Aces in-game entertainment has seen acts such as American hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The WNBA Aces' in-game entertainment efforts during their inaugural season are "finding a rhythm," as the lighting, music and fan engagement are "clicking in between the basketball action" at Mandalay Bay Events Center, according to Alan Snel of LVSPORTSBIZ.com. Aces COO Lance Evans said, "Everybody is staying in their seats at halftime. Where do you see that?" Snel noted stressing entertainment and giving fans a show are "second nature for the Aces when you consider" the team's owner, MGM Resorts Int'l, has "access to acts up and down" the Las Vegas Strip. In some ways, the Aces are "following in the in-game entertainment footsteps" of the Golden Knights, which "included Blue Man Group and other popular acts such as Cirque du Soleil." Evans said that the Aces have been "drawing anywhere" from 3,500-5,700 fans a game. Raiders Owner Mark Davis has been a "familiar courtside fan" at Aces home games (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 7/22).
VISIBLE PRESENCE: In Las Vegas, Sam Gordon wrote the Aces are "building a rapport with the Las Vegas Valley with their improved play and concerted effort to engage the community." Aces G Kayla McBride and Cs Carolyn Swords and Kelsey Bone after practice on Saturday "used the remainder of the afternoon to learn from local restaurateurs and chefs." They "mixed cocktails at Libertine Social with Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim and made pastries at STRIPSTEAK with Chef Monica Delgadillo." Even as the Aces began the season 1-7, Swords said that she "sensed strong local support." Swords: "People know who the Aces are, what we are. It's been great bumping into people, and they're excited to have a women's professional basketball team here. That's the best you can ask for as a player -- really committed fans" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/22).
