The NFL football season is history. But that doesn’t mean excitement needs to be put on hold. Oh my gosh, no. The folks over at Sports Illustrated were creatively up to the challenge, responding by providing the ultimate in eye-popping candy when 19 swimsuit models arrived in stunning fashion at LAX nightclub in the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 12, to launch their new promotion for the much awaited 2009 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.
The event marks the first time the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model team decided to make Las Vegas their destination promotion site. Earlier in the week they were in New York. The models arrived in grand style aboard “SI One,” a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700, which was completely wrapped in Sports Illustrated swimsuit imagery- something unique to no doubt soothe weary pilots’ eyes as they fly the airways. This is also the first time that Southwest Airlines has wrapped a plane in virtually nose-to-tail imagery. 
Although the Sports Illustrated 46th swimsuit edition is now available on newsstands, Las Vegas Backstage Access thought you might want to see a quick teaser flash slideshow of the 19 models arriving on the red carpet at LAX. (please click on underlined words to view show; view their names by clicking on captions button in lower right). Our professional photographers have assembled a quick exclusive glimpse of the beauties. Included is cover girl Bar Refaeli (pictured in this article), the girlfriend of actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brooklyn Decker, fiancée to Andy Roddick. Six-time Grammy award-winning recording artist John Legend performed at LAX for attendees.
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit franchise reaches more than 66 million satisfied adults annually in over 10 countries including China, Czech Republic, Greece, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, and Taiwan.
Approximately one in three Americans over the age of 18 “read” the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model edition.
Vegas Backstage Access (VBA) 