newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JERRY SOLOMON

COMMENTARY

During the 1980s and 1990s, Atlantic City was known for major sporting and entertainment events. Championship boxing matches such as Tyson-Spinks and Foreman-Holyfield, Wrestlemania and other notable events, placed Atlantic City and Boardwalk Hall on a par with the great destinations for sports and entertainment. More recently, the perception has been that Atlantic City was on the wane, not the place "to be". A sluggish economy and major competition from upstart casinos hasn't helped.

Two years ago, I elected to have our company, StarGames, bring world class tennis and figure skating events to Atlantic City because I was convinced that the commitment by Gov. Chris Christie, the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority and Caesars Entertainment to make Atlantic City a vibrant entertainment center again was real. I felt the time was right to bring major family-entertainment events to Atlantic City. And we haven't been disappointed.

Our events have brought some of the greatest sports stars in history, including Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander at the Caesars Tennis Classic and Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, Dorothy Hamill and Kristi Yamaguchi at the Caesars Tribute, to Atlantic City. In both cases we had a fantastic response including the biggest audience in Atlantic City history for a tennis event. We had great hosts in Caesars, historic Boardwalk Hall and the ACCVA and were generally given a warm welcome by everyone involved.

As a result, it is with great anticipation that we are bringing "Caesars Tribute II: A Salute to the Ladies of the Ice" to Boardwalk Hall on Dec. 3. Showcasing the likes of two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan (my wife), Olympic champions Sarah Hughes, Tara Lipinski, Shizuka Arakawa and reigning World Champion Miki Ando, the Caesars Tribute will also honor skating icon Peggy Fleming in a ceremony to be hosted by all time great Dick Button. The show, which will kick off National Skating Month when the delayed broadcast airs on New Year’s Day on NBC, also gives us the chance to provide America an opportunity to see New Jersey’s commitment to the revived Atlantic City.

StarGames strives to bring great talent to iconic venues in historic settings. Atlantic City is proving to offer this and more as an event destination. From great hotels and restaurants to proximity to major metropolitan areas and media markets, and the chance to entertain people from Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Washington, DC, Atlantic City's resurgence as a successful destination hub seems well underway.

We are delighted to be a part of what we hope will be a great success story in the mid-Atlantic region and look forward to coming back to Atlantic City on Dec. 3 with an event that helps build the momentum for Atlantic City's return to its place among the great sports and entertainment destinations.

Jerry Solomon is the President and CEO of Star Games, LLC. He can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at (781) 224-9655.