"After seven great years in New York, we have an excellent opportunity to present the show from an exciting new venue," said George Bodenheimer, ESPN president. "Like the ESPYs, Las Vegas has been evolving. It's now more than an entertainment capital, becoming more popular with vacationers and families every year."

Said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Grand's president and chief operating officer, "We are ecstatic about becoming the new home of ESPN's ESPY Awards. The ESPY Awards is the greatest night in sports/entertainment and this gives the MGM Grand the opportunity to continue to play an integral role in hosting such world-class events. The MGM Grand and ESPN look forward to introducing this event to Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world."

ESPY Awards are given to the Performer of the Year in a variety of professional and college sports; nine Cross-Cutter categories have nominees from all sports. Nominees are chosen by the ESPY Select Nominating Committee, a blue-ribbon panel of sports executives, journalists and retired athletes. Winners are decided by the ESPY Finalist Committee made up of current athletes and ESPN/ABC commentators and personnel. In addition, the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage is presented to an individual whose contributions transcend sports.

The many celebrities who have taken part in the ESPYs include: David Letterman, Bill Cosby, Denzel Washington, Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crystal, Hootie and the Blowfish, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Rosie O'Donnell, Dennis Franz, Keri Russell, Dylan McDermott, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Robert Goulet, Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Rock, Vivaca A. Fox, Lyle Lovett, Ray Charles and others.

Samuel L. Jackson hosted this year's telecast. Previously, Dennis Miller, John Goodman, Norm Macdonald, Jeff Foxworthy, and Tony Danza have hosted.

A portion of the proceeds from the ESPYs are given to The V Foundation, established at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993 by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano to raise funds for cancer research.