The global media counts down to Celine's arrival - "bigger, better than Elvis!"

March 12, 2011 at 12:23 PM

The financial juggernaut of the Celine Dion phenomenon has begun just days ahead of her Tuesday gala premiere and official return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It’s created an influx of fans from around the world, with journalists, photographers and other media arriving from as far away as Canada, Europe and Asia.

Requests for global coverage is so high that there will be a satellite hookup from Caesars Palace of the first-night events to TV stations as far away as Japan and Australia. News organizations outside the U.S. are reporting that flights are being added on weekends for fans to see Celine. More than 2,000 fans from Celine’s home province Quebec will be here for her debut week, and hundreds of fans from France have booked flights and hotel reservations here for weeklong stays to see her show.

Her first concerts, in which tickets have gone on sale for March, April, May and June, are at the technical sold-out level -- just a few seats remain. Tickets have recently gone on sale for shows in July and August. Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner told me: “A dream is coming true for both Celine and ourselves. It will be a great moment in the history of both Caesars and Las Vegas. The timing is impeccable, as it’s bringing many more foreign visitors and domestic guests.”

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* March 2011

March 11, 2011 · 12:33 PM

Fans and global media count down to premiere of Celine Dion’s show

By Robin Leach

Celine Dion, with husband Rene Angelil, son Rene-Charles and twin boys Eddy and Nelson, arrives at Caesars Palace on Feb. 16, 2011.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/HarrisonPhotos.com

The financial juggernaut of the Celine Dion phenomenon has begun just days ahead of her Tuesday gala premiere and official return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It’s created an influx of fans from around the world, with journalists, photographers and other media arriving from as far away as Canada, Europe and Asia.

Requests for global coverage is so high that there will be a satellite hookup from Caesars Palace of the first-night events to TV stations as far away as Japan and Australia. News organizations outside the U.S. are reporting that flights are being added on weekends for fans to see Celine. More than 2,000 fans from Celine’s home province Quebec will be here for her debut week, and hundreds of fans from France have booked flights and hotel reservations here for weeklong stays to see her show.

Her first concerts, in which tickets have gone on sale for March, April, May and June, are at the technical sold-out level -- just a few seats remain. Tickets have recently gone on sale for shows in July and August. Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner told me: “A dream is coming true for both Celine and ourselves. It will be a great moment in the history of both Caesars and Las Vegas. The timing is impeccable, as it’s bringing many more foreign visitors and domestic guests.”

Celine Dion Arrives at Caesars Palace

Gary is reported in USA Today as saying that he credits a 30 percent convention business improvement this year to her residency. Gary said having watched one of this week’s final rehearsals that it’s Celine’s best show yet -- and the best in the casino resort’s history. “Everybody is elated with it,” he added. “Caesars anticipates a 5 percent increase in occupancy directly attributable to Celine, and restaurant managers at the hotel and in its Forum Shops all tell me that their business will be boosted by at least 100 guests each evening.”

One French journalist said that Celine’s star power is “just what Vegas needs.” Marie-Joelle Parent with QMI Agency reported that calculations from the Center for Business and Economic Research indicate Celine will generate $114 million for Las Vegas each of the three years of her current contract. Celine and manager husband Rene Angelil have an understanding with AEG that the run can be extended if all goes well. Stephen Brown, director of CBER, added: “We estimate that between 2,000 and 7,000 indirect jobs will be created from her new shows.”

John Meglen, president of AEG Live, has said that box office receipts for the first shows Tuesday through April 17 has passed $10 million, and that in the three years, nearly 1 million tickets will be sold. One knowledgeable insider told me that each night that Celine performs, business at Caesars Palace would be boosted by at least $1 million in the hour before and the hour after her concert.

I’ve already spoken at length with two French Canadian journalists about the Celine phenomenon. Nicolas Fauteux from La Semaine magazine flew here in advance, and his extraordinary 20-page photo story edition was kicked off with a “bigger, better than Elvis” headline. Nicolas told me that his readers are as interested in Celine’s show as we are here. “Everybody is rejoicing over her return,” he said. “It’s obvious from everything I learned she will single-handedly dramatically change the fortunes of Vegas for the better.”

Dany Bouchard of the Journal de Montreal told me: “Celine is already a legend. The new shows will have an incredible impact and cement her status at the top forever.” Celine fans across the globe joined together and produced a salute to her return to Las Vegas.

Celine has made herself right at home in supporting the Las Vegas community since her homecoming at Caesars Palace one month ago. After a taped appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago, it became a return befitting royalty as she moved into the Presidential Suite while renovations wind down at her Lake Las Vegas estate.

She is dedicating her final dress rehearsal tomorrow to doctors, caregivers, volunteers and supporters of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and its Keep Memory Alive Power of Love charity. Celine, who celebrates her 43rd birthday here March 30, had her nearly 5-month-old twin sons Nelson and Eddy baptized at our St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Celine’s representative told People: “It was a beautiful, traditional family ceremony: a Melkite Greek Catholic rite featuring chanted prayers and songs to honor the heritage of Celine’s husband.”

Five godparents stood up for the infants, including their 10-year-old brother Rene-Charles, Celine’s sister Linda and Rene’s three oldest children Patrick, Jean-Pierre and Anne-Marie Angelil. They also invited the doctors who helped make her dream of becoming a mother again, with the six attempts at in-vitro fertilization, to the service and the celebration at a private Caesars Palace pool.

With just four days until the premiere, the final countdown is on for her new show directed by Ken Ehrlich. The one-of-a-kind concept includes Celine performing her biggest hits with 31 musicians in the full orchestra and band. Stunning video visuals and special effects also have been created for the “concert experience like no other.”

Although I will watch her final preview Saturday, I will observe courtesy protocol and not report on the show until its official premiere Tuesday. Celine is meeting with worldwide media after the performance, and we will have her comments and first-night photographs Wednesday.

http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/luxe-l...miere-celine-d/

March 12, 2011 at 05:51 PM

Cool. So this means Celine's opening night will air on tv!!!! They are taking pics of her first night!!!! :w00t:

I am so excited!! There's just more and more Celine news everyday. Now we know there are more pics to come and that her show will air live. OMG!!! :whee:

March 12, 2011 at 06:04 PM

There will be news clips and photos just like the opening of the last tour and when A New Day opened but they won't air the whole show on TV.

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The global media counts down to Celine's arrival - "bigger, better than Elvis!"

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