Advantage Vegas

Andre Agassi, world reknowned tennis player, was born and raised in Las Vegas, USA - the little known quiet small town side of Vegas that taught him anything is possible. He grew up there, he still lives there, and he's happy to share it's secrets with you...

He once blazed across the court in day-glo clothing and long hair, wowing crowds with his unique base line game. But Agassi has always been a down-to-earth guy, and now resides in Las Vegas with his two children by wife Steffi Graf, also a tennis star of yesterday. Although he still travels to many tennis tournaments, he has made sure to leave a legacy to his hometown: around 250 students and educated at the College Preparatory Academy set up by Agassi, and he also has the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, an organisation that has raised an impressive 35 million dollars for children's charities to date. Here's a weekend in the city where Andre Agassi learned to win.

There's a lot of activity going on in downtown Vegas, even though most people think of ‘the Strip' when they think of Vegas. "When you go downtown you find yourself somewhere where you can park your car and have that old feeling of just stepping two feet off the street into a casino that basically has no doors", says Agassi, adding almost as an afterthought "…and the lights are incredible."

Agassi also part owns the Golden Nugget casino. "I'm involved with some friends that I grew up with, which is exciting", says Andre. "I'm second generation here [and the] people I'm involved with are third generation Vegas. The Nugget is among my favourite casinos in Vegas because it's so ‘old Vegas'". Asked to name any other favourite hotels or casinos, Agassi cites the Bellagio. "It's difficult to find better than the Bellagio, although that said every place offers its thing. Celine Dion virtually lives at Caesars Palace these days. There's this incredible lounge/bar called The Foundation with a deck area overlooking the city, sitting at the top of Mandalay Bay. I could go on... I will. Because there's also this place with incredible music acts called "The Joint", that's at The Hard Rock Hotel."

I asked Agassi where he goes first after getting home from a tournament or appearance (always a telling question). "I need to eat, and fortunately Vegas has come so far in it's dining options and cuisine that there are loads of good restaurants to choose from. There's this place at the Venetian called Delmonico, their stake is divine... easily the best in the city. I love Nobhill at the MGM Grand. For a meal with the family I always go to a place called Summerlin in Sedona. Um, I'm a partner in it actually. So I'm mildly biased (laughs)… but I love it, going to this place that you helped create just feels like home"".

For 30 years the fastest-growing city in America, Las Vegas is a city of great vision. Says Agassi – "The community of people who actually live in Vegas is strong, very strong. And it thinks that you can create anything or make anything happen as long as you actually believe in that thing enough. It's like an adult version of Disneyland." Never a truer word was said.

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