purchase daily or weekly general admission tickets, as well as daily or weekly VIP passes.  VIP spectators will enjoy an unparalleled view of the course from an open-air hospitality complex featuring a "VIP Party Deck" overlooking the par-5, 18th hole.  

Tickets may be purchased at ARIA's Viva ELVIS box office or online at www.arialasvegas.com or www.MJCIgolf.com.  Prices are as follows:

Discounted tickets are available for military service members with valid identification, and Senior Citizens 65 years of age or older with valid ID; both groups will receive 25 percent off a daily or weekly general admission ticket.  Additionally, the tournament has created a special "Bring the Kids for Free" general admission ticket offer, which provides access to Shadow Creek for youth 16 years of age and younger when accompanied by a general admission ticketed adult (up to two children per paid adult).  

Perennially ranked among Golf Week magazine's Top 10 courses, Shadow Creek's special environment is normally reserved solely for guests of MGM Resorts International.  Located in the midst of the barren Nevada desert, the Tom Fazio-designed Shadow Creek makes golfers feel they've been transported to another world with its natural beauty, rolling terrain, glistening brooks and ponds, spectacular waterfalls, lush gardens and mature trees.

This year's MJCI is scheduled to kick off Wednesday, March 30 at ARIA with a welcome reception presented by Jordan Brand.  The first of two rounds of the Celebrity-Amateur tournament, which pairs one celebrity with four amateur participants, will take place Thursday, March 31 at Shadow Creek.  The final round of the Celebrity-Amateur will take place Friday, April 1 followed by the MJCI Celebration, one of the event's signatures featuring headline entertainment.

The MJCI two-person, 36-hole scramble format tournament begins Saturday, April 2 and includes only the competing celebrities.  The second and final round of the MJCI will be played Sunday, April 3.  Additional festivities and special events surrounding the Saturday and Sunday competition, as well as celebrity participants, will be announced in the near future.

For more information about the MJCI at ARIA at CityCenter, visit www.arialasvegas.com, www.MJCIgolf.com or call (877) 253-5847.

About ARIA Resort & Casino

The centerpiece of CityCenter, ARIA features an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service and spectacular amenities.  From Viva ELVIS™ by Cirque du Soleil, celebrating the life and legacy of Elvis Presley, and unique culinary offerings from the world's most talented chefs to innovative nightlife and spa offerings, ARIA embodies the excitement and vitality of Las Vegas.  Guests of the resort also enjoy the most technologically advanced guestrooms and premium meeting and convention space.  Combined with CityCenter's unparalleled amenities including the luxurious shopping at Crystals and the first-of-its-kind public Fine Art Collection, ARIA introduces a new generation of resort experiences, unlike anything Las Vegas, and more remarkably the world, has ever seen.  For more information about ARIA, please visit www.arialasvegas.com.

SOURCE MGM Resorts International