Resorts' 30th Anniversary Celebration: Destined to be an "Unforgettable" Weekend

Business Wire, April 10, 2008

Big Stars, Open-to-the-Public Block Party and a Breathtaking Aerial Spectacular to Highlight Landmark Event

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Resorts Atlantic City announced that it will celebrate 30 years of gaming in Atlantic City with a four-day extravaganza that will coincide with Memorial Day weekend, 2008. The celebration to commemorate when Resorts opened its doors as the first casino in New Jersey on May 26, 1978 will take place from Friday, May 23 through Monday, May 26. The anniversary celebration will begin with an incredible fireworks display, followed by two "Unforgettable" performances by Natalie Cole, a festive open-to-the-public block party, a spectacular aerial skydiving stunt and numerous themed 30th Anniversary promotions and giveaways.

Leading the skydive on the official 30th Anniversary date of Monday, May 26 will be Resorts Atlantic City Senior Vice President of Operations, Steve Callender. Callender began his career in the gaming industry as a dealer at Resorts, and he is one of 125 day one employees who are still enjoying their careers at Resorts.

"It's going to be an unforgettable weekend," said Nicholas L. Ribis, Partner, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Resorts International Holdings, LLC. "This is a celebration of success for not only Resorts, but for Atlantic City and the state of New Jersey. It's an honor to be a part of the charter casino and its employees who have paved the way for gaming in this great state."

Ribis added: "We've seen a lot of changes over the years, and Resorts is among the casinos that continue to evolve. No longer is Atlantic City just a gambling town. Atlantic City offers the best in retail, with first-class shopping and dining experiences. It began 30 years ago at Resorts, and today it is a multi-faceted industry that provides countless individuals with great entertainment while remaining one of the strongest economic engines in New Jersey."

"We designed our 30 year Anniversary celebration so that it can be enjoyed by our guests, employees, alumni of Resorts, and all who will spend Memorial Day Weekend in Atlantic City," said Tony Rodio, Regional President of Resorts Atlantic City and The Atlantic City Hilton. "The fireworks display and our sky dive event were planned for all Boardwalk visitors to enjoy, and our block party will be the ultimate Memorial Day barbeque, especially with our current employees reuniting with their former co-workers and other Resorts alumni.

"The skydive spectacular brings the 'wow' factor of the public celebration to literally new heights for Atlantic City," added Rodio. "Personally, I can't wait to reminisce and reconnect with many of the people I have had the pleasure of working with over the years. I am anxious to hear their stories - and I have a quite a few good ones to share myself!"

On Friday, May 23, the celebration kicks off with a spectacular fireworks display from the rooftop of Resorts. Following the grand display, the party will move inside to Boogie Nights with special guest host DJ Big Joe Henry, from NJ 101.5 FM. The bash in Boogie Nights will celebrate 1978, in honor of the year that Resorts opened. The music, decor and tribute artists will transform Boogie Nights into a 1970s lounge with festivities emceed by Henry, who makes his return to Resorts after a pumping up the crowds at Resorts' high-energy New Year's Eve celebration. Guests will find themselves transported to the era of bell-bottoms and disco in this fun tribute to a celebrated period.

On Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, Resorts welcomes celebrated singer and songwriter Natalie Cole to the Superstar Theater. Show times for the eight-time Grammy Award-winner are at 8 p.m. on Saturday and 8 p.m. on Sunday. Natalie's - and her father's - hit song "Unforgettable" is the perfect anthem to celebrate the occasion. The song echoes the timeless feeling Resorts and its rich 30-year history. Tickets are priced at $75 and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. There will also be live radio remotes on the Boardwalk on Saturday (Cat Country 107.3 FM) and Sunday (KOOL 98.3 FM) afternoon.

Also on Sunday, Resorts will give away 300 flat panel televisions. The promotion commemorates Resorts' 30 years of gaming with a give away of 30 televisions every hour from 2 p.m-11 p.m. To be eligible to win, players can simply earn points by playing their favorite casino games using their Resorts Destination Casino Club card between May 1 and May 24.

Resorts caps the weekend celebration off on Monday, May 26 with a breathtaking aerial spectacular performed by Freefall Adventures, Inc., the renowned skydiving troupe. At 11:30 a.m. Thirty skydivers will leap from aircraft and form the number 30 in the air - a tribute to Resorts on its 30th Anniversary. A patriotic red, white and blue colorful smoke display will punctuate the dazzling performance. Once the skydivers land on the beach, Steve Callender will present a pair of ceremonial dice for a reenactment of the first dice throw. This reenactment will take place on an oversized craps table on the Boardwalk in front of Resorts Atlantic City.