LAS VEGAS, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hosted by ARIA Resort & Casino, the 11th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) returns to Las Vegas' Shadow Creek March 29 – April 1 with new participants including current NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and comedic genius Joel McHale of NBC's 'Community' and E! Entertainment Television's 'The Soup.'

Rodgers and McHale join many returning standouts from 2011 including Ken Griffey, Jr., Wayne Gretzky, Roger Clemens, Brian Baumgartner, Brett Hull, Maury Povich and Chris Chelios, who made a splash last year when he sank a 45-foot putt followed by a cannonball jump into the adjacent lake on the 18th hole green.

The Celebrity-Amateur tournament, which pairs one celebrity with four amateur participants, will take place Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30. The MJCI two-person, 36-hole scramble format tournament, including only competing celebrities, will take place Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1. More information on special events surrounding the tournament, as well as additional celebrity participants will be announced in the near future.

Shadow Creek, one of the country's most exclusive golf courses, will open its doors to the public for only the second time. Proceeds from the charitable tournament will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, UC San Diego Nevada Cancer Institute, James R. Jordan Foundation, Opportunity Village and Cats Care, the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats' charity arm. Since its inception in 2001, MJCI has raised more than $6 million for charity.

Tickets may be purchased at any MGM Resorts International box office outlet, online at www.arialasvegas.com or www.MJCIgolf.com.  Prices are as follows:

VIP spectators will enjoy access to an unparalleled view of the course from the M life VIP tent, an open-air venue featuring a "VIP Party Deck" overlooking the par-5, 18th hole, catering and a full-service bar.

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). 

About Shadow Creek
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 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. Visit www.shadowcreek.com for more information.

About ARIA Resort & Casino
The centerpiece of CityCenter Las Vegas is ARIA Resort & Casino, a stunning AAA Five Diamond resort on The Strip featuring an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service, spectacular amenities and premium meeting and convention space.  From unique culinary offerings created by the world's most talented chefs, to innovative nightlife, indulgent spa treatments and Viva ELVIS™ by Cirque du Soleil®, ARIA embodies the excitement and vitality of Las Vegas.  ARIA is home to an incredible collection of stylish and technologically advanced accommodations including Sky Suites, a AAA Five Diamond hotel within a hotel experience.  Combined with CityCenter's unparalleled amenities including 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 has ever seen.  CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. For more information and reservations, visit http://www.arialasvegas.com/ or call toll free at (866) 359-7757; also find ARIA on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE ARIA Resort & Casino