If not Strait to open new Strip arena, then who?
When the Staples Center opened in downtown Los Angeles in October 1999, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band headlined the inaugural event.
When The 02 Arena made its debut eight years ago in London, the headlining band was Bon Jovi.
A lot of excitement is building over who will christen the $375 million, 20,000-seat arena being built by MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group.
Ask local entertainment insiders who it's going to be and the responses vary.
One well-connected source said it is very possible that the choice isn't determined because there's no guarantee when the arena will be ready to open its doors. That might explain why the Sept. 25 announcement of country legend George Strait said he would be "among the first entertainers to perform" when the arena opens in April.
Does that language give the arena owners wiggle room in the event the project is delayed?
Two leading entertainment executives say they are hearing Strait has been penciled in in recent weeks as the opening act.
That's not the plan, I'm told. There are other first-night candidates.
One of the entertainment veterans said Paul McCartney would be his No. 1 choice. He spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"It has to be someone who is iconic and you don't see that often," said the source.
"I'd book Paul and Ringo (Starr)," he added.
He continued, "Beyonce would be at the top. U2 would make an impact. It needs to be one of those dozen massive superstars who haven't been to Las Vegas in a while."
That would rule out Madonna, who just played at the MGM Grand over the weekend.
"Billy Joel hasn't been in Las Vegas in a long time because of his residency in New York. Sting would be great."
Adele, who has a new album dropping next month, "would be interesting because she hasn't toured in a long time. But she would be in second tier after McCartney."
Where do the Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift fit in this guessing game?
The O2 lined up an opening act for Bon Jovi. If the arena decision-makers want to blow the roof off, I say bring in local heroes The Killers and Imagine Dragons.
Vote for your No. 1 choice in the comments section under my online column. We'll run results throughout the week.
The scene and heard
There's talk that the show set to follow Bob Anderson's "Frank: The Man, The Music" at Palazzo will be a contemporary play with a Cirque du Soleil feel to it. Word is that every other row of seats from A to D will be removed because they need the space. In a shocker, the hotel recently decided to end the Sinatra show two weeks before the 100th birthday celebration, which many thought was the whole point of opening the show in January. ... Dennis Silvers, host of "The 19th Hole" weekend golf show on CBS Sports radio KXST-AM (1140), has expanded the broadcast an hour from 6 to 8 a.m. He's been doing the show for 17 years.
On this day
Oct. 26, 2010: On the second day of a General Services Administration conference at the M Resort, 300 federal employees enjoy a $44-per-person breakfast at taxpayer expense. A stinging report about the $822,000 cost of the five-day meeting forces GSA Administrator Martha Johnson to resign in 2012.
Sightings
Country legend George Strait, watching the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open from the MGM International skybox on the 18th green at TPC Summerlin on Saturday. ... Nineteen members of the Golden State Warriors cheer squad, dining at N9ne Steakhouse (Palms) on Saturday. Saturday's shift for Chef Barry Dakake included a green room delivery to comedian/political commentator Bill Maher, who was performing at The Pearl (Palms). Dakake raves about Maher's healthy eating habits. "Steamed halibut, no seasoning; plain baked potato and steamed broccolini, no seasoning. The exact same order for four years." ... Tommy DeVito, one of the original Four Seasons and a longtime Las Vegan, taking in "Jersey Boys" (Venetian) on Saturday. ... Former UFC star Tito Ortiz and rapper Coolio, among the Fright Dome crowd on Saturday at Circus-Circus. ... Spotted at Panchos, the newly opened Mexican restaurant in Downtown Summerlin: Rod Stewart, Nicolas Cage, Orel Hershhiser, Rich Little and Carrot Top.
The punch line
"The Chicago Cubs were knocked out of the baseball playoffs. Just swept, knocked out. Or as it's known in Chicago, the first sign of winter. That's how they know. It's right up with the first frost." — Conan O'Brien
— Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. On Twitter: @Norm_Clarke.
