Will Mariah Carey make Caesars as much money as Celine did?

Ten years ago, Mariah Carey helped Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace produce what is believed to be the first $1 million nightclub opening in Las Vegas.

With Carey on hand to ring in the new year, the megaclub sold about 3,000 advance tickets at $300 a pop, for a staggering $900,000 in pre-sales.

Now comes the million-dollar question: Can Carey fill Celine Dion’s stilettos by selling out the 4,300-seat Colosseum at Caesars Palace night after night?

It was announced on Thursday, the day Caesars Entertainment filed for bankruptcy protection, that Carey has signed a two-year deal for 27 shows per year.

Caesars Palace and AEG Live, which operates the Colosseum, are counting on Carey’s body of work as the best-selling female artist of all time.

That includes 18 No. 1 hits, beginning with “Vision of Love” in June 1990 to “Touch My Body” in 2007.

Her residency is scheduled to begin on May 6.

TOASTING THE RIO

How time flies. The Rio hotel-casino celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday with champagne toasts, a cake modeled after the hotel and congratulatory toasts.

Penn & Teller, Rio headliners for the past 14 years, were among those who celebrated.

Opening nights acts on Jan. 15, 1990, included the Brazilian group Sergio Mendes and New Orleans piano-bar legend Henrietta Alves, best-known as the star entertainer at Pat O’Brien’s since 1983.

Casino construction pioneer Tony Marnell II built and operated the Rio until 1999, when it was sold to Harrah’s Entertainment, now Caesars Entertainment.

My favorite Rio story: Shortly after the October 1999 Joshua Tree earthquake rattled Las Vegas, comedian David Gee cracked, “It was such a temblor that the cocktail waitresses at the Rio fell back into their uniforms.”

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Speaking of epic nightclub nights, I’m hearing rumblings that Hakkasan topped $2 million in revenue on New Year’s Eve. …

Ohio State’s rout of Oregon in the national championship on Monday was a reminder of the daunting task ahead for UNLV. The Rebels play at Ohio State in 2017. They could be facing the highest-ranked opponent since 1996, when they lost to Peyton Manning and No. 2-ranked Tennessee, 62-3. UNLV has faced 11 Top 10 opponents over the years. The only win came at No. 8 BYU in 1981, 45-41, rallying from 17 down behind Sam King and Jim Sandusky. UNLV’s worst loss: 69-0 against Houston in 1989.

SIGHTINGS

Former All-Star pitcher Brian Wilson, meeting with Penn & Teller after their show Wednesday at the Rio. Now a free agent, Wilson was the San Francisco Giants’ eccentric closer on their 2010 World Series-winning team. He wore a red and black plaid Scottish cap and a “Big Lebowski” T-shirt to Penn & Teller’s show. … Comedian George Wallace, snacking at Nathan’s Famous at Mandalay Bay on Wednesday.

THE PUNCH LINE

“John Boehner is a member of a country club in Ohio. It turns out that the bartender was plotting to poison Boehner. Now wait a minute. Isn’t that the movie with Seth Rogen and James Franco?” — David Letterman

Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.