[clevfan]

World Series of Poker coming to Deadwood

Associated Press

DEADWOOD, S.D. (AP) -- The Black Hills gambling town of Deadwood, which has had its notoriety rejuvenated courtesy of a popular cable television series of the same name, will land on national cable TV again in October, this time as a backdrop for the "World Series of Poker."


Bill Walsh, owner of the Franklin Hotel on Deadwood's Main Street, said his contact at ESPN confirmed the show on Friday.


The two-day taping will feature 12 previous winners playing poker in his Main Street-level saloon. ESPN will fly the players to Deadwood, where they will stay at the Franklin. It's scheduled for Oct. 26-27.


Walsh said Texas-based entertainment developer Bill McDavid and music promoter Mark Oswald have worked for about a month to land the tournament.


McDavid said entertainment executives were attracted by the Deadwood name and a new, exciting location for the poker tournament. He said the idea sprang from a conversation with Oswald, who mentioned he was promoting a televised poker tournament for Las Vegas.


"We were just talking, and I said it was too bad we couldn't do that project here in Deadwood, a town that is really historically linked to poker," McDavid said.


"What started out as a comment quickly turned into a lot more. Within the day I was talking to other people involved with the tournament."


McDavid said negotiations on such projects usually take weeks, not days as was the case for the Deadwood taping.


Since its March debut, HBO's series "Deadwood" has drawn millions of viewers and has lured more tourists to the town of 1,400 people.


Walsh said the saloon at his hotel has large plate glass windows and the floor space to allow elbow room for the TV cameras.