Previous Story
MVA thumbs down Hard Rock sponsorship
|
Posted on Jan 12 1999
Due to limited funds, the Marianas Visitors Authority will not be able to provide sponsorship to Hard Rock Cafe’s grand opening next month. However, MVA will help provide publicity to the event when it invites writers who will join the scheduled familiarization tour to the CNMI.
Hard Rock Cafe has sought MVA’s assistance to the two-day affair scheduled on Feb. 19 and 20 so that management can provide the best entertainment on the island.
According to Mario Ponce, regional general manager, Hard Rock has prepared a $150,000 budget for the scheduled event which will feature the performance of popular bands. Proceeds of the ticket sales will go to Karidat.
Ponce said Hard Rock will hold the biggest party on Beach Road in what could be the most entertaining event of the decade. He said the event will ensure the much-needed publicity for the CNMI just like the Hard Rock opening on Guam in June 1998.
He refused to name the entertainers who will come to the event saying it will all depend on how much commitment Hard Rock will be able to raise. Hard Rock Cafe Saipan opened in March last year amid the uncertainty in tourism economy because management claims the island will continue to be a popular destination among Japanese.
“The more amount of money we can raise, the more entertainers we can get,” Ponce said. Hard Rock’s retail store is located right below the restaurant in Duty Free Saipan. It has more than 100 items on sale ranging from a variety of clothing and merchandise that bears the internationally known Hard Rock Cafe logo.
(Lindablue F. Romero)
