Las Vegas Strip for Conor McGregor, strip club for Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather is flexing his entrepreneurial dexterity this weekend.
Which means, the Money Man is hitting a strip club. His own.
Mayweather is due to host parties at his Girl Collection strip club Friday night and again after Saturday’s bout with Conor McGregor at T-Mobile Arena. Mayweather reportedly expects to clear $300,000 just in the Saturday appearance, with the club charging $50 at the door (a fee that doesn’t include the requisite lap dances). It’s a pittance compared with the $350 million he stands to clear in the fight, but still a boon to the new business.
Mayweather opened the nightspot at the former Sheri’s Cabaret adult club at 2580 S. Highland Drive on Cinco de Mayo weekend. He’s been promoting the club on his Instagram page, and he plugged the business during an Aug. 16 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
In one remarkable exchange, Mayweather told the nonplussed Kimmel, “I got into the business because I know that the breasts, vagina, music and alcohol will never go out of style.” He should have named the club BVMA, eh?
Meantime, post-fight on Saturday night McGregor is booked at Encore Beach Club at Wynn/Encore Las Vegas. McGregor is kicking off an exclusive, two-year residency agreement to host four post-fight parties at XS and Encore Beach Club.
Encore theatrics
On the topic of Encore (and to borrow a boxing reference), such heavyweights as Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr. and Moody Blues have been added to the stacked headlining lineup at Encore Theater.
What’s new:
“Tony Bennett: The Best Is Yet To Come” is set for Nov. 1, 3, 4, 8, 10 and 11. “Harry Connick Jr. Live in Las Vegas” is set for Nov. 17-18 and Dec. 1-2. Tickets for both runs go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 1.
“Moody Blues: Days of Future Past” 50th anniversary tour hits the theater Jan. 26, 27, 30 and 31. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 8.
Previous headliners in the theater, John Fogerty and Diana Ross, have also added dates. Fogerty’s “Fortunate Son” greatest-hits show is back for nine dates running Sept. 20-Oct. 7; and for five dates in January. Ross’ “Endless Memories” production plays nine shows in October.
The shows are produced and promoted in a partnership between Wynn Las Vegas and AEG Presents.
The fight for tickets
Ticket sales for Mayweather-McGregor are going “about as expected,” says Las Vegas broker Ken Solky, who runs LasVegasTickets.com. As of Thursday afternoon, floor seats were topping out at $20,000 apiece. The lowest upper-level seats were going for $1,500. Solky got a major boost when Mayweather posted a message on Instagram saying, “If you plan on coming to watch my fight and you need tickets then call Kenny.” Mayweather says he’s tired of his phone blowing up with calls for tickets.
Hi, Roller!
The High Roller at The Linq will be lit up to honor the winner of Saturday’s bout, in red-white-blue for Mayweather or green and white for McGregor. They could go with simply green for the Money Man, if need be …
Imagine Dragons rock TRF
Imagine Dragons’ fourth annual Believer Gala, the benefit for the Tyler Robinson Foundation, set for Friday night at Caesars Palace, has sold out, raising $500,000 even before the start of the event.
“We have had an incredible amount of grass-roots support, fans who are raising money on their own and making small donations,” guitarist Wayne Sermon said. “The event has grown so much. It could be, and I think should be, nationwide someday.”
Comic and actor Joel McHale serves as emcee of this year’s event, and the band plans an acoustic set as the night’s entertainment. The Tyler Robinson Foundation is named for the young fan of the group who suffered from a rare form of cancer. The disease led to a brain tumor, from which Robinson died in March 2013 at age 17.
Lewis lineup
Cable channel TCM is airing five Jerry Lewis films on Labor Day. Set for 5 p.m. Sept. 4 is “The Nutty Professor,” followed in order by “The King of Comedy,” “The Stooge,” “The Bellboy” and “The Disorderly Orderly.”
Lewis also recorded an episode of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” with Jerry Seinfeld in March. The two took a spin around Las Vegas in a red, 1966 Jaguar XKE, a make of car Lewis owned. The show moved from Crackle to Netflix this year. The Lewis-Seinfeld episode was to kick off Season 10 this fall, but no date has been announced for the series premiere.
After Lewis’s death Sunday, Seinfeld reminded his Instagram followers of his affection for the comedy legend: “As I’ve said many times, if you don’t get Jerry Lewis, you don’t understand comedy. Spending an afternoon with him a couple of months ago in Vegas for Comedians in Cars was a comedy life moment for me.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.