Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, left, and Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid adjust the NBA All-Star jackets they were given during the NBA All-Star news conference Thursday inside the Fashion Show mall. Photos by Clint Karlsen. Former NBA players Kenny Smith, left, and Dominique Wilkins pose with the 2007 NBA All-Star Game logo during a news conference Thursday inside the Fashion Show mall. The 2007 NBA All-Star Game will be played Feb. 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The NBA knows it won't have any trouble filling the Thomas & Mack Center for its 2007 All-Star Game on Feb. 18.

Merchandising? That's another matter. The NBA might be gearing up for the start of its 2006 playoffs this weekend, but Thursday at the Fashion Show mall, it kicked off its marketing campaign for next year's All-Star Weekend by unveiling the logo along with Las Vegas All-Star hats and shirts modeled by Las Vegas showgirls.

The logo incorporates the "Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas" sign that is on Las Vegas Boulevard South with the NBA's logo perched where the star on the sign is located.

Two secondary logos, a star with the NBA's logo within it and bracketed by "AS" and "07" and a basketball "07" logo with the words "Las Vegas" across it were also introduced.

"This is the pinnacle of the NBA season," said George Maloof, whose family owns the Sacramento Kings. "This is the right time to do it. Everybody's thinking about the NBA right now."

Rossi Ralenkotter, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said there was no need to wait any longer.

"It's time to start marketing the game," Ralenkotter said. "The timing is very good. We can capitalize on the exposure and interest the playoffs generate, and we can begin marketing the (All-Star) game internationally."

To that end, the NBA and the convention authority will promote Las Vegas as a tourist destination in the league's international events. Early in October, four NBA teams (Phoenix, San Antonio, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Clippers), will hold training camps and play seven preseason games overseas in the fall. The marketing of the All-Star Game will be part of the league's Europe Live Tour.

"This is big for us," Ralenkotter said. "We already have an international presence. But having the NBA to help us market Las Vegas will be big. For the next year, we'll be at the forefront of a lot of international marketing thanks to the NBA."

Ralenkotter said the logos, which were designed by R&R Partners and approved by the NBA, reflect a feel of traditional Las Vegas.

"It's our icon," Ralenkotter said of the Las Vegas sign on the Strip. "We believe the logo captures our brand and the NBA's. I believe that we'll set a merchandising record."

The league's policy is to not quote specific sales numbers. But Brian Keegan, the NBA's senior director of licensing and team and event retail manager, said sales from Las Vegas All-Star merchandise figures to be in the millions.

Keegan said the record for All-Star Game merchandise sales came in 2004 at Los Angeles. He would not say how much revenue was generated.

"I think when you look at event merchandise sales, you look to build momentum of past events," Keegan said. "Houston was very strong this year, and the initial feedback from licensees and retailers is the interest in Las Vegas is very strong as well."

Initial sales of hats and shirts were brisk at Front Row Sports in the Fashion Show mall, just a few feet from where Thursday's announcement was made. Dominique Wilkins, a nine-time all-star who was on hand for the festivities, said while signing autographs outside the store that he wished he could've had the chance to play in a Las Vegas All-Star Game.

"It's the perfect setting for it," said Wilkins, who earlier this month was named as part of the six-person class to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September. "This is one of the major cities in the country. Vegas has shown an ability to host an event like this, and the league is looking for new markets to sell the game. I think it's great for both sides."

If Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has his way, the 2007 NBA All-Star Game will have a UNLV feel to it. Goodman said he would like to see a team of former UNLV basketball players who also played in the NBA be honored during All-Star Weekend.

"I think it could be the most special event in the community," Goodman said. "My thought is that we have the game in our town but no team. This would be a great way to honor these players."

Goodman's plan is to have a game on All-Star Saturday and have the former Rebel greats participate in it.

"I haven't approached the league with it yet," Goodman said. "But we'll find a way to do it."