(Aug 17th, 2009)
To call The Bicycle Casino’s inaugural “Celebrity-Media Invitational Poker Tournament” on July 29th a huge success, would be a huge understatement.
Created to officially kick-off the casino’s Legends of Poker signature event, and perhaps more importantly, to mark the grand opening of southern California’s newest poker room, dozens of celebrities from the worlds of poker, Hollywood, and sports ... along with members of the media gathered for an afternoon of poker, laughter, and good food as they became the very first to enjoy The Bike’s stunning $4-million Event Center.
The spectacular new facility was the joint-vision of both Managing Partner Haig Kelegian, and CEO Hashem Minaiy, two industry visionaries whose desire to provide Los Angeles-area card players with the ultimate gaming experience has culminated in this exquisite showplace. “Players will appreciate the understated elegance of this room,” stated Bicycle Casino Marketing Director, Kelley O’Hara, “and we now step firmly to the head of the class in providing a first class experience for our customers.”
Even poker superstar Annie Duke, who eventually went on to win the event, tweeted only 11-minutes into the tournament by telling her 15,000 followers, “Playing a tournament at the brand new events center at The Bicycle Club today. It's beautiful!”
The gallery of stars who were enjoying the exquisite new room was truly amazing to behold. Besides Annie, you could walk around and bump into poker stars such as Men (the Master) and his wife Van Nguyen, Amir Vahedi, WSOP main event champion Jamie Gold, Barbara Enright, Christina Lindley… Hollywood personalities such as JK Simmons and Tony Dension from “The Closer”, Willie Garson from “Sex & the City”, Karri Turner from “JAG”, James Pickens, Jr. from “Grey’s Anatomy”, Emmy & Golden Globe-winning actress Camryn Manheim, the legendary Dick Van Patten … comedian/actor Rodney Perry … Olympic champion Dwight Stones … former NFL stars Christian Okoye, Mike Lansford, & Brett Faryniarz … Improve founder Budd Friedman … rapper Dro from Watts, and just too many others to mention. The Bicycle Casino gives its most profound and sincere thanks to all those who participated, as it was you that made this event so successful.
The Celebrity-Media Tournament total first-place cash was $5,000 … with $2,500 going to the winner and $2,500 going to their favorite charity. In the case of Annie Duke, Ante Up for Africa was the lucky recipient.
The Bicycle Casino’s prestigious month-long signature event, The Legends of Poker, now runs through August 30th and officially inaugurates the new Event Center. Under the new and expert guidance of Poker Operations management, Zaven Esmaili and Eveliene Dullaart, this renowned event has become famous around the globe in just a few short years. With individual guaranteed cash prize pools of up to $300,000, the Legends of Poker series has firmly entrenched The Bicycle Casino as the home of top-notch, world-class poker action. Upcoming events will treat poker fans to new opportunities to play and win, including 2nd chance tournaments, free entry tournaments if you sign up on their website (www.thebike.com) and satellite events to win your seat into the World Poker Tour Championship televised on FSN.
For those of you yet to see the world’s newest, most luxurious and modern poker showplace, The Bicycle Casino is waiting for you off the 710-freeway at the Florence Avenue exit, just 10-minutes south of downtown LA. Hellooooo, you’re still sitting there. Get up and get over here!
Please contact the welcome center for more Information.