Lynyrd Skynrd BBQ and Beer welcomes NFR! Special "Eat N Greet" Event

One of the most iconic rock bands in American history will bring Texas-style barbecue and entertainment to Excalibur Hotel & Casino with the ten day grand opening celebration of Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer on Thursday, Dec. 1.

“With Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer, we created the kind of place we would want to hang out at,” said Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd. “This is the perfect spot for rock and barbecue fans to kick back, listen to some great music and have a good time in Vegas.”

The grand opening celebration will kick-off the first day of National Finals Rodeo on Thursday, Dec. 1, and extend through Saturday, Dec. 10. The packed lineup of live music and appearances includes the Official American Country Awards After Party complete with an informal jam session by some of the industry’s top performers and the Jack Daniel’s “Eat ‘N’ Greet” luncheon followed by a special benefit concert later that evening, both hosted by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The full lineup includes:

·         Thursday, Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. – Ryan Whyte Maloney Band

·         Friday, Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. – Southern Rockers

·         Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 p.m. – Colt Ford

·         Sunday, Dec. 4 at 10 p.m. – DJ Silver

·         Monday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. – Official American Country Awards After Party

·         Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. – Felice Garcia

·         Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. – Lynette Skynyrd (all-girl Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band)

·         Thursday, Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m. – Lynyrd Skynyrd “Eat ‘N’ Greet” luncheon with Jack Daniel’s Master DistillerJeff Arnett

·         Thursday, Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. – Lynyrd Skynyrd Benefit Concert

·         Friday, Dec. 9 at 10 p.m. – Felice Garcia

·         Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. – Felice Garcia

The “Eat ‘N’ Greet” luncheon will feature an incredible opportunity for fans to enjoy an intimate meal with the band members of Lynyrd Skynyrd along with an interactive presentation by Jeff Arnett, the 7th master distiller in Jack Daniel’s 142-year history. The evening concert will offer Lynyrd Skynyrd fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be one of just a few hundred people to see the iconic band perform in their first dining venue.

Tickets for the grand opening concert are priced starting at $300 per person. Tickets for the “Eat ‘N’ Greet” and concert package are available for $750 per person. This package also will include an array of signature grand opening items including a limited edition single-barrel bottle of Jack Daniel’s topped with a commemorative bronze bottle-necker autographed by Arnett and the band members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Tickets for this 21+ concert are available at the Excalibur Box Office by calling 702.597.7477. A portion of proceeds from both events will be donated to the Lynyrd Skynyrd Foundation, Epicurean Charitable Foundation of Las Vegas and Nevada Children’s Medical Center.

Developed in partnership with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Drive This! Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based hospitality company that owns and operates RHUMBAR at The Mirage, Tacos & Tequila at Luxor Hotel and Casino and Casa Fuente in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer will serve fare from Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Tex. A tour of barbecue joints throughout the nation led them to the 111-year-old Texas institution, where the barbecue has been refined to perfection by the Schmidt family. Kreuz Market has been widely recognized as one of the top barbecue restaurants in the country, with top honors for their brisket and sausage by the Food Network and Travel Channel, and a rating as Zagat’s number two barbecue spot in the nation.

The band’s famed “Hell House” is the inspiration behind the atmosphere, and band members Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Rickey Medlocke have consulted with the culinary team to highlight some of their barbecue favorites.

Designed to capture the spirit of the band’s “Hell House,” the walls are made of authentic 150-year old barnyard wood, with concrete floors and aged brick completing the downhome feel of the space. The tables are made from floors of historic grain barns and the surface marks are hoof marks from many generations of animals. The tabletops are made of rough-faced old growth Doug fir from pre-World War II era from historic sites including a 1927 Brentwood house and a Los Angeles church. The staff is part of the action – hot bartenders and servers will be swinging, singing and jumping atop the bars and stage throughout the night - leading riotous sing-alongs to classic rock songs and Lynyrd Skynyrd favorites.

More information is available on the Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer web site at LynyrdSkynyrdLV.com, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LynyrdSkynyrdLV, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LynyrdSkynyrdBBQ.

About Drive This Entertainment

In 2006, Michael Frey teamed up with Craig Gilbert to launch the food, beverage and entertainment company, Drive This! Entertainment (www.drivethisentertainment.com). Their first venture, Tacos & Tequila (www.tacosandtequilalv.com) at Luxor Hotel and Casino, opened in October 2008. The dynamic Mexican restaurant, open for lunch and dinner daily, as well as for a mariachi brunch every Saturday and Sunday, offers an array of margaritas and authentic Mexican fare with a contemporary twist. RHUMBAR (www.rhumbarlv.com), a Caribbean-inspired cocktail lounge and patio at The Mirage, is framed by striking views of the Las Vegas Strip. Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer, the company’s third venture, opens in December 2011. American Burger Works (ABX) also opens in December 2011 adjacent to Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer. The classic all-American burger joint features the very best of “the basics,” served with an array of deliciously-distinctive dipping sauces.

About Excalibur Hotel & Casino

A myriad of entertainment, fine food and comfortable accommodations make for an inviting atmosphere within contemporary castle walls at Excalibur.  The resort offers 3,981 guest rooms, including 2,000 remodeled Widescreen Rooms, enjoyable dining experiences including Dick’s Last Resort and The Steakhouse at Camelot, the Tournament of Kings Dinner Show, the all-male revue Thunder From Down Under and the sounds of The Australian Bee Gees Show.  Excalibur also offers dozens of shops, an expansive pool complex, a wedding chapel featuring Medieval costume ceremonies, the Royal Treatment Spa & Fitness Center and a convention area with more than 12,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.  Excalibur is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International™ (NYSE: MGM).  For more information and reservations, visit www.excalibur.com or call toll free at  (800) 937-7777 or find us on Facebook and Twitter.