2008 WSOP Sked Released, Sorta
They still don’t know when each event’s gonna be … but Harrah’s has released the general time frame for the 2008 World Series of Poker. So keep your calendars clear May 30-July 17, as Poker Christmas is right around the corner. Click below for official details.
2008 World Series of Poker Set for May 30 through July 17 in Las Vegas
Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino to Host 39th Annual GatheringLAS VEGAS – October 8, 2007 – Harrah’s Entertainment Inc (NYSE: HET) announced today that the 39th annual World Series of Poker® Presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light will be staged at the Rio™ All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas from May 30 through July 17, 2008.
“The team is still hard at work on the schedule of events for next year, but we’ve received so many requests for the dates that we decided to announce them now,†said Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP Commissioner.
“We’ll actually open the WSOP tournament room the week of May 26th for two special events,†said Geno Iafrate, vice president and assistant general manager of the Rio. “This ‘soft opening’ will give players a chance to register early and avoid the lines we had last year during opening weekend – our busiest time.â€Â
More WSOP information is available at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.
The WSOP brand is owned by Harrah’s License Company, LLC an affiliate of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., the world’s largest provider of branded casino entertainment through its operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, nearly 70 years ago, Harrah’s has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions, and now owns or manages casinos on four continents. The company’s properties operate primarily under the Harrah’s®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names; Harrah’s also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos. Harrah’s Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.
More information about Harrah’s is available at www.harrahs.com.
California Jen says:
October 8th, 2007 at 8:35pm
Yep, time to start planning for next year. I think I’ll ask for a 2-month summer condo rental from my mommy for Christmas. (Yeah, she’ll do that for me as she’s buying my Xmas Mercedes.)
Plan B: Get those freelance gigs lined up. “Will Work for WSOP Accommodations”
BJ Nemeth says:
October 9th, 2007 at 1:32am
What happened to moving the WSOP closer to the spring? Pollack had said it was moving back to its traditional spring timeline, which also happened to suit ESPN better, because they wanted to air poker in the summer, when it wouldn’t compete for ratings with the sports-heavy fall schedule.
So now we find out that the start date has moved forward … two days. And the final table of the Main Event is on the exact same day, so the event has gained two additional days (not counting the two “special events” mentioned in the press release). I imagine there will be a few more events than last year as well, making the marathon just a little bit longer.
I still want the WSOP moved earlier in the calendar. I think it would be win-win-win for everyone (except perhaps the convention schedule of the Rio).
By the way, I’m guessing that one of the “special events” is their retooled WSOP Tournament of Champions. Not sure yet what the other would be.
California Jen says:
October 9th, 2007 at 10:15am
BJ, I agree that a spring WSOP would be better in so many ways, but it seems like they’re set on this if they’re announcing the dates. Pollack is going to be speaking at the California Poker Players Conference here in L.A. on the weekend of the 20th/21st about the 2008 WSOP, and I’m covering it for a magazine. I’m also going to arrange an interview with him to ask some of these kinds of questions. I’ll be sure to post whatever I find out.
DanM says:
October 9th, 2007 at 1:59pm
I’m pretty sure it’s just a matter of logistics. Some other big conventions have dibs on that space, so maybe they can’t move it earlier until they find a new home for the WSOP.